On November 21, 2025, the 143rd Biomed-X Research Seminar of ZJE was successfully held in the Room 2A-203, ZJE Building. At the invitation of Dr. Jian Liu, Director/Convenor of the Centre for Infection Immunity and Cancer at ZJE, Prof. Ehab Abouheif, an internationally renowned evolutionary developmental biologist, Qiushi Chair Professor at Zhejiang University, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), delivered an academic report titled "What’s Ecological-Evolutionary-Developmental biology (eco-evo-devo) and what’s medicine got to do with it?"
Drawing on decades of research (e.g., on phenotypic plasticity in social insects like ants and gene regulatory network evolution), Prof. Abouheif explained eco-evo-devo’s core value and latest progress. He noted the field breaks disciplinary barriers, reveals how the environment drives evolution via regulating development, and disproves the “genetics alone determine development” idea—confirming phenotypes come from dynamic interactions between genes, developmental programs, and the environment. For medicine, his team applied eco-evo-devo theories to ovarian cancer research (offering new interdisciplinary solutions) and suggested that mismatches between developmental regulation and modern environments may cause genetic/chronic diseases.
Faculty and students interacted actively during the event. Prof. Abouheif answered all questions, helping attendees better understand the field’s frontiers, innovations, and application prospects.
As the 143rd session of the Biomed-X Seminar series, this report underscores the institute's commitment to fostering high-level academic exchanges through its academic brand building efforts. The institute will continue to provide a platform for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge scientific discussions.
