Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Nice Genes!
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to ‘Nice Genes!’ Season 4 | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:02:31 | |
…98, 99, 100! Ready or not, here we come with a brand new season of 'Nice Genes!' Science is like a game of hide and seek, and genomics is one of its stealthiest players, challenging us to uncover its "see-crets". Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers for Season 4 of Nice Genes! where we shine an ultraviolet light on the hidden forces that shape our world– and investigate the genomic questions you didn’t even know you had. Like, is “clean beauty” worth the hype? Can genomics help solve the looming threat of antibiotic resistance? And WTF (what the fawn) is chronic wasting disease?! Get ready for eye-opening episodes that are helping make the invisible, visible– with genomics! Because sometimes, the most exciting scientific questions are hidden in plain sight. | |||
| Three Blind Mice | 09 Apr 2024 | 00:06:48 | |
How Mice and CRISPR are Reversing Blindness One small step for science, one furry leap for mousekind. Scientists have found a way to reverse a common mutation that causes blindness in both people and mice using gene editing technology. References: In Mouse Study, Scientists Use Gene Editing to Reverse a Major Cause of Blindness | US News Credits: Children's Songs by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians | Internet Archive | |||
| Nature is Queer | 03 Oct 2023 | 00:35:24 | |
Questioning persistent myths about same-sex behaviour in nature Can we predict who we love from our genetics alone? For LGBT History Month in October, Dr. Kaylee Byers is joined by co-host Dr. Julia Monk to look at what our genes teach us about diverse forms of sexuality and identity. Starting by witnessing a pair of male penguins cozying up, our hosts join flippers to unearth research from naturalists who have recorded same-sex behaviour in the wild. Then they invite socio-geneticist Dr. Robbee Wedow to guide us through his own research, where he puts the question: "Is there a gay gene?" to the test. — Highlights: (00:30) A match made in pebbles (07:15) Buried papers, Darwinian Paradoxes, and reframing same-sex behaviour (20:27) Is there a Gay Gene? 'Damned if you do damned if you don't.' — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3FNfz8C — References: Gay Penguins Klaus, Jones ‘rekindled their romance’ at Melbourne aquarium | New York Daily News Nature is queer. Queer ecologists want us to learn from it. | Grist Is nature Queer? | Out & About | CBC Many Genes Influence Same-Sex Sexuality, Not a Single ‘Gay Gene’ | The New York Times No 'gay gene', but study finds genetic links to sexual behavior | Reuters How Earnest Research Into Gay Genetics Went Wrong | Wired — Credit: Gentoo Penguin · Pygoscelis papua | xeno-canto "No Gay Gene"-Born This Way Is A Lie Says GOP Lawmaker | Michael McIntee Australian current affairs programme "The 7.30 Report" (1995) "Gay Brains" | The 7.30 Report | |||
| Bananageddon | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:32:47 | |
Challenging assumptions around food security Is the world running out of bananas? Well, no. Not…yet — but nature is flashing a big, yellow, squishy "caution" sign. In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers peels away our assumptions about food security by looking at bananas. Venturing Down Under, we connect with Dr. James Dale from Queensland University of Technology – a bona fide banana expert, who tells us exactly why this iconic yellow fruit could one day become a rarity. But, with the help of a clever genomic idea, he and his intrepid team of Aussie researchers and farmers are looking at how to hit "abort" on complete Bananageddon. Special thanks to Mark Smith with Darwin Fruit Farm Party Limited for providing field recordings for this episode. — Highlights: (01:48) Peeling into bananageddon (10:33) The cavendish equation, a lucky banana swap (20:57) Safety net, saving the cavendish — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/46THrTU — References: Why Don’t Banana Candies Taste Like Real Bananas? | Science Friday What We Can Learn From the Near-Death of the Banana | TIME Banana Wars: Power, Production, and History in the Americas | Duke University Press Chinese coolies | National Library Board The Story of the Cavendish Banana | Tenerife Weekly Not your mother’s banana | Bananageddon Fungal attacks threaten global food supply, say experts | The Guardian The banana is dying. The race is on to reinvent it before it's too late | Wired — Credit: Journey to Banana Land: By the United Fruit Company (1950) | Institute of Visual Training Ag Report: Fighting rural farm crime; banana disease; and ag grant award | ABC News | |||
| Genes Jump | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:31:01 | |
Cross-examining the origins of our base pairs One of our most foundational assumptions is that ‘Our DNA is our own.’ But what if our DNA is stolen? There's a puzzling phenomenon called 'horizontal gene transfer' in which one organisms' genetics jumps to another. Dr. Kaylee Byers is joined by invertebrate specialists Dr. Anna Klompen from the Stowers Institute, and Dr. Jessica Goodheart, a marine biologist hunting for nudibranchs, "gene pirates" of the sea. And Dr. Ted Turlings will tell us how his trip to China led to an exciting discovery about the whitefly -- another common but crafty genetic thief. A final word of advice. Next time a goopy organism bumps into you in a crowd, make sure to check your genes! A special thanks to the laboratory of Professor Youjun Zhang Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing. Drs. Zhaojiang Guo, Jixing Xia, and Zezhong Yang. — Highlights: (00:00) Finding the Transforming Principle (11:34) A colorful and slick ocean pirate (17:50) The hunt for a fluttering and destructive gene thief — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/49qSB4T — Resources: Frederick Griffith - British Bacteriologist | Britannica Griffith’s Experiment - Progress in Molecular Biology and Transitional Science | Science Direct 20 Cool Genomics Facts - 13&14: Antibiotic resistance | Genome BC Ancient viral DNA may help humans fight infections | National Institute of Health Nematocyst sequestration evolution | The Goodheart lab First Report of Horizontal Gene Transfer Between Plant and Animal | The Scientist Pretty Sly for a Whitefly | The Atlantic First known gene transfer from plant to insect identified | Nature Whiteflies stole a gene from plants to survive their lethal toxins | Earth.com — Credit: Lady Margot Asquith on the outbreak of World War I Roman Styran | |||
| Welcome to 'Nice Genes!' Season 3 | 22 Aug 2023 | 00:02:38 | |
