Elucidating the emergent properties of biological functions

Approximately 40% of known species on the earth are parasitic, and all wild animals are infected by at least one species of parasite. Many of these parasitic species effectively manipulate their hostsʼ physiological state, morphology, and behavior for their own benefit. Such host manipulation by parasites not only affects the individual level but also creates higher-level biological functions such as energy flow and material cycling at the ecosystem level. For example, horsehair worms parasitize terrestrial insects, inducing them to jump into rivers, where they are eaten by salmon, thus driving energy flow between forest and stream ecosystems. The mechanisms behind such host manipulation remain a mystery in most cases. I aim to unravel such mechanisms behind the emergence of diverse biological functions and explore ways to sustainably use them for the benefit of human society.

URL

https://kdb.iimc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/profile_private/en.44b0fc77e720bc10.html