As 2023 draws to a close, we’re bringing you a smorgasbord of previously unaired clips from some of our favourite interviews this year.
All in Genetic testing
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.
S6.13: Kings, car parks and consent: should we sequence DNA from human remains?
We’re venturing into ancient territory and archaeological digs, excavating the complex ethics of extracting and sequencing DNA from human remains. We chat to Prof. Turi King about her role uncovering the body King Richard III and who decides which research gets done.
S6.07: Chris Hemsworth took a genetic test for Alzheimer's. Should you?
We’re discussing Chris Hemsworth’s recent Alzheimer's risk findings and the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer DNA testing with genetic counsellor and host of the podcast DNA Today, Kira Dineen.
S6.04: The diagnostic odyssey: A journey into genetic testing for rare diseases
We’re off on a journey to the world of rare genetic disorders, exploring the diagnostic odyssey that patients go on in search of answers and new approaches for treatment.
S5.24: Bats, boats and buried bodies: the hidden power of environmental DNA
In this episode we’re testing the air for tigers and digging up dead bodies as we explore the exciting new field of environmental DNA. Dr Sally Le Page chats with Prof. Elizabeth Clare about sampling the DNA of rare species from the air, and Dr Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser and Charles Konsitzke tells us about their project using eDNA to recover the missing bodies of fallen service personnel.
S5.16 Hap-pea 200th birthday, Mendel!
We celebrate the 200th birthday of Gregor Mendel and learn about the latest genetics research that would have blown his mind.
S5.13 Genetics at your fingertips: stories from the science of identity
We’re looking at the stories at your fingertips. Dr Sally Le Page uncovers how excrement espionage could bring down a superpower, and unearths a 100 year old family secret. But it’s not just genetic fingerprinting we’re interested in. We also grasp the genetics of fingerprints, and what they tell us about our early life in the womb.
S5.12 In the blood: using circulating DNA to detect and monitor cancer
We’re taking a closer look at the red stuff, finding out what a few millilitres of blood can reveal about the development, progression and treatment of cancer within the body.