What did your grade four teacher say? "Never Assume. It makes an..." well, you know the rest. We all fall into the trap of our own assumptions from time to time. But in the weird and wonderful world of science, assumptions can misguide research madly off in all directions. That's why challenging assumptions is so important! Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! podcast team on a journey to learn the truth about some of our most deeply held assumptions. We’ll uncover whether our DNA is truly our own, or a product of genetic theft. We’ll question how societal baggage colours commonly held views about weight and health. And we’ll ponder the genetic puzzle that many assume holds the key to who we are, and who we love. So buckle up your genomics belt and help us follow the assumptions "paper trail." Along the way -- you just might learn the truth about some of our most deeply held societal beliefs. | |||
| Gene Shorts! E02: Mother Coquita | 08 Aug 2023 | 00:07:20 | |
How a Reptilian 'Virgin Birth' Baffled Scientists Dr. Kaylee Byers and Producer Phoebe Melvin share one lonely crocodile's story that surprised scientists and sheds light on their distant relatives that once wandered the earth. Resources: 'Virgin Birth' recorded in Crocodile for 1st time ever | Live Science Monsieur Crocodile - Les 5 Pères | Austin Foundation Crocodile Tears - Eddy Howard and His Orchestra | Austin Foundation | |||
| Gene Shorts! E01: Heart of a Grizzly | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:08:10 | |
Welcome to our first Gene Shorts Episode! It's the trademark storytelling you love in Nice Genes! but bite sized. In this episode Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Producer Phoebe Melvin about a potentially life saving discovery lurking in the damp depths of brown bear caves. | |||
| Un-Digging the Hole | 27 Dec 2022 | ||
Repairing the Environment: Climate Special Part 2 With disappearing species, plastic-filled oceans, and environmental commitments lagging behind global targets, it's easy to feel like humanity's fate is already sealed. But can we 'science' our way out of it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Germ Spotting | 13 Dec 2022 | ||
Tracking diseases using genomics Stop the presses! New research shows that viruses locked in the Arctic permafrost for thousands of years have the potential to infect present-day organisms. Accompanied with a warming planet, this issue is really starting to thaw out. So what can brave scientists and institutions on the frontlines of tracking diseases do about it? And how can understanding our genomic history with diseases over thousands of years better prepare us in the fight to overcome them?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Cracking the Coral Code | 29 Nov 2022 | ||
Preparing the Environment: Climate Special Part 1 In part 1 of our climate special, we revisit our oceans to look at the rocky atolls and reefs that are home to colourful world builders, coral! Resources: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Calls from the Deep | 15 Nov 2022 | ||
A genomic whale of a story Things aren’t always what they seem on the surface, especially when it comes to our oceans. So many mysteries hum below its watery surface. So, you may just have to use your ears when it's too dark to see exactly what's going on down there. Special thanks to Captain Gaelen Krause of the Island Odyssey, for capturing recordings on his journey to search for whales along the British Columbia coast. Thank you to BCwhales.org, North Coast Cetacean Society, for providing hydrophone recordings in this episode. Credit to Joshua Zeman and Bleecker Street Media for providing audio clips from their documentary The Loneliest Whale: The Seach for 52. And finally, credit to Watkins Mammal Sound Database with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for access to their whale recordings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Are You Smarter Than a Chimp? | 05 Mar 2024 | 00:06:25 | |
How Deleted DNA Reveals the Origins of Humanity In 2007, researchers pitted humans against chimpanzees in a memory test competition. Who was the victor of this mental jungle gym? Phoebe Melvin and Dr. Kaylee Byers delve into Yale University research that reveals what DNA humans share with our primate relatives but, more intriguingly, what sets us apart. References: Mankind’s Missing Puzzle Pieces: The “Deleted” Genes That Made Us Human | Yale University Chimps Beat Humans on Memory Tasks | ABC News Credits: ABC News, Chimps vs Humans | ABC News & laffsteve | |||
| The Devil’s in the Details | 31 Oct 2022 | ||
The Importance of Biodiversity Conservation is often about protecting the species that still wander around our Earth. But what about those that once did but have gone extinct? In this Halloween-inspired episode, we take a look into how one spooky idea has gone from science fiction to science fact, de-extinction style. Resources:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Pizzly Bears, anyone? | 18 Oct 2022 | ||
Protecting Local Wildlife Icons What do you get when you cross a polar bear and a grizzly… and why should you care? Special thanks to Gaelen Krause, Captain of the Island Odyssey with Bluewater Adventures and Ellie Lamb, Naturalist and Hiking Guide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Welcome to 'Nice Genes!' Season 2 | 27 Sep 2022 | ||
Species loss, warming temperatures, and pollution are just the tip of the iceberg concerning the challenges of climate change. Oh, and you can forget about that iceberg... because it's melting too. The point is, it's easy to feel down on our luck on this planet we all know and love. But what if we don't have to feel that way? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Cold Case | 16 Aug 2022 | 00:42:00 | |
Solving murder mysteries with genomics Check out this episode's Learn-A-Long at the following link: https://bit.ly/3vULWxp
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Nodding our Tusks to Heroic Mutations | 02 Aug 2022 | ||
Just like any good superhero comic, we start this episode with the science going incredibly wrong. Think: vats of toxic waste producing evil mutants that ravage the city. Or maybe not so evil. It really depends on your perspective. Just like the X-men, genetic mutations get a bad rap in the public eye. But they aren’t all nasty. Resources:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Decoding Ancestry | 19 Jul 2022 | 00:44:18 | |
Race is not genetic. Resources:
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| The Invisible Footprint | 05 Jul 2022 | 00:44:00 | |
How the hunt for wild species leads to eDNA Resources:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Right Meds | 21 Jun 2022 | 00:35:48 | |
Can genomics find the perfect antidepressant for your body? Resources:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Genetics vs. Genomics | 07 Jun 2022 | ||
“Genomics? Isn’t that just Genetics? Are we making up words now?” Listen to 'Nice Genes!' wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by Genome British Columbia. Resources:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Welcome to 'Nice Genes!' | 06 May 2022 | ||
From healthcare and biotechnology to forests and fisheries, the evolving study of genomics is leading to some of the most exciting and world-changing discoveries in science and medicine. Like – did you know that your individual genomic signature can help determine the healthcare treatment you receive? Or that mapping the genomes of trees can inform forest management?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Jackalopes, Mythical Critters and the Cure for Cancer | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:07:14 | |
