3 minute lesson

Episode 481. Investigating myself. Topic: Marfan syndrome. What is connective tissue? How can mutations in one gene affect connective tissue? What is Marfan syndrome and what are the symptoms? Why is it often not included on commercial genetics tests? Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelesson New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 480. Topic: Effective population size. Theme: Population genetics.What is the difference between total population size and effective population size? What is an example of this difference? What causes the difference? What is the effective population size of humans? Will it ever increase?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 479. Topic: Speciation. Theme: Population genetics.Why is it difficult to assign species labels to salamanders? What does this mean for the definition of "speciation"? How do we define human species? What thresholds generally prevent species convergence?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 478. Topic: Evidence of selection. Theme: Population genetics. What is natural selection? How can you tell from the DNA of a species when and where natural selection has occurred? What in recent human evolution has undergone natural selection?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 477. Topic: The founder effect. Theme: Population genetics.How can reduced genetic diversity alter the frequency of traits? Can this be dangerous? What are some founder effect examples in humans? What caused them? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 476. Topic: Genetic drift. Theme: Population genetics.How can traits change frequency in a population without natural selection? What is genetic drift? What would this look like in a population?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  

Episode 475. Investigating myself. Topic: Hereditary fructose intolerance.What is fructose? How is it metabolized in the human body? What genetic disease disrupts fructose metabolism? What are the symptoms? Do I carry this condition?Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelesson New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 474. Topic: Sniffer bees. Theme: Working animals. How intelligent are bees and wasps? How good are their senses of smell? Can you train bees to detect odor? How can you tell if a bee recognizes something? How do bees compare to dogs in detecting explosives? Why aren't bees more commonly used?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 473. Topic: Mine hunting. Theme: Working animals. What are mines? Why are they so dangerous after conflicts? How are trained rats so effective at finding buried mines? How are mined located underwater? What other purposes are there for military dolphins?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 472. Topic: Detection dogs. Theme: Working animals. What else can dogs be employed to do? What types of drugs can they detect? What about weapons or other biological materials? Can dogs detect cancer? How about COVID-19 infections?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 471. Topic: Medical response dogs. Theme: Working animals. What else can dogs be trained to do? How can dogs alert someone to allergens in food or medicines? Can a dog detect low blood sugar in a human? Can they detect oncoming seizures? What are the benefits and limits to medical response dogs?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 470. Topic: Guide dogs. Theme: Working animals. How old is the use of guide dogs for the visually impaired? How is training performed today? How expensive are guide dogs? How long do they work?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 439. Investigating myself. Topic: Fanconi anemia. What is anemia and what causes it? What is Fanconi anemia? How common is this condition and how is is treated? Can you find out if you carry this disease on a common commercial genetic test? What about the 18 other genes involved? Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelesson New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 468. Topic: Antimatter. Theme: Atomic physics. Is an up quark the antiparticle of the down quark? What are antiprotons? What is antihelium? What happens when matter and antimatter meet? Where is all the antimatter anyway?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 467. Topic: Subatomic particles. Theme: Atomic physics.  What are protons, neutrons, and electrons made from? What are subatomic particles or elementary particles? How are they described? How do they form matter? How were they discovered? Do they answer all questions about the universe? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 466. Topic: Radioactive decay. Theme: Atomic physics. What is radioactive decay? What are alpha  particles, beta particles, and gamma rays? What are examples of these decay types? Which is the most dangerous?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 465. Topic: Radiocarbon dating. Theme: Atomic physics. What are isotopes? What are the common isotopes of carbon and how do they form? How is carbon-14 used to date organic material? What are the limits to radiocarbon dating? How are billion-year-old objects dated?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 464. Topic: Discovering atoms. Theme: Atomic physics. What are elements and how are they defined? What are atoms? How was the atom discovered? How did scientists uncover the basic structure of the atom? How were neutrons discovered? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 463. Investigating myself. Topic: Ataxia–telangiectasia. Is all DNA damage bad? What does ATM do? What happens when both copies of ATM are mutated? What is Ataxia? What is telangiectasia? What are the symptoms and treatments for this genetic disease? Why is it not routinely screened for in commercial tests? Twitter: @3minutelesson Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com Instagram: 3minutelesson Facebook: 3minutelesson New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 462. Topic: Halloween. Theme: Holiday Origins. What are the origins of Halloween? Is it Christian or pagan in origin? How is it celebrated around the world? How are turnips involved?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 461. Topic: White Day. Theme: Holiday Origins. How is Valentine's Day celebrated in other countries? How is it more one-sided in Japan? What is White Day and why was it invented? Will White Day ever come to the United States? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 460. Topic: Valentine's Day. Theme: Holiday Origins. Who was Saint Valentine? Was he just one person? How did February 14th become associated with romantic love? How is Valentine's Day celebrated around the world? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 459. Topic: Labor Day. Theme: Holiday Origins. What were workers' rights like during The Industrial Revolution? How were they improved? How is this related to Labor Day? Do other countries have a Labor Day equivalent? Which countries do not?