Explore every episode of the podcast Nice Genes!

Many rare genetic diseases are caused by a “typo” in our DNA. For most, fixing that spelling mistake has been out of reach. But a  recent  clinical trial has changed everything, opening up the door for possible cures we never thought were possible through a cutting-edge gene-editing tool called prime editing.

In this episode, Ty Sperle takes us through his own story of being cured of a rare disease called chronic granulomatous disease  while his doctor, Dr. Stuart Turvey gives Kaylee the 411 on the science behind Ty’s treatment – and what it could mean for rare diseases more broadly. We also make a stop at the PrimeSight Lab, where researchers are exploring how prime editing could help bring the world into focus for people with inherited vision loss.

For a treatment that once sounded like science fiction, could prime editing be a glimpse of the future of medicine?

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Highlights

• 00:01 -  Ty’s World-First Cure
• 07:11 -  Inside the Prime Editing Revolution
• 23:43 -  Can Prime Editing Restore Sight?

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Sources

• First-in-world BC patient successfully treated for rare immune disease
• B.C. teen cured of rare disease
• Future Perspectives of Prime Editing for the Treatment of Inherited Retinal Diseases

For the past 25 years, we’ve been hearing that male contraceptives are just a few years away. And then a few more… and then some more after that. So for something that has been in development for such a long time, what is with the hold up? 

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us through the history of birth control – from silk condoms to beaver testicles – before heading back to high school bio for a good old-fashioned male anatomy lesson. Then, urologist Dr. Premal Patel walks us through the current options for males (spoiler alert: not a lot), and endocrinologist Dr. Stephanie Page gives us the lowdown on some of the promising gels, pills, injections and other methods that could finally change the game. 

So hit play for some sexy science– from vasectomies, to genomics and infertility research, to reproductive equity for all. 

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Highlights

• 2:18 - The wacky history of contraceptive methods
• 7:54 -  Breaking down misconceptions of vasectomies 
• 18:29 -  A gel and a frontrunner for male birth control 

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Sources

• The History and Future of Birth Control - Live Science
• World Contraception Day: 10 of history’s most horrible contraceptives - BBC
• Breakthrough takes big step toward safe, reversible male contraception - Cornell

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Survivor, you know the rules: outwit, outplay, outlast.

But in the animal kingdom, Survivor isn’t a game– in a very real way, it’s adapt, or…

And as climate change intensifies and human disasters reshape the environment, animals are being forced to come up with new ways to cope- fast!

In this season 6 premiere, host Dr. Kaylee Byers explores some winning (and losing) survival strategies. First up, wildlife biologist Dr. Kendall Calhoun takes us into the aftermath of wildfires to see how different animals are adapting to an ever-changing landscape. Then, evolutionary biologist Dr. Cara Love brings us to her work in Chernobyl, where a population of wolves is living a  radioactive life– and their genomes could even offer clues for cancer treatment.

Highlights

• 04:58 Deer vs. Squirrels – Who’s Built to Survive a Wildfire?
• 12:27 Barry the Bear – The 500-Pound Bear Who Moved In After a Fire
• 19:57 Chernobyl’s wolves – Survival in a Radioactive World 



Sources

1. FACT SHEET: Climate change and wildfires - Climate Institute
2. Movement behavior in a dominant ungulate underlies successful adjustment to a rapidly changing landscape following megafire - Movement Ecology
3. 40 Years After Chernobyl, Wolves May Be Adapting to Live With Radiation - Science Alert
4. Signatures of Radiation-Induced Stress and Putative Selection on Immune Targets in Chornobyl Wolves - Molecular Ecology
5. Surviving in a poisoned land: Chernobyl's wildlife is different, but not in the ways you might think - BBC
6. What We Know About the Chernobyl Animal Mutations - ThoughtCo.

Have you heard about the radioactive wolves in Chernobyl? Or the latest gene-editing tech that’s curing rare diseases? Or that male birth control might be on the horizon? No?!

Well, get ready, because while we’ve been busy living our lives, genomics has been moving – fast! Things that once read like science fiction are moving on over to the non-fiction section.

