ChemBE Seminar Series: Raymond Goldstein

Description

Raymond Goldstein, a professor of complex physical systems in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., will give a talk titled "Fluid Dynamics and the Evolution of Biological Complexity" for the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

This is a hybrid event. To attend virtually, use Zoom ID 919 5918 2879 with passcode 270887.

Abstract:

One of the most fundamental issues in evolutionary biology is the nature of transitions from unicellular to multicellular life. How was it, and why was it that the simplest unicellular organisms that emerged from the primordial soup evolved into organisms with many cells, and many cell types, dividing up life's processes? In this lecture I will describe experimental and theoretical work on this question, using a lineage of green algae as model organisms. Focusing on the nature of phototaxis — directional swimming toward light — I will illustrate the interconnection between sensing, steering, and locomotion in the low Reynolds number regime.