Dr. Michael Levin is a developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University, where he is the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor and director of the Allen Discovery Center and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology.
In this episode we talk about Mike’s research, which ranges from studying the molecular biology of cancer, to the bioelectrics of limb regeneration, to memory and higher-order cognition. Mike describes the overall theme of his research as understanding the embodied nature of cognition in organic and synthetic systems, and the philosophical implications of this worldview. We discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from the neurobiology of planarian flatworms, to the future of regenerative medicine, to philosophical questions about the definitions of life, consciousness, and artificial intelligence.
0:02:05 Exploring the concept of mind embodied in different architectures
0:03:26 Understanding morphogenesis as a collective intelligence of cells
0:04:47 Shift in problem space and intelligence from single cells to multicellular structures
0:06:42 The intentionality of animals and the continuum of agency
0:09:27 Choosing the appropriate model system for research
0:11:11 Dr. Levin's background and evolution of his research
0:17:10 Interest in the intersection of engineering and biology
0:19:59 Studying the bioelectric communication in cellular networks
0:22:56 Computational models of morphogenesis and cognitive aspects of development
0:25:19 The complexity of intelligence and the binary distinction of living
0:27:25 The continuum of life and the challenges of defining it
0:29:49 The ability to learn and memory in planaria
0:37:00 The challenges of defining individual identity and memory
0:39:23 The unique regenerative abilities of planaria and salamanders
0:41:06 The future of regenerative medicine and synthetic biology
0:45:24 The potential of somatic psychiatry and tissue training regimes
0:47:44 Understanding complex cognitive machines and the limits of understanding
0:51:06 Different notions of understanding emergent phenomena
0:53:29 The challenges of understanding neural networks and biological networks