How an Oddball Bunny Saved Millions of Lives Can a make-believe tale have real-life consequences? Perhaps a 1930s legend from a snowy town in Wyoming illustrates signals just how the strange things found in nature can become life-saving treatments. References: Are jackalopes real? | Live Science New Research Shows the HPV Cancer Vaccine Saves Lives | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Credits: The Legend Of Bigfoot | Internet Archive (CC) Somewhere In Wyoming 1930 Joe Green Orchestra | Internet Archive (CC) | |||
| All the Colours of the Rainbow | 09 Jan 2024 | 00:07:16 | |
Meet the Magic of Mushrooms on Colour Blindness Roughly 300 million people have a colour vision deficiency. But with a few mushrooms and some magic, those who experience colourblindness might be able to see a whole range of colors for the first time. References: Magic Mushrooms seem to have a strange effect on color blindness | Science Alert | |||
| Reconciling the Truth | 12 Dec 2023 | 00:30:30 | |
Indigenous Environmental Stewardship Description: The Indigenous peoples of what’s now known as Western Canada had a relationship of reciprocity with the land. But when explorers from Europe arrived eager to tame the land and absorb its vast natural resources these two world views came to a head. And caught in between an iconic species of the Pacific Northwest—the Gary Oak—has become threatened. So how can we reconcile the harmful assumptions of the past that overlooked other ways of managing ecosystems? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Co-Host Dr. Lyana Patrick, look to the forests, rivers, and oceans of Turtle Island to uncover the various food systems and traditional stewardship practices that existed before colonization. Ethnobotonist, John Bradley Williams shares the traditional use of Garry Oaks and how they became systematically destroyed. Dr. Tabitha Robin from the University of British Columbia shares her experience working with and studying Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Lastly, Canadian Anthropologist and National Geographic explorer Dr. Wade Davis, through insights from his career visiting communities around the world shares how we can dismantle the prevailing biases that continue to threaten the health of our planet. — Highlights: (3:53 - 8:55) An icon on the brink, J.B. Williams shares the origins and challenges of Garry Oak meadows (11:24 - 14:50) Moving forward, Dr. Tabitha Robin shares the overlooked history of Indigenous food sovereignty (18:45 - 23:20) How an academic divide threatens our planet, anthropology lessons from National Geographic's Dr. Wade Davis — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3GPwxnf — Resources: The Strait of Juan de Fuca is mentioned for the first time in April 1596 | History Link The Garry Oak Learning Meadow | Parks Canada Conservation status of native tree species in British Columbia | Global Ecology and Conservation Bison Bellows: Indigenous Hunting Practices | National Parks Service Weir Fishing | Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence Puyallup Tribe hosts c’abid (camas) harvest at PLU | Pacific Luthern University Saving the planet means listening to Indigenous peoples: Wade Davis | CBC — Credit: | |||
| Probing Pain | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:30:13 | |
Challenging our assumptions about pain When Jackie Gonzalez was just young, doctors assumed that she was pining for attention when she restlessly tried to rub her feet and describing that she was in constant pain. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that doctors and scientists diagnosed her with Erythromelalgia, also known as ‘Man on Fire Syndrome’. It's a rare condition, and even rarer for people to be born with it, like Jackie was. But what if this uncommon ailment could be cured with the help of an even less common animal? Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Adele Gonzalvez from the University of Sydney on her work to understand the genetic properties of platypus venom. Researchers indicate that their peculiar toxin could put a halt to chronic pain. Meanwhile, producer Sean Holden, puts on rubber waders and sloshes into the boggy waters of Southern Australia to find the notoriously elusive platypus and its venom. — Highlights: (6:28) A lifetime of pain, Jackie Gonzalez on having Erythromelalgia (13:51) A weird and wonderful platypus with Adele Gonzalvez (21:30) On the platypus prowl, Josh Griffith and his team search for platypus and their venom — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3Nv5X6v — Resources: Next-gen painkillers from nature’s deadliest life forms | The University of Queensland You Won’t Think the Platypus Is So Cute if You Feel the Excruciating Pain of Its Venom | Slate The Science of Pain | GI Society The mysterious science of pain - Joshua W. Pate | TED-Ed Human pain and genetics: some basics | British Journal of Pain Genetic contributions to pain: a review of findings in humans | Oral Dis. 2008 Nov;14(8):673-82 Why Do I Have Pain? | KidsHealth Medical Experts Channelopathy-associated congenital insensitivity to pain | Medline Plus Erythromelalgia | StatPearls Publishing SCN9A gene sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 | Medline Plus — Credit: Special thanks to Jackie Gonzalez from the Erythromelalgia Association for providing field recordings of her daily experience living with EM. | |||
| The Circadian Rhythm | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:28:19 | |
Challenging our assumptions about sleep Sleep is essential to our lives, but our perception of how it functions in our non-waking life is not always well understood. So in the mires of our busy daily lives do we overlook sleep by seeing it as a means of refilling our energy for a productive day? By questioning this assumption, one term rolls from out of the haze: The ‘Circadian Rhythm’. Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Dr. Hiroki Ueda from the University of Tokyo in the Faculty of Medicine on demystifying the links between our sleep and genomics. Then neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Coogan shares the connection between sleep and ADHD. Finally, we hear from Dr. Ueda and Dr. Hiroshi Ono, from Hitotsubashi University Business School, on how their homeland of Japan is reckoning with an off-balance relationship with sleep and work. — Highlights: (06:37) - Clocks in our bodies, understanding Circadian Rythms (10:17) - Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder and later sleep, a chicken or egg dilemma (15:19) - Challenging overwork in Japan and the importance of sleep — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/47PXwuv — Resources: Molecular Mechanisms of REM Sleep | Neurosci The ability to dream may be genetic | Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) Next-Generation Mice Genetics for Circadian Studies | Neuromethods Evolution of temporal order in living organisms | Journal of Circadian Rhythms Learn about the bunker experiment to understand the human biological clock | Britannica Genetic sleep deprivation: using sleep mutants to study sleep functions | EMBO reports Insomnia: Definition, Prevalence, Etiology, and Consequences | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine No Sleep for Japan? Survey Reveals Half of Population May Have Insomnia | Nippon.com Why Sleep Matters: Quantifying the Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep | Rand Corporation Japan has some of the longest working hours in the world. It’s trying to change | CNBC Credits: Dr. Rackeb Tesfaye Curbing death by overwork | Financial Times Why does Japan Work So Hard? | CNBC Explains Worked to Death: Japan questions high-pressure corporate culture | France 24 English Inside Japan’s growing ‘lonely death’ clean-up service | CNN International How can governments help stop overwork? | The Question | CBC News: The National | |||