This season on Nice Genes!, join Dr. Kaylee Byers as she engages in some big genomics breakthroughs – from personalized cancer treatments, to how our bodies react in space, to how animals adapt to the most extreme environments, and whether we can actually change how we age.



It’s a whole new gene-eration (if you will) of discoveries that you won’t want to miss!

New episodes every two weeks, starting September 8th. Make sure you follow Nice Genes! so you don’t miss an episode!

This episode was originally released on August 2, 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.

Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with data scientist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Brian Arnold on how the genetic ‘mistakes’ known as variants occasionally encode incredible abilities. Odd elephants, hiding in our ocean depths, and Rogue-ish bacteria are just a few examples. Dr. Arnold defends these genetic anomalies, and explains how they can make a huge difference to the future of humanity and life on this planet. Also joining us is marine biologist Dr. Maria Pia Miglietta, who shares an incredible ability sitting in our ocean depths. Immortality.

So strap on your capes, because we’re heading straight into the strange terrain of “heroic mutations.” 

Listen to Nice Genes! wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by Genome British Columbia.

Resources: 

1. Genetic Mutation - Nature
2. Genomic mutation rates: What high-throughput methods can tell us
3. Shane Campbell Staton Group - Tuskless Elephants
4. Ivory poaching and the rapid evolution of tusklessness in African elephants - Science
5. Real-Life X-Men: How CRISPR Could Give You Superpowers in the Future - synthego.com
6. Indonesian divers have evolved bigger spleens to hunt underwater - Science
7. Mutations may reveal how Tibetans can live on world's highest plateau - Science
8. The Immortal Jellyfish - American Museum of Natural History
9. Cellular reprogramming and immortality: Expression profiling reveals putative genes involved in Turritopsis dohrnii’s life cycle reversal
10. Transcriptome Characterization of Reverse Development in Turritopsis dohrnii (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)
11. Horizontal gene transfer and adaptive evolution in bacteria - nature reviews microbiology
12. Horizontal gene transfer overrides mutation in Escherichia coli colonizing the mammalian gut - PNAS
13. The Ship of Theseus Dilemma - Open Okstate

Have you ever wondered why most orange cats are male? Scientists have been scratching their heads over this for decades, and now we finally have answers. In our final Gene Short of the season, Sarah Lando and Dr. Kaylee Byers explain the surprising new evidence that finally explains this purr-ticular quirk.

Resources

1. Gene behind orange fur in cats found at last- Science.org

2. Scientists track down mutation that makes orange cats orange- Science Daily

This episode was originally released on November 15, 2022

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.

Dr. Kaylee Byers looks into the ocean giants that lurk in the depths and the unique songs they share with us. She sits down with whale biologist Dr. Jennifer Allen on how whale songs are imparting a cultural exchange between populations that are hundreds of miles apart. Filmmaker Joshua Zeeman shares his journey to find the infamously dubbed 'Loneliest Whale'. And Paeleobiologist Dr. Travis Park from the Museum of Natural History in London tells us how whales developed their unique singing superpowers by taking us back through millions of years of evolution. Finally, researcher Grace Baer brings us to a remote west coast station studying whale populations and the effects of ocean traffic noise.

It's a whale-sized episode taking you on a listening journey into this wonderful watery world!

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.

Resources:

1. Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Project | Parks Canada

2. Whales learn songs from each other in a cultural 'deep dive' | phys.org

3. Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission | Popular Science

4. Whale Songs Are Getting Deeper | The Atlantic

5. The search for the loneliest whale in the world | The Guardian

6. The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 | Bleecker Street Media

7. BTS (방탄소년단) Whalien 52' MV | BigHit Entertainment

7. Watkins Marine Mammal Sound Database | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

8. Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean Life - But We Can Fix it | TIME

9. Convergent evolution in toothed whale cochleae | BMC Evolutionary Biology

10. Evolutionary Basis of High-Frequency Hearing in the Cochleae of Echolocators Revealed by Comparative Genomics | Oxford Academic

