Asher Leeks

Evolutionary Biologist

Asher is an incoming assistant professor of evolutionary biology at the University of British Columbia who studies social evolution in viruses. Viruses are intrinsically social organisms; every aspect of the viral lifecycle can be influenced by social interactions, from replication within a cell to transmission between hosts. He uses social evolution theory to understand how these interactions evolve and to predict their clinical consequences.

The Social Lives of Viruses

Viruses rely on social interactions for their most fundamental biological processes: reproduction and survival. This dependence means that viruses, just like other life forms, experience the evolutionary forces of cooperation and conflict. However, for viruses, these forces manifest at the molecular level. By exploring the social lives of viruses, we uncover a hidden world of viral diversity and unlock new tools to combat future pandemics.

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