| The Dose Makes the Poison | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:35:07 | |
Challenging our assumptions on toxins What’s more terrifying than the true life tales of bloodcurdling and breathstopping toxins? This Hallows' Eve we're taking a page from the history books to make sense of puzzling poisons of our past and present. Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Toxicologist Dr. Kimberly Garrett as they connect the dots across the globe of some of the most notorious and subtle poisonings in history. From investigating the final words of a disgraced emperor, tragic fates of conquesting explorers, wisdom from whimsical alchemists and desperate Victorian candy maker ploys, they demystify the distinction between necessary warning labels to lifelines concocted with a drop of poison. In these ghoulish stories, a healthy dose of information could be a lifesaver. — Highlights: (08:46) - Origins of 'the dose Makes the poison', a sometimes right alchemist (20:30) - A deathly candy maker on hallows eve (23:28) - Toxins in the water, understanding PFAS — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/47ub5Qo — Resources: Was Napolean Poisoned? | American Museum of Natural History A Visit to Longwood | Napoleon.org Pick Your Poison - 12 Toxic Tales | National Geographic Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Safe Shellfish | Fisheries Research Board of Canada Unprecedented toxic algal blooms impact on Tasmanian seafood industry Paracelsus, the Alchemist Who Wed Medicine to Magic | Science History Institute “The Dose Makes the Poison” | Chemical Safety Facts Everyday Toxicology – The dose makes the poison & the cure | Michigan State University Box Jellyfish | National Geographic Following Lewis and Clark’s Trail of Mercurial Laxatives | Discover How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 | Atlas Obscura PFAS Resources | PFAS Exchange PFAS Free Producsts| PFAS Central The US National Institutes of Health's searchable chemical database | PubChem Improving governance of “forever chemicals” in the US and beyond | One Earth Arsenic Exposure and Toxicology: A Historical Perspective | Society of Toxicology — Credit: Bonapartes Retreat - Kay Starr - Pee Wee King | Capitol Rule, Britannia - Royal Choral Society - The Philharmonia Orchestra | His Master’s Voice | |||
| Not All Bad | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:35:24 | |
Challenging our assumptions around fatness ShantaQuilette Carter was in her late 30’s when she had her first stroke. It felt like death was lurking over her shoulder. But when her doctor suggests fending it off by using a drug she had never heard of before, a boatload of questions come to the surface. Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with experts to challenge the everyday assumptions we make about our health and weight. She speaks with professor and journalist Harriet Brown on the fact-finding mission she embarked on to help her daughter struggling with anorexia. Then, Dr. Michael Lyon, with the Obesity Medicine and Diabetes Institute, shares the scaly lizard origins of one of the world's most powerful tools in treating type 2 diabetes. — Highlights: (06:57) The drug that changed her life, ShantaQuilette on struggling with weight (09:00) How a lizard from Utah is saving lives, Dr. Michael Lyon explains the origins of Ozempic (17:00) Harriet Brown on a mission to display assumptions on weight and health — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3QM7EPi — Resources: Diabetes: Key Facts | The World Health Organization How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic | Global News I’m a Fat Activist. I Don’t Use the Word Fatphobia. Here’s Why | self.com An Aggressive New Approach to Childhood Obesity | The New York Times Body of Truth: By Harriet Brown | Da Capo Lifelong Books Is Body Positivity Glamourising Obesity | The Wellness Insider Why People Become Overweight | Harvard University Here’s How Your Genes Impact Your Ability to Lose Weight | healthline What Made Humans ‘the Fat Primate’ | Duke University Genes and Obesity | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention After his suicide, a man’s family says Ozempic should carry a warning label | ABC News — Credit: Ozempic commercial ™ | Ozempics TM New Ozempic lawsuit over alleged 'stomach paralysis' | WNN | ABC News Why Are Some Using Diabetes Drug Ozempic for Weight Loss? | Inside Edition | |||
| Cosmetic Clarity | 10 Sep 2024 | 00:33:34 | |
Separating Skincare Science Fact from Fiction Could your skincare be hiding more than just a few blemishes? Or, is the word “toxic” getting a li’l too much attention these days… You may have heard the buzz about endocrine-disrupting compounds that silently interfere with our hormones. But with so much misinformation online fueling the fear-fire, it’s hard to know what’s really harmful and what’s all hype. In our ‘Nice Genes!’ season 4 opener, host Dr. Kaylee Byers re-joins forces with the one and only Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam) to clear up some of the confusion surrounding cosmetic safety. With help from environmental toxicologist Dr. Isabelle Plante, we’re un(face)masking the science of dosage and exposure to decode cosmetic formulas and why it's more complex than TikTok would have you think! — Highlights: (06:55) Dr. Plante Defines Endocrine disruptors. (16:43) Dr. Plante talks about the relationship between endocrine disruptors and health concerns. (26:38) Science Sam highlights the important role of regulation. — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3ZAZHBf — Resources: 1. Clean Beauty Is Wrong and Won’t Give Us Safer Products - Lab Muffin 2. Parabens in Cosmetics - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 3. Parabens and Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer UK 4. The Association between Paraben Exposure and Human Health - MDPI 5. Parabens, Fragrance, Colorants, Talc: Debunking Bobby Parrish’s TikTok Misinformation - Lab Muffin 6. Endocrine Disruptors - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 7. Chapter: Parabens in Cosmetics - SpringerLink 8. Environmental Exposure to Parabens and Health Effects - Nature 9. Canadian Institute for Environmental Assessment - CIAPE ICEDA | |||
