We explore the impact that Gregor Mendel and his populariser William Bateson have had on the past century of genetics, and ask whether there could have been a more Weldonian view of the world.
All in Episodes
S6.24: Genes, junk and the ‘dark genome’
We discover how 500,000 whole genomes will help medical research, plumb the depths of the ‘dark genome’, and ponder how much of our DNA is just junk.
S6.23: 40 years of HIV: the disease that broke the rules
With 2023 marking 40 years since the discovery of HIV, we're looking back over four decades of AIDS, from the earliest whispers of a mysterious new disease to fighting back against this deadly virus.
S6.22: Dumb luck: Amazing adaptations from happy little accidents
Author and science journalist Rebecca Coffey chats with us about some amazing adaptations and Darwinian delights from her book, Beyond Primates. She tells us about wasp facial recognition genes, how yeast epigenetics explain the Dutch Hunger Winter and a dinner party tale of spider cannibalism.
S6.21: Time of your life: how circadian rhythms shape the world
We’re clocking in to chat about the genetics of circadian rhythms. How can molecules tell the time, why don’t we have drugs for jet lag yet and could a midnight snack stop malaria in its tracks?
S6.20: That’s so extra: Exploring the weird world of extrachromosomal DNA
We explore the weird and wonderful world of extrachromosomal DNA - what it is, what it does, and why it breaks the normal rules of inheritance.
S6.19: Food for the future: Helping plants adapt to a changing world
We’re finding out how plants adapt to a changing environment, and how we might be able to give them a helping hand.
S6.18: An Evolutionary Revolutionary: Alfred Russel Wallace and the discovery of natural selection
We’re exploring the epic life of Alfred Russel Wallace; adventurer, naturalist and co-discoverer of natural selection. Biologist and author, Jim Costa, recounts the life of this often forgotten founding father of evolution.
S6.17: Vax to the future: The science of DNA and RNA vaccines
We look at the science behind DNA and RNA vaccines. How do they work? What can they do? And how can they be made at scale so that more people around the world can benefit from them?