Latest Heredity Podcast Episodes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

The future of forensic genetics

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - April 13, 2018 23:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We're returning to the scene of the crime with another look at the latest techniques in the world of forensic genetics - can we really predict physical features or even ethnicity from your DNA, and what does this mean for our criminal justice system? Plus, is the 'CSI effect' real? And our gene o...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

A Festival of Genomics

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - March 14, 2018 00:00 - 39 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We're off to a festival - but before you worry about where your tent and wellies are, it's the Festival of Genomics, held at a clean and dry conference centre in London rather than a muddy field full of rock bands and dodgy burgers. Plus, what does the public really think of genetic technology? A...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Crime scene genes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - February 14, 2018 00:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
It's CSI Naked Genetics, as we find out how genetic technology is used to solve crimes. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Back to the womb

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - January 14, 2018 00:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We take a trip back to the womb and before, to find out about early development. Plus, the importance of placentas, why the age of your womb rather than your eggs matters, and a video game-inspired gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

The future of genomic medicine

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - December 14, 2017 00:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're finding out how genetic advances are shaping the future of healthcare at the Genetics Society autumn meeting. Plus, signposts for bees and an operatic gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Matchmaking at the zoo

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - November 14, 2017 00:00 - 35 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're off to the zoo to meet some lovelorn laughing thrushes, endangered snails, and the Cilla Black of Sumatran Tigers. Plus, a sneak preview of this year's Genetics Society JBS Haldane lecture, and a gene of the month that likes a tipple. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporti...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Evolution's luxury item

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - October 13, 2017 23:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
You're a mammal. I'm a mammal. Your pet cat or dog is a mammal, as are whales, lemurs, pandas and polar bears. But what exactly is a mammal, and what can our genes tell us about our evolution? Plus, school students take on the whipworm genome, the surprising genetic diversity of Papua New Guinea,...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Exposing the contents of your genes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - September 13, 2017 23:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Would you ever consider donating your genome to research? We meet a man who has, and find out why. Plus, we get our hands dirty in the search for new antibiotics, take a look at the ethics of human gene editing, and our gene of the month is getting ahead in life. Like this podcast? Please help us...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Store, write, edit

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - August 13, 2017 23:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
As scientists announce that they have used CRISPR technology to fix a faulty gene in a human embryo - not for the first time, but more accurately than ever before - we take a look at storing, writing and editing in DNA. Plus, our gene of the month is all ears. Like this podcast? Please help us by...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Genes and dementia

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - July 13, 2017 23:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're taking a look at the role that genes play in dementia, and finding out how researchers are using this knowledge to develop urgently-needed treatments. Plus, a big release of big data from the UK Biobank, and our gene of the month is an expert swordsman. Like this podcast? Please ...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Bees, tress and 3-D genes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - June 13, 2017 23:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're literally getting inside our genes, as we explore chromosomes through a 3-dimensional virtual reality art, music and science project. Plus, researchers are turning to bees, trees and more in search of new genetic systems, and our gene of the month has been around for a while. Lik...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Tackling tumours, curing cancer

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - May 13, 2017 23:00 - 44 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're zooming in on cancer, finding out how researchers are tackling tumours in unprecedented detail. Plus, our gene of the month is the guardian of your genome, rather than the galaxy. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Battle of the sexes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - April 13, 2017 23:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We might joke about the battle of the sexes, but it turns out that this is actually true - at least for a hundred or so imprinted genes. Plus, what opossums can teach us about sex, reporting back from a very special scientific meeting, and a superhero-styled gene of the month. Like this podcast? ...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Putting genomics to work

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - March 15, 2017 00:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
The DNA sequencing revolution is providing ever more data about genomes from all kinds of species, from humans to bacteria. But how do we make sense of it all? Who gets their hands on it? And how do we use it to benefit patients? We meet the scientists developing new computer tools to analyse and...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Science and the single cell