| The Antibiotic Debacle | 24 Sep 2024 | 00:31:35 | |
The hidden battle between medicine and microbes
Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have been our frontline defence against bacterial infections. But this revolutionary medicine is losing ground in the fight. Today, Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the biggest threats to human health– and the stakes only getting higher. But don’t panic, hope is on the horizon! In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers takes you on a journey of petri dishes, mouldy melons, and artifical intelligence to investigate our best hopes of curbing antibiotic resistance. She chats with Dr. Rylan Duivenstein about what’s happening in hospitals, and Dr. Nadine Ziemert about using genomics to help find new antibiotics before we run out of options. — Highlights: (01:37) Mark is faced with the possibility of Necrotizing Fasciitis. (04:32) Kaylee teaches us about the discovery of antibiotics. (08:05) Dr. Ryland Duivenstein explains how antibiotics work. (20:37) Dr. Nadine Ziemert explains how genomics is helping us discover new antibiotics. — Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/4eGsTeX — Resources: 1. Antibiotics: past, present and future - ScienceDirect 2. The real story behind penicillin - PBS NewsHour 3. The Forgotten Mother of Penicillin - Science History Institute 4. Alexander Fleming (1881–1955): Discoverer of penicillin - NCBI 5. Alexander Flemming Nobel Lecture Speech - Nobel Prize 6. How can we solve the antibiotic resistance crisis? - Gerry Wright 7. WHO - Antimicrobial Resistance - World Health Organization (WHO) 8. WHO updates list of drug-resistant bacteria most threatening to human health - World Health Organization (WHO) 9. Ziemert Lab - Translational Genome Mining for Natural Products - University of Tübingen | |||
| Testing, Testing HPV | 08 Oct 2024 | 00:27:52 | |
How genomics is shaping the future of cervical cancer screening [Content Warning: This episode mentions sexual assault and medical trauma.] Nearly 80% of people will get Human Papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Even though HPV is super common, the symptoms are often subtle or invisible and can sometimes lead to cervical cancer if left undetected. But thanks to new government initiatives like British Columbia’s (BC) self-screening program, cancer testing is levelling up. In this episode, BC resident Christina Price shares how an easy at-home HPV test helped her catch cancer early. Then, Dr. Aisha Lofters debunks persistent myths about HPV, and explains how these test kits are making screening more accessible, comfortable, and equitable. Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers to find out how this genomic tool is empowering people to take their healthcare into their own hands (literally!), and getting us closer to eliminating cervical cancer for good. If you, or someone you know needs support, you can call 1-800-563-0808 or find Canada-wide resources right here. – Highlights: (4:25) Christina talks about the steps that happen after receiving her result from the at home testing kit. (8:09) Dr. Lofters explains what HPV is, the symptoms and what differentiates different strains of HPV. (15:54) Dr. Lofters explains the two different methods for HPV screening (19:30) Dr. Lofters talk about some of the inequities and social barriers people face when finding and accessing healthcare. – Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3ONBa5i — Resources: 1. Human papillomavirus - Women's Health 2. Doctors say at-home screening for HPV could be an opportunity to 'eliminate a cancer sooner - CBC News 3. New self-screening program will help detect cervical cancer sooner - BC Gov News 4. Pap test - Canadian Cancer Society 5. When a pelvic exam is traumatic - Harvard Health 6. “Doing it on my own terms”: Transgender and nonbinary adults’ experiences with HPV self-swabbing home testing kits - National Library of Medicine | |||
| Fatal Attraction: Insect Edition | 22 Oct 2024 | 00:29:12 | |
The Deceptive Seduction of Femme Fatale Fireflies In the buzzin’ firefly nightlife scene, neon lights glow bright and sparks fly. But, there’s murder on the dancefloor… The infamous 'Femme Fatale' firefly has mastered the ultimate bait-and-switch seduction strategy, and these sly flies (that are really beetles, actually) aren’t interested in a happily ever after, instead they’re looking for a ‘one-bite stand.’ Get consumed in this episode by one of nature’s flashiest insects. Join host, Dr. Kaylee Byers, as she chats with Dr. Sarah Lower about the enchanting world of glow beetles. And later, Dr. Peter Andolfatto reveals how genomics is uncovering the secrets behind how Femme Fatale fireflies have evolved to resort to such drastic measures. Plus, find out what studying firefly toxin DNA could mean for future medical breakthroughs. – Highlights: (5:40) Dr. Sarah Lower covers some firefly basics (12:11) Dr. Lower on the deceptive strategy of the Femme Fatale Fireflies (19:21) Dr. Andolfatto explains how fireflies have evolved difference resistance strategies to toxins (26:02) Dr. Lower on how to get involved in firefly conservation – Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3OODRUb — Resources: 1. A Comprehensive Review of Firefly Conservation - NCBI 2. Firefly Genome and Its Role in Bioluminescence - Science Advances 3. Patterns of Firefly Species Extinction Risk - PNAS Nexus 4. Fireflies: Species at Risk of Extinction - Xerces Society 5. Sarah Lower - Faculty at Bucknell University - Bucknell University 6. Andolfatto Lab - Andolfatto Lab | |||
| Slipping Through the Spectrum | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:32:39 | |
Rethinking the Divide in Autism Diagnoses Dr. Hannah Belcher was already studying autism she found out she herself was Autistic. Getting her diagnosis felt like everything suddenly clicked… but why did it take so long to get answers? In this episode, Hannah shares her journey and talks about how many Autistic people, especially women, learn to mask their true selves to fit in– causing them to slip through the diagnostic cracks. Then, we invite Dr. John Constantino to break down the genetic underpinnings of Autism Spectrum Disoder and related conditions like ADHD—and how science is shaking up the genomic picture of what we thought we knew about this male-female bias. From outdated theories to “refrigerator mothers,” join hosts Dr. Kaylee Byers and Dr. Rackeb Tesfaye as they comb through the tangled web of sex bias and ask whether our current methods of studying neurodiversity is actually addressing the questions the people with ASD want answered? A Note on Language: When talking about Autism - semantics matter. So, it’s important to recognize the nuances of language. Many people in the Autism community prefer identity-first language, such as "Autistic person," as it centers Autism as a core part of their identity. Others, however, may prefer person-first language, like "person with Autism," which places the individual before the condition. We’ve used both forms of language in this episode, and we encourage respecting individual