Simulating an Evolving Microcosmos | The Path to Multicellularity

In this video I showcase a program that I have been working on for simulating evolution by natural selection. I dive into various mechanisms of the simulation and go over some interesting real-life biology in the process. The key aim of this project is to evolve multicellular organisms, starting from single-celled protozoa-like creatures that must collect mass and energy from their surroundings in order to survive, grow and reproduce.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:56 - Life of a protozoan
02:46 - The start of the simulation
05:57 - How the cells work
06:53 - Introducing multicellular colonies
08:33 - Understanding evolution
11:38 - Looking at data from the simulation
13:27 - Evolving epigenetics introduction
14:14 - Waddington's Landscape and cell specialisation
15:22 - The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
16:05 - Gene Regulatory Networks
16:54 - Outro
17:30 - Watching the simulation

Find the project on GitHub:
https://github.com/DylanCope/Evolving...

Credits:

Tectonic plates animation: Scotese, C.R., 2016. Plate Tectonics, Paleogeography, and Ice Ages, (Modern World - 540Ma)
   • Plate Tectonics,  540Ma - Modern Worl...  

Gene expression and cell specialisation diagram: Prof. Dave Explains, 2017. The origin of multicellular life
   • The Origin of Multicellular Life: Cel...  

Stock footage of organisms under a microscope:    • living under a microscope #1 - smooth...  

Music by Vincent Rubinetti
Download the music on Bandcamp:
https://vincerubinetti.bandcamp.com/a...
Stream the music on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1dVyjw...

This video was made possible thanks to the fantastic mathematical animation software Manim Community, originally developed by ‪@3blue1brown‬
https://www.manim.community/

Socials:
Twitter:   / dylanrobertcope