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Johns Hopkins University | AS.270.666

Life Detection

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The origin and evolution of life-as-we-know-it is obscured in deep time, while the origins and evolution of life-as-we-do-not-know-it are assumed to be hidden in deep space. Both temporal and spatial distance to the processes behind evolvability impose surprisingly similar methodological challenges: although we can directly measure the diversity and disparity of modern life forms and their emergent properties, contextualization in the light of evolutionary relationships and dynamics universally follows top-down inferences. The resulting mechanistic insights allow to constrain evolvability on future Earth and elsewhere in our dynamic universe. This course introduces frontier tools that allow us to integrate compatible data for modern organisms and fossil remains of extinct life forms through time. Practice datasets will guide participants step-by-step through inferences of evolutionary processes and their implementation into models constraining and probing evolvability across space. This is a cross-disciplinary, immersive course that requires no prior coding skills.

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