Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
Darwin did not expect to have "his" theory applied to pixelated creatures...this is payback for taking the limelight over Wallace. On Adapt or Die, Austin (a PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) explores topics in popular culture that can be dissected with evolutionary theories and ideas. We will ask questions like "Does Pokémon evolution work like actual evolution?" or "How would evolution inform what lives and what dies after nuclear fallout". Combining peer-reviewed science, humour, and a smidge of speculation we will adapt our understanding of pop culture together.
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
17. The Draconic History: Phylogenetics
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the dragon type. Our evolutionary connection to the dragon type is phylogenetics.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what characters we name organisms based on, what aptations, adaptations, and exaptations are as well as illustrating these ideas and describing the characters uniting dragon type pokémon. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about the application of dragon type within pokémon games. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a new dragon bug type lineage and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Additional resources mentioned in this episode:
1. https://pokemondb.net/pokebase/244110/pokemon-types-ranked-after-average-stats
2. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/dragon/
3. Gould, S. J., & Lewontin, R. C. (2020). The spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian paradigm: a critique of the adaptationist programme. In _Shaping Entrepreneurship Research_ (pp. 204-221). Routledge.
4. Gould, S. J., & Vrba, E. S. (1982). Exaptation—a missing term in the science of form. _Paleobiology_, _8_(1), 4-15.
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Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
