Simulating The History Of Life

Most people don’t fully understand evolution. Sponsored by Hostinger - visit https://ve42.co/hostingern8n and use the code VERITASIUM to get an extra discount on top of the sale prices.

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0:00 Why does poop smell bad?
2:51 The Beginning Life
7:15 What is gene mutation?
8:01 Simulating Evolution
13:25 How natural selection works
16:39 What do we pass on?
19:40 Kin Selection
22:04 The Selfish Gene
25:35 It’s all a simulation

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And a big thanks to Dr. Jack Szostak at the University of Chicago, Dr. John Sutherland at Cambridge University, Dr. Joanna Masel at the University of Arizona & Dr. Gerald Joyce at the Salk Institute for their expertise and help with the video.

A huge thank you to Joe Hanson from @besmart for his help!

Check out @PrimerBlobs here!

Check out Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene here - https://ve42.co/SGRD

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References: https://ve42.co/SelfishGeneRefs

Images & Video:
Emperor Penguins Chicks via National Geographic - https://ve42.co/NatGeoPenguin
Child in bed - https://ve42.co/FeverChild
Photo of G.C. Williams - https://ve42.co/GCWilliams
Photo of J. M. Smith - https://ve42.co/JMSmith
Photo of Bob Trivers - https://ve42.co/RTrivers

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Special thanks to our Patreon supporters:

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Writers: Gregor Čavlović, Casper Mebius, Daniel Leonard & Derek Muller
Producer & Director: Gregor Čavlović
Editor: Peter Nelson
Camera Operator: Andrew Abballe
Animators: Fabio Albertelli, Andrew Neet, Emma Wright & Peter Nelson
Illustrator: Jakub Misiek
Simulations: Callum Cuttle
Researchers: Aakash Singh Bagga & Callum Cuttle
Thumbnail Designers: Abdallah Rabah, Ren Hurley & Ben Powell
Production Team: Josh Pitt, Matthew Cavanagh, Anna Milkovic & Zoe Heron
Executive Producers: Derek Muller & Casper Mebius

Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images, Storyblocks
Music from Epidemic Sound

Post from Veritasium on October 31, 2025

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