Emergent Selves and Unconventional Intelligences in Biological Systems

Explore the fascinating world of biological intelligence and problem-solving capabilities across multiple scales in this 87-minute Topos Institute Colloquium talk. Delve into how molecular pathways, cells, tissues, and organs demonstrate intelligent behavior and creative problem-solving abilities across various domains. Learn about the evolutionary aspects of multiscale competency architecture and discover how cellular cognition scales up to influence morphogenetic, behavioral, and linguistic collective systems. Examine groundbreaking laboratory research combining developmental biophysics, computer science, and behavioral science to understand diverse forms of intelligence, with practical applications in regeneration, birth defects, and cancer treatment. Gain insights into synthetic life forms and their role in understanding collective systems' goal-oriented behaviors independent of evolutionary history.