11. Genome-culture coevolution promotes rapid divergence of killer whale ecotypes | Nature

12. DNA Suggests Cultural Traits Affect Whale Evolution | Science

13. San Francisco: Dead Whale Opens Seafood Season | Universal International Newswire

14. Songs of the Humpback Whale | Roger Payne, CRM Records

15. Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive

16. Monaco - International Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive

17. Bubble Net Feeding | BC Whales

18. Cool Genomics Facts - Fact 4 & 5: Environmental DNA | Genome British Columbia

The story of 23andMe has more twists than a soap opera. Spit parties, ghosting the FDA, unicorn valuations, and massive data breaches—this company has done it all. In this Gene Short, Sarah Lando walks Dr. Kaylee Byers through the drama behind the headlines, and what it all means if you’re thinking about exploring your own ancestry DNA.

Resources

1. The rise and fall of 23andMe - Business Insider

2. The rise and fall and rise again of 23andMe - Nature

This episode was originally released on November 5, 2024

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

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

Bowhead whales can live for nearly 2 centuries, weigh as much as 22 elephants, and– surprisingly– rarely get cancer. So what’s their sea-cret? Sarah Lando from Genome BC brings us the splashy new genomic research behind these Arctic giants’ longevity, and what it could mean for the future of cancer research.

Resources

1. “This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help extend human lifespan”- Nature

2. Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale - Nature

3. Peto’s Paradox: Large mammals may hold clues in preventing cancer among humans - HealthyDebate

This episode was originally released on December 13, 2022

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?

Dr. Kaylee Byers starts our journey by slinking into a disease-tracking genomics lab at Simon Fraser University to meet Dr. Michael Trimble and Dr. Will Hsiao to understand the challenge of outpacing the rapid evolution of viruses. Then she pops across the ocean to speak with Dr. Birgitta Evengård and Dr. Jean-Michel Claverie about whether the Pandora's box of ancient diseases frozen in the arctic have the potential to become the next global outbreak as temperatures warm. Plus, we unearth ancient burial sites in Vietnam with Dr. Melandri Vlok, to investigate how climate change exacerbates the tension between human health and pathogens.

Special thanks to Dr. Will Hsiao and Dr. Michael Trimble for allowing us to record with them at Simon Fraser University.

Resources:

1. Infection control in the new age of genomic epidemiology | British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory

2. The permafrost pandemic: could the melting Arctic release a deadly disease | Unearthed

3. Viral spillover risk increases with climate change in High Arctic lake sediments | The Royal Society

4. Healthy ecosystems for human and animal health: Science diplomacy for responsible development in the Arctic | The Nordic Centre of Excellence

5. Understanding and Responding to Global Health Security Risks from Microbial Threats in the Arctic: Proceedings of a Workshop | National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine

6. Next pandemic may come from melting glaciers, new data shows | The Guardian

7. Scientists Revived Ancient 'Zombie Viruses' Frozen For Eons in Siberia | Science Alert

8. A 48,500-year-old virus has been revived from Siberian permafrost | NewScientist

9. Anthrax outbreak in Siberia | euro news

10. CBC News: The National | Russia invades Ukraine | Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC)

11. National Geographic: Explorer Directory, Melandri Vlok | National Geographic

12. Paleoepidemiological Considerations of Mobility and Population Interaction in the Spread of Infectious Diseases in the Prehistoric Past | Bioarchaeology International

13. The Epidemiological Transition: A Theory of the Epidemiology of Population Change | Milbank Memorial Fund

14. Forager and farmer evolutionary adaptations to malaria evidenced by 7000 years of thalassemia in Southeast Asia | nature portfolio

15. CARD 2020: antibiotic resistome surveillance with the comprehensive antibiotic resistance database | Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University

Listening to and creating music is one of the most universal human experiences. It gets stuck in our heads, makes us cry in the car, and has the power to bring people together – sometimes without even a single word. So for something so deeply ingrained in us - IS IT... ingrained in us? like, in our DNA? it raises a big question: is our connection to music something we learn… or something written into our DNA?