preferences by asking what each person is most comfortable with. For more on this, check out resources like the National Institutes of Health’s guide on writing respectfully about identity and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s explanation of identity-first language. Additionally, when we refer to ‘Autism risk’ in the context of academic research, it typically means an increased genetic likelihood of receiving an Autism diagnosis. However, we recognize that "risk" can imply a negative connotation (which we do not support.) Instead, we aim to discuss Autism in ways that honour the neurodiversity of all individuals. Lastly, regarding sex differences in Autism diagnoses, in this episode, we’re talking specifically about sex assigned at birth. Although we mention gender, we want to be clear that we aren’t exploring how Autism diagnoses may vary by gender identity—that area remains understudied! So, our conversation is focused on differences between males and females, and we look forward to seeing more research on the richly complex interactions between gender identitiy and neurodiversity in the future. Highlights: (6:32) Growing up undiagnosed (18:52) The genetic underpinnings of Autism and related neurodiverse conditions (22:20) Debunking the “female protective effect” (26:37) A biased assessment Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/4g9kCRa Resources: 1. ‘Taking off the Mask: A Practical Guide for Managing Autistic Camouflaging and Mental Health‘ - Dr. Hannah Belcher 2. Inherited Risk for Autism Through Maternal and Paternal Lineage - National Institute of Health 3. 'Decade of data dents idea of a ‘female protective effect’- The Transmitter 4. How ADHD Gender Bias is Slowly, Steadily Harming Females - ADDitude Mag 5. Refrigerator Mothers - A Discredited Cause Of Autism- Autism Help 6. Study challenges idea that autism is caused by an overly masculine brain- Science.org 7. Autism Spectrum Conditions In Women: Diagnosis, Mental Health, And The Role Of Camouflaging- Research Gate (source?) | |||
| Lost but Found | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:27:22 | |
Forensic Methods in Disaster Recovery Content warning: this episode discusses forensic science and the identification of human remains that may not be suited for all audiences. Natural disasters can strike without warning. And when they do, they can leave destruction, displacement, and loss of life in their wake. First responders rush to help those in need, while forensic scientists face the difficult but incredibly important task of identifying human remains– a process known as Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). In this episode, we’re going back to 2004, to the largest DVI event in recent history. Host Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Chief Forensic Odontologist Dr. Dirk van der Meer as he shares his first-hand experiences of helping identify victims following the devastating tsunami in Thailand. Then, how are genomics reshaping forensic identification today? We head to Australia to hear from Dr. Dadna Hartman about a new tool that’s offering answers—and closure—to families, faster than ever. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the important and fascinating world of forensic science. – Highlights (6:51) On the scene after the tsunami (16:01) A speedy genomic tool (23:00) Beyond the science Learn-a-Long: https://bit.ly/426bd8Y Resources: 1.2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami: Facts and FAQs- World Vision 2. The 10 most significant natural disasters worldwide by death toll from 1950 to 2022- Statista 3. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)- Interpol 4. Forensic odontology in DVI: current practice and recent advances- Forensic Sciences Research 5. Rapid DNA from a disaster victim identification perspective: Is it a game changer?- Forensic Science International | |||
| The Wasting Game | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:30:27 | |
Managing an Invisible Disease Is there a Zombie moose on the loose?! Not quite... But there is something lurking in the woods that has our “deer” friends shakin' in their hooves. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100% fatal illness that’s creeping its way through cervid populations, and it’s nearly impossible to spot. Luckily, wildlife biologists like our guest Cait Nelson from the BC Ministry of Water, Lands, and Natural Resource Stewardship are on the case. In this episode host Dr. Kaylee Byers and Cait Nelson talk about the clever scientific tools that are helping us track CWD– from grapefruit spoons to genomics! We’ll also hear from Alfred Joseph from the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation and member of the Ktunaxa Tribe, who explains how CWD is more than just a threat to wildlife, but also has deep implications for community and food sovereignty. Join us on a pun-packed hunt to find out how we can get ahead of this deadly and stubborn disease, one dead head at a time. Special thanks to Jeff Berdusco, CWD Coordinator in the Kootenay region for providing field recordings for this episode. – Highlights (4:46) What is CWD? (13:10) A threat to cultural independence. (17:48) Tracking a silent killer. Learn-along: https://bit.ly/4hersVV Resources: 1. Chronic Wasting Disease - British Columbia 2. To Fight Chronic Wasting Disease, BC Begins to Harvest Deer - The Tyee 3. “It’s important to know about this” - risk communication and the impacts of chronic wasting disease on Indigenous food systems in Western Canada - Environmental Science & Policy 4. Chronic Wasting Disease: Prevention, Surveillance, and Response - BC Wildlife Federation | |||
| Genomic Repeat: Cold Case - Solving murder mysteries with genomics | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:42:43 | |
This episode was originally released on August 16, 2022 In order to seek genomic justice, you have to get out of the lab and into the field. Dr. Kaylee Byers grabs a magnifying glass and a deerstalker cap as she goes to the scene of one of North America’s oldest cold case murder mysteries, the “Babes in the Woods.” This over 70-year-old unsolved case has finally had some closure due to emerging forensic genomic science. But while looking for leads, Dr. Byers spots a bright red thread pointing her to questions about how our genomics are being accessed by law enforcement. How can genomics bring justice to unsolved mysteries? And at what cost are we willing to pay to find answers? Genetic Genealogist, Cece Moore, from ABC’s Prime time series The Genetic Detective helps connect the dots. And partnering with us to get to the bottom of one of Canada’s oldest mysteries is true crime author and podcaster Eve Lazarus from Cold Case Canada. References:
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| Life in the Fast Lane | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:30:44 | |