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - February 14, 2017 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells - but these aren't mere biological building blocks, as inert as bricks. They're constantly communicating and changing. So how do scientists measure this? Plus, you can now take part in an international survey about genetics knowledge, a GIANT study th...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Genes, laws and Brexit

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - January 14, 2017 00:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We hear a lot about genetic modification and how it's being used to improve agriculture. But who decides whether modified crops can be grown? Do new gene editing techniques like CRISPR count as GM? And what happens to these regulations when the UK leaves the EU? Plus, our gene of the month comes ...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

All human life is here

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - December 14, 2016 00:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
The story of human evolution is long and complicated, but the simple truth is - you're only here because your ancestors got lucky. Plus, we wind the clock back to the very start of human life, and discover how new research is pushing back the frontiers of human embryology. Plus a suitably festive...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Searching for switches

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - November 14, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we're delving into the junk in the genome - or, to put it more correctly - our non-coding DNA. Less than 2 per cent of the human genome contains protein-coding genes, so what does all the rest do? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Testing, testing

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - October 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
We hear more than ever about the secrets hidden in our genes, from our risk of diseases to traits such as intelligence or even sporting ability. But can we really test for them? And just because we can, does that mean we should? Plus, an extremely popular - and extremely distracting - gene of the...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Hello Dolly

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - September 13, 2016 23:00 - 41 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we've got a special bonus-length podcast commemorating twenty years since the birth of Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. Her birth changed the scientific world, and led to the development of other transformative technologies. Plus, our gene of the month is ke...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

40 years of selfishness

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - August 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
40 years ago Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene hit the shelves. We look back on how it changed the way many people think about genetics. Plus, linking nurture to nature, and a gigantic gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Signal to noise

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - July 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Building a baby is a complicated business, with millions of cells needing to work together. So how does it happen? Plus, how big data is making big strides in big genes, and our gene of the month is going round and round in circles. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scien...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Genes for all

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - June 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Genes, genomes and genetic technology are playing increasingly important parts in our lives, industries, food and healthcare, and at a point in the not-too-distant future we're probably going to have to grapple with at least some of the contents of our DNA. But is the public really prepared to lo...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Check your compatibility

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - May 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
You may not realise it, but your health, immune system and even love-life are governed by the particular set of so-called compatibility genes that you inherit. There are thousands of different variations in these genes, but why do we have such diversity and does it matter? Plus, we dig into the ...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

What's in your genes?

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - April 13, 2016 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
As the costs of DNA analysis come down, we've seen the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic testing, allowing anyone to spit in a tube, pop it in the post and get a personalised readout direct to their inbox. But what do these tests actually reveal? Plus, how advertising execs can help us talk abou...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Designer genes

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - March 14, 2016 00:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
The recent invention of powerful precision tools for editing the human genome - known as CRISPR, has opened up new worlds of possibilities for researchers seeking to understand how our genes work - and also those who want to permanently change the human genome for generations to come. But are we ...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Crazy for CRISPR

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - February 14, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
It's the hottest new biotechnology technique to hit the headlines since well, since ever. CRISPR is a precision set of genome editing tools enabling scientists to cut and paste together DNA in any organism, exactly how they want - and the implications for human health, and even humanity, are huge...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Naked Genetics 47

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - January 14, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
This month we bring you a bumper edition, packed full of all our favourite bits from the past four years. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Naked Genetics 46

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - December 14, 2015 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Synthetic biology - engineering life - is set to revolutionise the world, but how? We'll be hearing about some of the most exciting applications for synthetic biology, and how it's being commercialised. Plus, our gene of the month has got itself all in a twist. Like this podcast? Please help us b...

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists artwork

Why don't elephants get cancer?

Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - November 14, 2015 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratings
Animals like elephants and whales are made up of many more cells than a human, or a mouse, and they live far longer. Yet they hardly ever get cancer - and the big question is why? Plus, revolutions in genetics, and a magical gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N...

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