In this special bonus live episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers takes the pod on stage for the very first time to explore the science of music. Joined by neuroscientist Dr. Lara Boyd, clinical geneticist Dr. Alison Castle, and (virtually) behavioural geneticist Dr. Miriam Mosing, our panel unpacks how music shapes and rewires our brains, why it can be such a powerful tool for therapy and lifelong learning, what genes can (and definitely can’t) tell us about musicality– and why music even exists in the first place.

So warm up those vocal cords, and get ready to sway in your seat… this is Nice Genes! live.

Special thanks to musician (and recovering physicist) Dr. Martin Austwick for the live musical magic throughout the show.

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Highlights

(7:24) How Opera Training Influences the Brain

(10:30) Music’s Role in Memory and Dementia Prevention

(22:27) Heritability of Musical Behaviour

(36:24) If we could identify specific musical genes, should we?

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Show Notes/Resources:

1. Twin modelling reveals partly distinct genetic pathways to music enjoyment- Nature Communications

2. New multi-faculty research initiative weaves notes and neurons- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Why Tuberculosis is still the most deadly infectious disease.

Attention, DNA detectives! We’ve got a rat on the loose – but don’t worry, not the snitching, double-agent kind. We’re talking about the whiskered, hyper-skilled, tiny agents who aren't snitching - they're sniffing out one of the world’s deadliest diseases: tuberculosis (TB).

Tuberculosis might sound old-timey, but it’s still the globe’s top infectious killer– growing tougher, more drug-resistant, and hitting hardest where access to care falls short. So for our Season 5 finale, host Dr. Kaylee Byers digs into TB’s fascinating backstory, and teams up with microbiologist Dr. Jennifer Guthrie to figure out why this ancient disease still has such a tight grip, and how genomics is helping track its every move. Along the way, Dr. Zolelwa Sifumba shares her story as a multidrug-resistant TB survivor, and how her treatment journey fuels her advocacy today.

Buckle up: this investigation has it all : science, politics, global inequities… and a squad of extraordinary rats.

Special thanks to APOPO for sending us field recordings and interviews from their HeroRAT training program.

Highlights

(3:42) The history of TB

(8:19) Why TB sits at the top of the global disease podium

(15:30) Meet Zolelwa - a multi-drug-resistant TB survivor

(30:48) The power of education

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Show Notes/Resources:

1. Giant Rats Trained to Sniff Out Tuberculosis in Africa- National Geographic

2. The Making of a HeroRAT: From Tiny Pup to Life-saving Hero- APOPO

3. Tuberculosis: an ancient disease that remains a medical, social, economical and ethical issue- Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene

4. History of World TB Day- CDC

5. The history of tuberculosis- Respiratory Medicine

6. Chapter 12: An introductory guide to tuberculosis care to improve cultural competence for health care workers and public health professionals serving Indigenous Peoples of Canada- Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

7. Everything is Tuberculosis- John Green

Got a sec?

Kaylee’s popping into your feed with a teensy, weensy favour to ask: if you’re a fan of the podcast, would you do us the honour of leaving Nice Genes! a review?

Not only does it help the show, but it could also score you some very fun, one-of-a-kind prizes (details below).

How to leave a review:

• Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the bottom of our show page, tap those five shiny stars, and tell us what you think.

• Spotify: Tap the star rating at the top of our show page and leave a comment on your favourite episode this season.

Contest details:

• If you leave the pod a review by December 31st and DM a screenshot to @GenomeBC on Instagram, you could win a swag bag, or the chance to maybe even be featured on the show next season.

Your feedback helps our beloved podcast reach new ears, supports the science stories you care about, and lets us know exactly what’s resonating most with you.

So… what are you waiting for? Show the pod a little love and earn yourself a shot at some exclusive Nice Genes! goodies!

Turning up the heat on a life stage science is still catching up to.

Ok, most of us may have gotten “the period talk.” But the “menopause talk?” Not so much. For something that half the world will experience, menopause and perimenopause are still wildly misunderstood. Luckily, the DNA detectives are finally reopening a mystery that’s been overlooked for too long.

