Much evidence has confirmed the 1973 saying of famed geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky that Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution. It follows that understanding human origins (“Anthropogeny”) will shed light on the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of some human diseases. One powerful way to understand human evolution is through the study of genetics. Human genetic make-up is remarkably similar to that of our closest evolutionary relatives—the “great apes” (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans). Despite these genetic similarities we also find apparent differences between humans and great apes in both the incidence and the severity of major diseases, such as AIDS, cancer, heart attacks and malaria, differences which in some cases may be eventually explained on a genetic basis.

My lecture will focus on this genetic approach to understanding human disease, in the light of genetic changes that occurred during our evolutionary history. I will also discuss my own group’s research on the many genetic and biochemical differences between humans and great apes in relation to cell surface sugars called “sialic acids” and their implications for understanding human susceptibility to certain infections, unusual features of the human immune system, the human birth process, and the human brain. I will also discuss our research on surprising findings regarding one sialic acid called “Gc”, which is found in the great apes, but not in humans. This non-human molecule can be incorporated into the human body from dietary sources such as red meat and milk, and is also now contaminating biotherapeutic molecules that are produced using animal-derived materials. Humans, however, have also been found to have antibodies directed against Gc. This could potentially explain certain dietary associations with human disease, as well as negative reactions to some biotherapeutic products. Finally, I will introduce a proposed new UCSD/Salk center for research in Anthropogeny, a multidisciplinary approach to understanding human origins, which involves scientists from across San Diego and all over the world.