Matthew Cobb, science author and Professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester, has been re-evaluating the role of Rosalind Franklin in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Cordelia Langford: The stories behind the sequencing
Cordelia Langford is the Director of Scientific Operations at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Her career has spanned the early days of DNA sequencing to the Human Genome Project and today’s industrial-scale genomic pipelines.
Lucy van Dorp: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 around the world, from animals to humans and back again
At the beginning of 2020, UCL group leader Lucy van Dorp set to work using her genetic analysis skills to track the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it spread and mutated in animals as well as humans, providing vital insights to help us understand and tackle the pandemic.
Cecilia Lindgren: Understanding the genetics of obesity to support healthy weight loss
Cecilia Lindgren is Professor of Genomic Endocrinology & Metabolism at the University of Oxford, and director of the Big Data Institute. She’s dedicated her career to understanding why and how people become overweight and obese, and how we can help them.
Turi King: Digging up the past with DNA sequencing
Professor Turi King led the genetic identification on the remains of King Richard III in a carpark in Leicester. We chat about what that experience was like, the ethics of sequencing long-dead humans and who should be involved in those ethical decisions.
Could your DNA become art?
Discover how bio-inspired artists Paul Vanouse and Heather Dewey-Hagborg are incorporating DNA into their work.
CSI Renaissance: DNA from Da Vinci, Beethoven and Van Gogh
Researchers are uncovering the secrets of legends like Da Vinci, Beethoven and Van Gogh by sequencing DNA from historical artefacts and living relatives.
Faking it: Using DNA to authenticate art
Modern-day DNA technology is helping to solve the ancient problem of art forgery.
Meet the DNA Detectives hunting the causes of cancer
We’re chasing down the perpetrator of a scientific Whodunnit, joining the DNA detectives on the hunt for the causes of cancer.
Thomas Boothby: Surviving at the extremes of life
Prof. Thomas Boothby studies how tardigrades survive extreme conditions and how we can use these adaptations to improve human health, both on Earth and in space.
João Pedro de Magalhães: Old whale, new tricks
João Pedro de Magalhães studies some of the longest lived animals in the world, like the bowhead whale which can live for 200 years, to understand how we can improve human ageing.
Linda Goodman: Stealing secrets from sleepy squirrels
Dr Linda Goodman tells us about the research Fauna Bio are doing into the hibernation adaptations of 13-lined ground squirrels, and how it might help humans recover from heart attacks.
Matt Dillon: Taking a trip to Genome Island
We chat to Matt Dillon, creator of the webcomic Genome Island - a kind of anarchic Jurassic Park, with plenty of adventures, jokes, and gene editing.
Rishi Nag: Genomics! The Musical
We catch up with Rishi Nag, creator of Genomics! The Musical, a one-man stage show packed with songs about the science of DNA and heredity.
Jonathan Roberts: Does it matter how genetics portrayed in popular culture?
Genetic counsellor Jonathan Roberts discusses how genetics is portrayed in pop culture, why it matters, and what could be done differently.
Syabira Yusoff: How an edible DNA double helix bake helped to win the Great British Bake Off
2022 Great British Bakeoff winner Syabira Yusoff shares her love of genetics, and what went into her eye-catching edible DNA sculpture.
Kira Dineen: A genetic counsellor’s view on DNA testing
Kira Dineen discusses what Chris Hemsworth’s APOE gene findings mean, her role as a genetic counsellor, and the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer genetic tests.
Sexing chicks: How genetically modified female-only chickens could transform the egg industry
New GM technology that selects only female chicks to hatch could improve animal welfare - but what might be the real cost?
Why Y bye-bye? Is the Y chromosome disappearing and will men really go extinct?
The Y chromosome is shrinking - but this doesn’t mean that males will vanish altogether. For the Amami spiny rat, this has already happened - so how do they cope?
Chromosomal control: How X and Y chromosomes control genetic sex determination
XX, XY, ZZ and ZW - we take a look at how genetics controls sex.