Latest Heredity Podcast Episodes
Engineering life
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - October 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsImagine designing bacteria that can do whatever you want - from cleaning up oil spills to churning out the latest cancer treatments - ordering the biological parts online and building it in a couple of weeks. This is no longer the stuff of dreams, but the reality of synthetic biology. Plus, traci...
Hundreds and Thousands
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - September 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsWhen it comes to figuring out which genes and genetic variations are linked to particular traits and diseases, there's only one way to do it, and that's to go large, with cohort studies involving hundreds or even thousands of volunteers. We meet the Born In Bradford bunch, a Canadian cohort, and ...
Mysterious methylation
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - August 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsThere's more to life than the four letters of DNA, and our cells use a chemical tag known as DNA methylation to mark out certain parts of the genome, helping cells to remember what they're doing. And, as you might expect, it's pretty important. Plus, how your GCSE success could be encoded in your...
The wonderful world of epigenetics
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - July 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsGenes are the instructions that tell our cells what to do, but how do different types of cells know which genes to switch on or off at the right time? The solution lies in epigenetics - the molecular bells and whistles that act on top of our DNA to control gene activity. Plus, a new gene involved...
Breeding a better cow
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - June 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsFor centuries, breeders have been selecting plants and animals with desirable genetic traits. So how have some of these changes come about, and where will new genetic technologies take our food in the future? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The story of maize
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - May 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsYou may not realise it, but all the food you eat has been genetically altered over time by plant and animal breeders, capturing advantageous traits to grow more nutritious and easy-to-farm foods as efficiently and healthily as possible. Maize, or corn as it's often know, is a prime example of thi...
Patenting and preserving genes
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - April 13, 2015 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsThere are few things in life as important as the food we eat, but making sure that we guard the genes in our crops for the future is just as important. Plus, we take a look at some of the intellectual property issues surrounding our food, learn squid's surprising secret, and our gene of the month...
A hundred thousand genomes
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - March 14, 2015 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsOver the past year the Government has unveiled an audacious programme under the banner of Genomics England, aiming to sequence the genomes of 100,000 people affected by cancer and rare genetic diseases. We take a look at some of the practical and ethical issues around the project. Plus, our gene ...
Genetically Modified plants
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - February 14, 2015 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsGenetically modified, or GM, crops are a hot topic. Some people are deeply suspicious of the technology while others see it as an effective and efficient way of generating bountiful, healthier harvests. Plus, purple tomatoes, a giant of a gene involved in heart disease, and what's in a name? We t...
Clever mice and drunken flies
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - January 14, 2015 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsHow do we learn complex tasks like playing the piano? Why can we remember things better after a good night's sleep? And why do people - and fruit flies - drink again after the hangover from hell? The answers are all in your genes. Plus, why large-scale searches for so-called "genes for schizophre...
Searching for the engram
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - December 14, 2014 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsFor many years scientists have been searching for the mysterious engram - the place in the brain where memories are kept. And thanks to advances in genetics and neurobiology, it looks like they're now getting close to finding it. Plus, contagious cancers in dogs and devils, and our gene of the mo...
Targeting cancer genes
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - November 14, 2014 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsEvery year in the UK more than 330,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. The good news is that more and more are surviving, and there's hope that the new generation of genetic research and targeted therapies will bring more cures in the future. But is cancer a cleverer enemy than we thought? Plus...
Genes, ageing and metabolism
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - October 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsCould we one day be popping pills that tweak our metabolism and make us live longer? It's not as far off as you might think. Plus, the cow genome goes large, bat flu flies into focus, and an untidy gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Long live our genes
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - September 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsEvery day we get older, and whether you're desperately resisting the march of time, or embracing the ageing process, most of us would agree we want to live as long, healthy lives as possible. We'll be finding out how genetics research can help. Plus, making fingers with Alan Turing, growing lizar...
Genes for sore eyes
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - August 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsFrom the beauty of a sunset or the ugliness of war to the smile on a loved one's face, our eyes bring us all kinds of information about the world around us. now researchers are working to develop new therapies for people who have lost this precious sense. Plus, smelling elephants, marmoset twins,...