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers unpacks the science behind menopause. She calls on educator Shirley Weir to understand what menopause and perimenopause actually are– and why so many people feel dismissed when they try to get answers. Plus, reproductive genomics researcher Dr. Aspasia Destouni reveals what our genes (and a few unlikely informants– from orcas to naked mole rats) can teach us about the rebellious internal clock that drives ovarian aging.

Special thanks to Andrea Rathborne- creator, host and producer of the Half Betty podcast.

A note on language: This episode often uses the terms “women” and “female” interchangeably, but we want to acknowledge that menopause is not experienced exclusively by women. People of various gender identities can go through perimenopause and menopause, and it's important to be inclusive in how we talk about this life stage.

Resources: Menopause and perimenopause can feel isolating, and support isn’t always easy to find. Check out resources below for guidance and trusted support networks.

- Resources to help you on your menopause health journey- Menopause Foundation of Canada

- Menopause & Midlife Health- BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre

- Older Adults - Trans Care BC

- Balancing Your Health and Wellness During Menopause- First Nations Health Authority

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Highlights

(5:05) What are menopause and peri-menopause

(14:09) Why menopause ages on a different timeline than the rest of the body

(20:24) What genomics (and naked mole rats!) reveal about ovarian aging

(24:29) Which animals experience menopause and the evolutionary reasons why

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Show Notes/Resources:

1. Menopause and Perimenopause- Health Link BC

2. ‘Unprepared and Disoriented.’ New Findings on Menopause Impacts- The Tyee

3. IN HER WORDS Women’s Experience with the Healthcare System in British Columbia- BC Women’s Health Foundation, Pacific Blue Cross

4. Health and Economics Research on Midlife Women in British Columbia- Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s

5. Menopause and Work in Canada- Menopause Foundation of Canada

6. Postreproductive killer whale grandmothers improve the survival of their grandoffspring- PNAS

7. Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees- Science

8. Naked mole rats defy the biological law of aging- Science

What genomics can tell us about food safety, the microbiome, and the mind.

You’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat”... Well, our gut microbes take that very literally. If you’ve ever gone on vacation, eaten something tasty, and next thing you find yourself bonding with a bathroom floor, you’re not alone. Food poisoning might occasionally make for a good story later, but it’s a serious issue that lands millions of people in hospitals every year– and tracing the culprit isn’t always as simple as pointing at last night’s tacos.

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers chats with microbiologist Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, who explains how genomics helps track foodborne outbreaks – from the harmful bacteria in our food to the microbes living inside us. Then, Dr. Mary Sco. dives into the science of the gut-brain connection, revealing how your gut and brain are constantly in conversation.

So grab a snack, and get ready to stomach the science.

Highlights

(4:00) The bacteria behind food poisoning

(10:13) How genomics helps track foodborne outbreaks

(16:35) The microbiome in all its glory, and the gut-brain connection

(23:59) Some poo-ticular scientific treatments

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Resources

1. Yearly food-borne illness estimates for Canada- Government of Canada

2. Salmonella Syst-OMICS – Salmonella Syst-OMICS Consortium

3. Hack Your Health- The Secrets of Your Gut Health- Netflix

4. Probiotics: 100 years (1907-2007) after Elie Metchnikoff's Observation- Research Gate

5. Revisiting Metchnikoff: Age-related alterations in microbiota-gut-brain axis in the mouse- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

6. Intragastric infection of germfree and conventional mice with Salmonella typhimurium- NIH

7. A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial)- BMC Medicine

8. Pick fecal microbiota transplantation to enhance therapy for major depressive disorder- Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

How vector-borne diseases spread– and the critters that carry them

Malaria, Lyme disease, dengue, Zika… what do they all have in common? They’re what we call vector-borne diseases– spread to us by tiny, bite-happy arthropods. These little troublemakers are responsible for 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide, and with climate change and urbanization on the rise, they’re becoming an even bigger threat.