Rapid Evolution in the Modern Age Evolution is like the ultimate slowburn, unfolding over millennia. And in our modern society, where things move so fast, it’s easy to miss this incremental but constant transformation. Not only is evolution happening all around us, in some cases it’s even picking up the pace. In our season finale, our resident superhero, Ratwoman, returns with a new sidekick: The Bat Whisperer. Join Dr. Kaylee Byers and Dr. Cecelia Sánchez as they team up to explore the marvels of rapid evolution– from bats in the Solomon Islands, to modern dating. We’ll meet cave explorer and mammal detective Dr. Tyrone Lavery along with paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Nick Longrich to unlock predictions for the future, by looking into the past. With unprecedented access to genomic information, we can now remix evolution like never before. But just because we can, does it mean we should? Learn-a-Long: https://bit.ly/4jgbFI2 Highlights (5:57) Into the bat cave: tracking evolution in the Solomon Islands with Dr. Lavery (11:18) The peppered moth survival story (20:18) Dr. Longrich explains how humans are evolving in the modern age – Resources: 1. Charles Darwin: History’s most famous biologist - Natural History Museum 2. Bat Beauty Contest: Vote Now To Crown The Best-Looking Bat Of Them All - Forbes 3. Parallel evolution in an island archipelago revealed by genomic sequencing of Hipposideros leaf-nosed bats - Oxford Academic 4. Bats Are Going Through a Rare Evolutionary Phenomenon - Newsweek 5. The Peppered Moth - Age of Revolution 6. A continuous fish fossil record reveals key insights into adaptive radiation - Nature 7. Study of 17,000 years of fish fossils reveals rapid evolution - Science.org 8. How long does evolution take? It happens on two different timescales- New Scientist 9. Future evolution: from looks to brains and personality, how will humans change in the next 10,000 years? - The Conversation 10. Ancient Urbanization Predicts Genetic Resistance To Tuberculosis - Oxford Academic | |||
| Genomic Repeat: The Circadian Rhythm - Challenging our assumptions about sleep | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:28:19 | |
This episode was originally released on November 14, 2023 Sleep is essential to our lives, but our perception of how it functions in our non-waking life is not always well understood. So in the mires of our busy daily lives do we overlook sleep by seeing it as a means of refilling our energy for a productive day? By questioning this assumption, one term rolls from out of the haze: The ‘Circadian Rhythm’. Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Dr. Hiroki Ueda from the University of Tokyo in the Faculty of Medicine on demystifying the links between our sleep and genomics. Then neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Coogan shares the connection between sleep and ADHD. Finally, we hear from Dr. Ueda and Dr. Hiroshi Ono, from Hitotsubashi University Business School, on how their homeland of Japan is reckoning with an off-balance relationship with sleep and work. References:
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| More cheese, please! Cheese cravings explained | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:07:45 | |
We’ve all been there— tempted by the irresistible smell of hot, melty cheese. So what is it about this perfect blend of milk and microbes that keeps us coming back for more? What does cheese do to our brain? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando slice through the science.
Resources: 1. Is cheese actually addictive? Here's the real science – Salon 2. Which Foods May Be Addictive? The Roles of Processing, Fat Content, and Glycemic Load – PLOS ONE 3. Cheese really is crack. Study reveals cheese is as addictive as drugs – LA Times 4. Science Says Cheese is Basically Cocaine – GQ 5. Divergent effects of central melanocortin signalling on fat and sucrose preference in humans – Nature 6. Your Genes May Influence What You Like to Eat – Scientific American | |||
| The Vitamin Verdict: How multivitamins affect your health | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:07:55 | |
The food supplement industry rakes in billions of dollars every year. So with so much money being spent on things like vitamins, they must be worth it, right? Right?! Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando give you the down low on what’s good for you– and what’s just good for business. Resources: 1. Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins? – Hopkins Medicine 2. Daily multivitamins do not help people live longer, major study finds – The Guardian 3. Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts – JAMA 4. Do You Need to Take Magnesium Supplements? – The New York Times 5. Role of Beta-Carotene in Lung Cancer Primary Chemoprevention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression – National Institute of Health | |||
| Poo Dunnit | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:31:50 | |
How wastewater surveillance is tracking diseases outbreaks When you flush your toilet, where does the waste go? Down the pipes, through the sewers, and into a… lab? That’s right, hidden in our collective waste is a archive of genomic clues revealing our health, habits, and maybe even happiness levels. In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers teams up with Dr. Jess Steier from the Unbiased Science podcast as they dive into the world of wastewater surveillance. Along the way, they enlist a seasoned “poo detective,” Dr. Natalie Prystajecky, who wades through some wastewater 101, and how sewage can tip us off to disease outbreaks before symptoms even start. Then, Dr. Yemisi Bokinni brings the investigation to the not-so-small town of Makoko, Nigeria, where a new genome sequencing lab is chasing an old culprit: polio. From your neighbourhood sewers to global health and future pandemics, we're using genomics to identify poo dunnit. Highlights (3:26) Wastewater 101: Dr. Natalie Prystajecky flushes out the basics (9:07) Diving into the murky ethics of wastewater surveillance (19:13) Tracking down polio in a floating village (26:45) Can wastewater tip us off to the next pandemic – Resources 1. Wastewater Surveillance– BC Centre for Disease Control 2. Wastewater surveillance tells a quiet story of polio’s return– BMJ 3. Nigeria’s polio battleground'– Nature 4. Makoko: ‘Venice of Lagos’– SmartCities Dive | |||
| Welcome to ‘Nice Genes!’ Season 5 | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:02:03 | |
Every mystery leaves a trail of clues. Fingerprints, call logs, maybe some tire tracks… or, of course, DNA. And when it comes to mysteries about our health, there are no shortages of leads to chase. This season, join host, Dr. –or Detective– Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! CSI unit as we investigate the genomic breadcrumbs shaping the way we age, treat diseases– and even watch TV. We’ll uncover how “poo water” can tip us off to pandemics before they spread, to why some of the fittest athletes suddenly collapse on the field. And if you thought you smelled a “rat,” well, you’d be correct. Because we'll also learn how our rodent sidekicks are helping us sniff out the world's deadliest infectious disease. Explore these cases and more in Nice Genes! season 5: “DNA Detectives”– resolving the genetic riddles behind our health, one story at a time. Click here for tickets and more information about the Nice Genes! Live podcast event on Tuesday December 2nd, 2025. | |||
