S3.17 Rebel Cell: Cancer, evolution and the science of life

Kat: Hello, and welcome to Genetics Unzipped - the Genetics Society podcast, with me, Dr Kat Arney. In this episode we bring you exclusive excerpts from my new book, Rebel Cell: Cancer, evolution and the science of life, exploring where cancer came from, where it’s going, and how we might beat it.

I’m happy to announce that my new book Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution and the Science of Life  is finally published in the UK, and you can find all the links to buy it from your favourite retailer - as well as signed book plate stickers - at rebelcellbook.com  

We’re giving away a signed copy of the UK edition - just retweet our pinned tweet at @geneticsunzip about this episode, or email podcast@geneticsunzipped.com with ‘Prize draw’ in the subject line. We’ll select one lucky winner at random and pop a copy in the post. And there’ll be another giveaway in a couple of months for the US edition, out 29th September, so look out for that too.

So what’s it all about? 

Many of us think of cancer as a contemporary killer, a disease of our own making caused by our modern lifestyles. But, as I explain in the book that perception just isn’t true.

Although it might be rare in many species, cancer is the enemy lurking within every complex organism. Why? Because cancer is a bug in the system of life. We get cancer because we can't not get it.

Cancer has always been with us. It killed our hominid ancestors, the mammals they evolved from and the dinosaurs that trampled the ground before that. Tumours grow in pets, livestock and wild animals. Even tiny jelly-like Hydra - creatures that are little more than a tube full of water - can get cancer.

Cancer starts when cells rebel against the social norms of the body, throwing off their molecular shackles and growing out of control in a shambolic mockery of normal life. This is why we can't avoid cancer: because the very genes that drive it are essential for life itself.

The revolution has raged, on and off, for millions of years. But it was only in the twentieth century that doctors and scientists made any significant progress in understanding and treating cancer, and it is only in the past few decades that we’ve finally begun to make meaningful improvements in survival.

Now the game is changing. Scientists have infiltrated cancer's cellular rebellion and are finally learning its secrets. Seeing cancer in a new way – as rebel cells adapting and evolving within the landscape of the body – is pointing towards new ways of preventing and controlling cancer in the long term or even driving it to extinction altogether.

How will this story end?

You’ll have to read the book to find out! I’ve learned so much about cancer - and about genetics, biology and evolution - uncovered amazing stories and spoken with so many brilliant researchers while writing the book, and I’m absolutely thrilled to finally be able to share it with you. Just head to rebelcellbook.com to order a copy. And if you just can’t get enough of the sound of my voice, I also narrated the audiobook.

If you’d like to be in with a chance to win a signed copy of the UK version of Rebel Cell, you can enter our prize draw – If you’re on Twitter, please retweet or reply to our pinned tweet about this episode, or alternatively, drop an email to podcast@geneticsunzipped.com with ‘Prize Draw’ in the subject line

We’ll select one lucky winner at random, and I’ll pop a signed copy in the post. And there’ll be another giveaway in a couple of months for the US edition, which is coming out on the 29th of September, so look out for that too. 

That’s all for now. We’ll be back next time with more from the world of genes, genomes and DNA - and before that, there’s another bonus episode of Genetics Shambles to fill your ears.

For more information about this podcast including show notes, transcripts, links, references, music credits and everything else head over to geneticsunzipped.com You can find us on Twitter @geneticsunzip and please do take a moment to rate and review us on Apple podcasts - it really makes a difference and helps more people discover the show.

Genetics Unzipped is written and presented by me, Kat Arney. It is produced by First Create the Media for The Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics. You can find out more and apply to join at genetics.org.uk  Our theme music was composed by Dan Pollard, and the logo was designed by James Mayall, and audio production was by Hannah Varrall. Thanks for listening, and until next time, goodbye. 

• All music and sound effects licensed from Envato or Epidemic Sound.