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with insect investigator Dr. Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec to untangle the intricate web of vector-borne disease dynamics, and explain what makes these insects such masterful disease spreaders. Then, Dr. Pooja Swali shares how ancient DNA from thousands of years ago revealed a pathogen’s curious evolutionary switch from one creepy crawly to another.

From mosquitoes to ticks to the not-so-affectionate kissing bug, every insect in this lineup is guilty of something– and genomics is helping us figure out what.

Highlights

(5:51) Vector disease dynamics: The pathogen, the vector, and the host– a love triangle.

(13:10) A neglected disease you may have never heard of.

(17:20) Ancient DNA uncovers the tale of an opportunistic pathogen and a surprising partner in crime.

(26:20) What changes to our environments does to our disease landscape

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Resources

1. Vector-borne diseases- The World Health Organization

2. Ancient DNA used to map evolution of fever-causing bacteria- Science Daily

3. Mapping the distribution of Amblyomma americanum in Georgia, USA- Parasites & Vectors

4. Focal persistence and phylodynamics of Heartland virus in Georgia- Virus Evolution

The genetic clues behind sudden cardiac arrest in young individuals

Every so often, we see headlines about an elite athlete collapsing mid-game. The crowd goes silent, emergency crews rush to the field, and everyone’s left wondering: how could this happen? The truth is, sometimes a hidden heart condition written deep in our DNA will unmask itself on the field.

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with sports cardiologist and cardiogeneticist Dr. Prashant Rao to explore the genetic roots of sudden cardiac events in young athletes. Together, they unpack the most common underlying genetic conditions responsible, what genomics is revealing about the specific genes involved, and the ongoing debate around genetic screening. Plus, the remarkable story of JJ: a young wrestler who survived cardiac arrest thanks to his early genetic diagnosis and fast-acting friends.

Listen in to learn why these devastating events happen, and how genomics is helping keep athletes safely in the game.

Highlights

(7:23) The most common underlying genetic heart conditions

(11:40) Meet the 18 year old wrestler who survived cardiac arrest

(21:32) A hot debate in sports cardiology

(24:51) Tailoring training through genotype

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Resources

1. 78 minutes in the life (and near death) of Fabrice Muamba- The Guardian

2. Reggie Lewis death, explained: Revisiting the tragic passing of Celtics star in 1993- The Sporting News

3. Marc-Vivien Foe death: His legacy 10 years after collapsing on pitch- BBC Sport

4. The day Denmark stood still: Christian Eriksen’s collapse and the heroes who saved him- The Guardian

5. Soccer star speaks out 2 months after collapsing on field mid-game- ABC News

6. Sudden Cardiac Death in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: A 20-Year Study- AHA Journals

7. Sudden cardiac death in the young: the molecular autopsy and a practical approach to surviving relatives- European Heart Journal

8. An 18-Year-Old Athlete Almost Dropped Dead, but Friends Saved His Life: 'It's Really a Miracle'- People Magazine

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

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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)

How new genomic approaches are helping diagnose and treat our tiniest patients

Welcoming a new baby brings boundless love, joy, and the usual sleepless nights of early parenthood. But in the NICU, when a newborn is unexpectedly sick, it’s the uncertainty that keep parents awake.

In this episode, our investigation takes us inside the neonatal intensive care unit, where genomic tools are mapping medical mysteries in record time. You’ll hear the remarkable story of “Baby KJ,” the first newborn to receive a personalized CRISPR treatment; insights from pediatric geneticist Dr. Tara Wenger on how new approaches to testing are changing care; and the story of Meredith Thomas– a mother whose fight for answers helped uncover a diagnosis that saved her daughter’s life.

From faster diagnoses to fairer care, join Dr. Kaylee Byers to learn how these genomic breakthroughs are redefining what’s possible for newborns and their families.

Highlights

(3:50) A study that changes the way we test ill newborns

(9:00) Meet a mother who advocated for her sick daughter

(13:56) A visit from the genetics team and a life saving diagnosis

(19:12) Making healthcare more equitable

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Resources

1. World's First Patient Treated with Personalized CRISPR Gene Editing Therapy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

2. SeqFirst: Building equity access to a precise genetic diagnosis in critically ill newborns- The American Journal of Human Genetics

3. Implementation of First-Line Rapid Genome Sequencing in Non–Critical Care Pediatric Wards- The Journal of Pediatrics

4. Genetic Non-Discrimination Act- The Government of Canada

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

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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

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.

