The Human Condition

The behavioural variation of our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, is much akin to the cultural variation in human societies. Together, in this talk, we will explore the evolution, development, behaviour, and conservation of chimpanzees and their culture across the Congo Basin.

In this talk, we will explore an intriguing phenomenon: the way our social interactions and life experiences can actually change the way our genes work. Using examples from research and the real world, we illustrate the close conversation between environment and our genetic blueprint, affecting our health and happiness. Understanding the more dynamic mechanisms than previously thought sheds new light on inequality but also on potential misuse of personal data. Evolving social genomics opens up new perspectives on the human experience and invites us to think more deeply about the role that our social world plays in our lives.