| Spaced Out! | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:07:36 | |
Houston, we have… a microbe? A mysterious bacterial species has shown up aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station, and Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando are hopping into the Nice Genes! mothership to investigate. Where did this intriguing new organism come from? Did it evolve in orbit? And what does it mean for the future of space travel? Click here for tickets and more information about the Nice Genes! Live podcast event on Tuesday December 2nd, 2025. Resources 1. New Bacteria Have Been Discovered on a Chinese Space Station - WIRED 2. New space-adapted bacteria discovered on China’s space station - CBC 3. Unknown strain of bacteria found on China's Tiangong Space Station - Live Science 4. Niallia tiangongensis sp. nov., isolated from the China Space Station - International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology | |||
| Roach Encroach: How we made cockroaches the ultimate pest | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:06:47 | |
German cockroaches are notorious for making themselves at home in our kitchens and bathrooms, but how did they become such persistent pests? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando explore the fascinating genomics behind this unwanted guest—and why we’re partly to blame. Resources: 2. The world's most common cockroach is 'a monster of our own creation,' study finds - CBC 3. German Cockroach – Rutgers 4. Prevalence of Cockroaches, Bed Bugs, and House Mice in Low-Income Housing and Evaluation of Baits for Monitoring House Mouse Infestations – Journal of Medical Entomology | |||
| Genomic Repeat: The Devil’s In the Details - The Importance of Biodiversity | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:40:13 | |
The Importance of Biodiversity Description: This episode was originally released on October 31, 2022 Conservation is often about protecting the species that still wander around our Earth. But what about those that once did but have gone extinct? In this Halloween-inspired episode, we take a look into how one spooky idea has gone from science fiction to science fact, de-extinction style. Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us to the upside-down world of wild animals in Australia. She sits down with Dr. Axel Newton whose research addresses how to resurrect a species that has been extinct for nearly a century. Also joining her is Dr. Carolyn Hogg who uses the latest genomic technology to understand the impacts of reintroducing endangered species into their native habitats. In this wacky tale of resurrection and 'devils' will the spirit of scientific discovery mean incredible changes for the future, or is a line being crossed that we can't come back from? References: 2. Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGRR Lab) | The University of Melbourne 3. Thylacine: How we plan to de-extinct the Tasmanian tiger | Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences 4. Extinction of thylacine | National Museum Australia 5. A year after Australia's wildfires, extinction threatens hundreds of species | Science News 6. Rewilding returns lost species to strengthen ecosystems | Science News 7. Park Conscious | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture 8. Endangered Tasmanian devils insured against future threats | The University of Sydney 9. The 9 Steps to De-Extincting Australia's Thylacine | The University of Melbourne | |||
| Mutton, the Woolly Dog: How one dog's DNA is stitching together history | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:05:42 | |
Mutton was one of the last of the Salish Woolly Dogs– a breed raised by Indigenous Coast Salish communities before colonization led to its disappearance. Sarah Lando and Dr. Kaylee Byers delve into how genome sequencing is helping uncover the Woolly Dog’s legacy—and could even lead to its revival. Resources: 1. The history of Coast Salish “woolly dogs” revealed by ancient genomics and Indigenous Knowledge – Science 2. Salish Woolly Dog – The Canadian Encyclopedia 3. Extinct Woolly Dog was carefully bred for weaving, ancient DNA confirms – Washington Post 4. Extinct Woolly Dog Analyzed in Collaborative Study with Coast Salish Co-authors – American Museum of Natural History | |||
| Genomic Repeat: Bananageddon - Challenging assumptions around food security | 06 May 2025 | 00:33:31 | |
This episode was originally released on September 19, 2023 Is the world running out of bananas? Well, no. Not…yet — but nature is flashing a big, yellow, squishy "caution" sign. In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers peels away our assumptions about food security by looking at bananas. Venturing Down Under, we connect with Dr. James Dale from Queensland University of Technology – a bona fide banana expert, who tells us exactly why this iconic yellow fruit could one day become a rarity. But, with the help of a clever genomic idea, he and his intrepid team of Aussie researchers and farmers are looking at how to hit "abort" on complete Bananageddon. Special thanks to Mark Smith with Darwin Fruit Farm Party Limited for providing field recordings for this episode. References:
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| Genetics and the Silver Screen | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:31:07 | |
How medical dramas shape the way we think about genomics Medical dramas have been a staple of television for decades, from iconic primetime hits like Grey’s Anatomy and HOUSE, to newer favorites like The Pitt. It’s easy to get swept up in the high-stakes surgeries, love triangles, and melodramatoc monologues– but when it comes to the science, a second opinion might be in order. In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers sets out to investigate how these kinds of TV shows shape our perceptions of science. First up, Watson script consultant Dr. Krysta Coyle breaks down some of the biggest genomic missteps medical dramas make, and dishes on what it’s like to be the science voice on set. Then, Ayden Eilmus, a bioethicist and medical drama scholar, explores the evolution of genetics on TV, from problematic eugenics-era storylines to the more complex and ethically rich portrayals we see today. Hit "play" to uncover how our guilty-pleasure binge watches can have a bigger impact than just entertainment. Highlights (3:54) Common genomic missteps on TV (9:34) What it’s like consulting on a medical TV show (14:42) Genetics on TV: then and now (25:57) Why representation matters – Resources 1. Eugenics and genetic screening in television medical dramas- BMJ Journals 2. Genetics in Television Medical Dramas- J Lit Sci 3. How Accurate Are Medical TV Shows?- Cleveland Clinic 4. Eugenics: Its Origin and Development (1883 - Present)- National Human Genome Research Institute 5. Watson Episode 12 recap: Bioengineered chaos, betrayal, and Moriarty’s return- Soap Central 6. Private Practice (2007, S1E6) 7. Chicago Hope S5E12 8. Grey's Anatomy, (2015, S11E10) | |||