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 

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:

1.Solving the 250-year-old mystery of the origin and global spread of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica – PNAS

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

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:

1. Lab takes 'giant leap' toward thylacine de-extinction with Colossal genetic engineering technology partnership | The University of Melbourne

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

10. The Value of Reference Genomes in the Conservation of Threatened Species | Marsupial Genetics and Genomics

11. Assessing evolutionary processes over time in a conservation breeding program: a combined approach using molecular data, simulations and pedigree analysis | Biodiversity and Conservation

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

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:

1. Why Don’t Banana Candies Taste Like Real Bananas? | Science Friday
2. What We Can Learn From the Near-Death of the Banana | TIME
3. Banana Wars: Power, Production, and History in the Americas | Duke University Press
4. Chinese coolies | National Library Board
5. The Story of the Cavendish Banana | Tenerife Weekly
6. Not your mother’s banana | Bananageddon
7. Fungal attacks threaten global food supply, say experts | The Guardian
8. The banana is dying. The race is on to reinvent it before it's too late | Wired
9. QUT-developed GM Cavendish offers safety net to world banana industry | Queensland University of Technology

Credit:

1. Journey to Banana Land: By the United Fruit Company (1950) | Institute of Visual Training
2. Ag Report: Fighting rural farm crime; banana disease; and ag grant award | ABC News

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

6. Dietary Supplements Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Ingredient (Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics), By Form (Capsules, Gummies, Liquids), By End User, By Application, By Type, By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030 – Grandview Research

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:

1. Molecular Mechanisms of REM Sleep | Neurosci
2. The ability to dream may be genetic | Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC)
3. Next-Generation Mice Genetics for Circadian Studies | Neuromethods
4. Evolution of temporal order in living organisms | Journal of Circadian Rhythms
5. Learn about the bunker experiment to understand the human biological clock | Britannica
6. Genetic sleep deprivation: using sleep mutants to study sleep functions | EMBO reports
7. Circadian rhythms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: The what, the when and the why | Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
8. Insomnia: Definition, Prevalence, Etiology, and Consequences | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
9. No Sleep for Japan? Survey Reveals Half of Population May Have Insomnia | Nippon.com
10. Why Sleep Matters: Quantifying the Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep | Rand Corporation
11. Japan has some of the longest working hours in the world. It’s trying to change | CNBC
12. Announcement of the establishment of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | Sleeping Council Federation
13. Founder/Director CTO Yasumi Ueda gave a speech at the inaugural general meeting of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | ACCELStars
14. Free-running circadian activity rhythms in free-living beaver (Castor canadensis) | Journal of Comparative Physiology

Credits:

1. Dr. Rackeb Tesdaye
2. Curbing death by overwork | Financial Times
3. Why does Japan Work So Hard? | CNBC Explains
4. Worked to Death: Japan questions high-pressure corporate culture | France 24 English
5. Inside Japan’s growing ‘lonely death’ clean-up service | CNN International
6. How can governments help stop overwork? | The Question | CBC News: The National

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

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:

1. Eve Lazarus, Author and Podcaster
2. Murder, Mystery and Intrigue in Review: Babes in the Woods
3. Cece Moore - the DNA Detective
4. How Your Family Tree Could Catch a Killer - The New Yorker
5. Genetics, Law enforcement and crime - Personal Genetics Education Project
6. Killer Eludes Police for 31 years - how did one woman find him in two hours? - cbsnews
7. Seattle man's conviction for 1987 murders of B.C.'s Tanya van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook overturned - CBC
8. The National DNA Data Bank - The B.C. Civil Liberties Association
9. For nearly 70 years, these 2 murdered boys were known as the 'Babes in the Woods.' Now they finally have names - CBC
10. Maryland V. King - 2013 Supreme Court decision on Maryland DNA Collection Act
11. Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Collection Of DNA - NPR
12. How DNA can reunite families - Endeavor DNA Laboratories

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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?)