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 458. Topic: Memorial Day. Theme: Holiday Origins. What is Memorial Day? Where does it originate culturally? When did it become an official federal holiday? What was the reasoning behind making Memorial Day a Monday?  Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 457. Investigating myself. Topic: Low empathy?What is empathy? How is it related to the hormone oxytocin? Are there genetic variations related to low empathy behavior? Do I carry it? If so, which parent did I inherit it from?!Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelessonNew episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 456. Topic: The Fed. Theme: Money and politics. Why was the Federal Reserve System established? What roles does it play in the United States economy? How powerful is the Fed? Who runs the Fed?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 455. Topic: Russian oligarchy.  Theme: Money and politics. What is an oligarchy? How did Russian oligarchs rise out of the rubble of the Soviet Union? How can oligarchs wield power? Is this a uniquely Russian problem?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 454. Topic: Free file. Theme: Money and politics. How have taxes evolved? How do some countries pay their taxes? How is it different in The United States? Why did some online tax filing companies come under fire in 2021? Will tax filing change in The United States? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 453. Topic: Citizens United. Theme: Money and politics. How can corporations advertise on behalf of a political candidate? Why is this legal? How are documentary films involved? What are the consequences of saying corporations have protected political speech? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 452. Topic: The gold standard. Theme: Money and politics. How does money work? What are the pros and cons of basing money in the value of gold or silver? Has the United States ever used the gold standard? How has it changed over time? Why was it dropped in 1971?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 451. Investigating myself. Topic: Hereditary hemochromatosis.How much iron is in our blood? How do we get rid of iron? What genetic disorder results in a buildup of iron? Why are this disorder's symptoms and treatment options. Do I carry this disorder? Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelessonNew episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 450.  Topic: Spinal fusion. Theme: Medical procedures. Why are humans so prone to back pain? What are some common causes of age-related back pain? How can a spinal fusion alleviate pain? Is this common procedure effective? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 449. Topic: Coronary artery bypass. Theme: Medical procedures. What arteries supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood? How do arteries become blocked? What happens when coronary arteries are blocked? How does a coronary artery bypass work? How effective is it in the long term?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 448. Topic: Caesarean section. Theme: Medical procedures. How old are caesarean sections? Where does this term come from? How often are they performed? Are there any downsides for babies or mothers who undergo this procedure over natural childbirth? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 447. Topic: Appendectomy. Theme: Medical procedures. What is the appendix? How did it evolve and what is its purpose? What is appendicitis and how can it be fatal? How is appendicitis treated? Are there downsides to not having an appendix?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 446. Topic: Tonsillectomy. Theme: Medical procedures. What are the different types of tonsil? What do tonsils do? What is the history of tonsillectomies? Why was this procedure so common for the first half of the 20th century? Why are they performed less today? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 445. Investigating myself. Topic: Glycogen storage disease.What is glycogen? How do we make it and where do we store it? How do genetic diseases lead to issues storing glycogen? What are some examples? Do I carry any mutations leading to glycogen storage disease?Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelessonNew episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 444. Topic: The Geneva Conventions. Theme: International law. What inspired the Red Cross and the first (of four) Geneva Convention? What about the others? How has war changed throughout the centuries? How are the Geneva Conventions upheld?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 443. Topic: International waters. Theme: International law. Who rules the oceans? How far do the laws of a country extend offshore? Why is gambling allowed on cruises? What happens if you commit a more serious crime like murder in international waters? How does this loophole result in human rights violations? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 442. Topic: The United Nations. Theme: International law. When and why was the UN founded? How does the UN operate today? How many countries are members? What are some UN operations? How is the UN criticized?  Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 441. Topic: The World Health Organization. Theme: International law.When and why was the WHO founded? What were its most significant accomplishments? What role does it play in today's society? What was its role in the Covid-19 pandemic? Has the WHO ever been criticized? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 440. Topic: The World Trade Organization. Theme: Advantages. How was the WTO founded? What are its goals today? What is an example case where the WTO might get involved? How is the WTO criticized? Has the WTO helped or harmed us?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 439. Investigating myself. Topic: Lactase persistence.What is lactose intolerance? How can 35% of the human population digest lactose after infancy? Is this a form of natural selection? Can I digest lactose as an adult? Twitter: @3minutelessonEmail: 3minutelesson@gmail.comInstagram: 3minutelessonFacebook: 3minutelessonNew episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 436. Topic: Acquired savant syndrome. Theme: Advantages. What is savant syndrome? Can someone have savant syndrome without being born with autism or another cognitive disability? What are some example cases? What can we learn from both traditional and acquired savant syndrome?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 437. Topic: Your name. Theme: Advantages. What does your first and last name convey? How is it hurtful when it comes to sexism, classism, and racism? Why is it useful to have a surname closer to the beginning of the alphabet? And how do middle names matter? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. 

