The Intricate Complexity of Human Reproduction

Reproduction of organisms, including humans, is a critical condition for evolution. Without offspring, there is no evolution. Human reproduction consists of many steps, some of which are critical moments (including fertilization, implantation, immune toleration, hormones, and birth). These steps are potentially susceptible to many perturbations that can lead to fetal loss. It could be argued that these potential failures are evidence of an imperfect trial-and-error process of blind evolution. This talk examines whether the principles of design and foresight might provide a better explanation for this intricate complexity.