Issues for genetic testing
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - July 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsWhether we like it or not, we're heading further along the road of genetic testing, not just for single genes but for complex diseases and even ancestry. But can the results of gene tests change our behaviour? Plus colouring crows, electric eels, gluing chromosomes and a sketchy gene of the month...
Gene therapy - Cystic fibrosis, blindness and more
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - June 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsTwenty years ago, gene therapy was a great hope for the future of medicine - directly tinkering with faulty genes to cure diseases, but progress has been slow. Now, things seem to be changing. Plus, silencing crickets, evolving brain and brawn, and a flowery gene of the month. Like this podcast? ...
Nature, nurture and wiring the brain
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - May 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsThe more we understand about the genetic variations that affect our brains, the more questions are raised - for example, are we a product of nature or nurture, and what should we test for? Plus, why Y loss is bad for men, the usefulness of junk DNA, and a crunchy gene of the month. Like this podc...
Genes, depression and schizophrenia
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - April 13, 2014 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsAround one in four adults in the UK experiences mental health problems in any year, and mental illness is a major problem for sufferers, their loved ones, and society. It's becoming clear that genes are involved, but what do we actually know? Plus, artificial chromosomes, autism in the womb, and ...
DNA damage and repair
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - March 14, 2014 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsEvery second your DNA is under assault - not just from chemicals in our environment or food, but from the hurly-burly of life within our own cells. We'll be finding out how DNA gets damaged and repaired, and how researchers are exploiting this to find better treatments for cancer. Plus, liver fro...
Smells like gene spirit
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - February 14, 2014 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsSmell is probably the oldest sense, hardwired right into our brains and closely linked to memory. Now researchers are trying to unravel the complex genetics that underpin it. Plus, contagious dog genital cancers, gene therapy for blindness, and a rather slimy gene of the month. Like this podcast?...
Now hear this
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - January 14, 2014 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsHearing loss is distressing, whether it occurs later in life or in childhood. Now researchers are starting to unpick the genetic causes behind some of these problems. Plus, mice on drugs, stress and death, and a wobbly gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked S...
Taking shape
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - December 14, 2013 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsAcross the natural world, cells organise themselves into a wonderful array of shapes and structures. But how do they do this? Plus, building bones, plant sex in space, and a rather plump gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Come together
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - November 14, 2013 00:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsAll living cells are made up of protein molecules - but how do they organise themselves into structures? Plus bee sex, tough mice, and a happily married gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Have a heart
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - October 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsThe heart is a vital biological pump, beating around a billion times in a lifetime. But faulty genes can cause big problems. Plus, taming the tiger genome, solving citrus sickness, and our gene of the month is for all you hopeless romantics out there. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporti...
Genes and genealogy
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - September 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsWho do you think you are? And is the answer in your genes? This month we're delving into genes and genealogy. Plus, putting an end to genetic determinism, and an ancient Egyptian gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Genes, infections and immunity
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - August 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsWhy can some people stay fit as a fiddle, while other seem to catch every bug that's going? As you might expect, the answer lies in our genes. Plus, a multitude of mutant mice, the state of gene therapy for epilepsy, and an unseeing gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporti...
Let's talk about sex
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - July 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsSummer loving is in the air, so what better time to think about sex? But we're not going to get graphic - we're talking about the genetics of sex determination. Plus, why turkeys need a wingman, figuring out fingerprints, and a leggy gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by support...
The future of fingerprinting
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - June 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsOur genes are our unique calling card, and DNA analysis has been used to solve crimes and resolve paternity disputes for decades. Now new genetic technology promises to revolutionise medicine. Plus, we meet the man who invented genetic fingerprinting, discuss Angelina Jolie's breasts, and savour ...
Genomics - Hope or hype?
Naked Genetics, from the Naked Scientists - May 13, 2013 23:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 84 ratingsGenetic technology is expanding at a pace that few can keep up with, with huge amounts of data being generated every week. But is this explosion of information delivering meaningful advances for patients? Plus, how one scientist tracked down the gene fault behind his own disease, what sequencing ...
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