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

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3OODRUb

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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

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.

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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

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.

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/4eGsTeX

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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

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.

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3ZAZHBf

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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

…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. 

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

Three Blind Mice - Beidernecke, Bix | Internet Archive

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

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)

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

Ishihara test: Color Blind Test | Colormax

What is LSD | Science Alert

Case report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use | Drug Science, Policy and Law

Improved colour blindness symptoms associated with recreational psychedelic use: Results from the Global Drug Survey 2017 | Drug Science, Policy and Law

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.

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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

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3GPwxnf

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Resources:

Indians and Europeans on the Northwest Coast: Historical Context | Center for the Study of Pacific Northwest

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is mentioned for the first time in April 1596 | History Link

Purchas His Pilgrimes: Contayning a History of the World in Sea Voyages and Lande Travells by Englishmen and others | Center for the Study of Pacific Northwest

The Garry Oak Learning Meadow | Parks Canada

Harvesting strategies as evidence for 4000 years of camas (Camassia quamash) management in the North American Columbia Plateau | The Royal Society

Conservation status of native tree species in British Columbia | Global Ecology and Conservation

Seeing the garden through the trees: The Indigenous forest gardens of coastal B.C. | Canadian Geographic

Bison Bellows: Indigenous Hunting Practices | National Parks Service

Weir Fishing | Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence

Combining Genomic Insights and Traditional Indigenous Knowledge for the Conservation of Pacific Salmon | Genome British Columbia

Puyallup Tribe hosts c’abid (camas) harvest at PLU | Pacific Luthern University

Saving the planet means listening to Indigenous peoples: Wade Davis | CBC

Spatial and temporal assessments of genetic structure in an endangered Garry oak ecosystem on Vancouver Island | Canadian Science Publishing

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Credit:

Interview with Tibet's 14th Dalai Lama by Robert AF Thurman, Harvard 1981 | Tibet House US Menla Online

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.

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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

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3Nv5X6v

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Resources:

Next-gen painkillers from nature’s deadliest life forms | The University of Queensland

Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021 | MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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

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Credit:

Special thanks to Jackie Gonzalez from the Erythromelalgia Association for providing field recordings of her daily experience living with EM.

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.

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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

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/47PXwuv

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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

Circadian rhythms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: The what, the when and the why | Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry

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

Announcement of the establishment of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | Sleeping Council Federation

Founder/Director CTO Yasumi Ueda gave a speech at the inaugural general meeting of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | ACCELStars

Free-running circadian activity rhythms in free-living beaver (Castor canadensis) | Journal of Comparative Physiology

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

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.

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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

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Learn-A-Long:  https://bit.ly/47ub5Qo

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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

Phylogenetic and Selection Analysis of an Expanded Family of Putatively Pore-Forming Jellyfish Toxins (Cnidaria: Medusozoa) | Genome Biology and Evolution

Following Lewis and Clark’s Trail of Mercurial Laxatives | Discover

How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 | Atlas Obscura

Multi- and Transgenerational Effects of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Levels of PFAS and PFAS Mixture in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) | Toxics

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

The gastric disease of Napoleon Bonaparte: brief report for the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death on St. Helena in 1821 | Virchows Archiv

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Credit:

Bonapartes Retreat - Kay Starr - Pee Wee King | Capitol

Rule, Britannia - Royal Choral Society - The Philharmonia Orchestra | His Master’s Voice

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.

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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

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3QM7EPi

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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

Shortage of diabetes, weight-loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada, says manufacturer | Canadian Broadcast Corporation

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

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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

Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscars Monologue 2023 | Jimmy Kimmel Live

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.

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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.'

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Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3FNfz8C

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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

Terra Nova notebooks describing penguin sexual behaviours acquired by the Museum | Natural History Museum

An alternative hypothesis for the evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in animals | Nature Ecology & Evolution

Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior | Science

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

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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

Nature or Nurture - Are People Born Gay? | Naked Science