Dave Dalton
Not everyone agrees that evolutionary biology has a place in medical education. Deans of medical schools and other educators frequently request proof that understanding evolutionary biology will increase the effectiveness of medical specialists. Citing concrete examples is a straightforward response. For instance, doctors need to be aware of how antibiotic resistance has developed, how pathogen phylogenies can be tracked, how selection has shaped the mechanisms that control protective responses like pain and fever, and the intricate relationships between evolution, the environment, and aging-related diseases. However, focusing only on such obvious applications undersells the value of evolutionary biology in medicine. Although it doesn't directly apply to daily life, basic science education in medicine is important for understanding the body and disease. "The principles that underlie biological complexity, genetic diversity, interactions of systems within the body, human development, and influence of the environment guide our understanding of human health, and the diagnosis and treatment of human disease," according to the AAMC-HHMI report's overarching principle number 2. Calculus, physics, and chemistry proficiency are required not because these subjects are frequently used in clinics but rather because doctors who are proficient in them will have a better understanding of the human body and will be able to make better medical decisions.
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