Episode 436. Topic: Early language. Theme: Advantages. What determines adult intelligence? What factors about household income affect language development in children? Is the claim about the 30 millions word gap true? How does television and tablet use affect language development?Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 435. Topic: Appearance. Theme: Advantages. How does height and facial attractiveness affect our implicit biases? What about waist to hip ratio in females? Are our initial perceptions right? Why does evolution create these associations?  Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.

Episode 434. Topic: Buying human growth hormone. Theme: Advantages. What determines our height? How does human growth hormone affect the body? How is human growth hormone used to treat diseases? Can you use human growth hormone to simply grow a few inches? How much will it cost?? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 433. Investigating myself. Topic: Covid-19 and Neanderthals. Do Neanderthals have anything to do with the current Covid-19 pandemic? It turns out genes inherited from Neanderthals influence the severity of Covid-19 symptoms. How did we figure this out? How can that be?  Twitter: @3minutelesson Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com Instagram: 3minutelesson Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found. Methodology notes: Zeberg H, Pääbo S. The major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neanderthals. Nature. 2020;587(7835):610-612. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2818-3 

Episode 432. Topic: Virgin birth. Theme: Animal reproduction. How can female sharks in captivity for years suddenly give birth? What is parthenogenesis and how does it work? Do other animals reproduce this way? Are human males in jeopardy from parthenogenesis?  Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.  

Episode 431. Topic: Mole salamander. Theme: Animal reproduction. Can an animal evolve out the males of their species? How are some salamanders unisex? How can they maintain this form of reproduction without losing genetic diversity? Why is salamander reproduction much more flexible than human? Twitter: @3minutelesson  Email: 3minutelesson@gmail.com  Instagram: 3minutelesson  Facebook: 3minutelesson  New episode every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Find us everywhere podcasts are found.