Genetics Unzipped

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Genetics Unzipped is a podcast from the UK Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics. Find us online at genetics.org.uk

The Genetics Society


    • Jan 25, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 167 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Genetics Unzipped podcast is a highly accessible and informative resource for individuals with varying levels of knowledge in genetics. Hosted by the brilliant and eloquent Kat Arney, this podcast presents complex concepts in an entertaining and engaging format. The writing, content, and presentation are all top-notch, making it a pleasant way to broaden one's understanding of genetics and keep up with current developments in the field. Additionally, the show is beautifully produced with no annoying ad interruptions or promotions.

    One of the best aspects of Genetics Unzipped is its ability to cater to both beginners and those seeking more advanced concepts. Whether you have only a basic understanding of genetics or are curious about more complex topics, this podcast has something for everyone. The content is always great and often fascinating, regardless of your prior knowledge. Kat Arney's expertise as a scientist shines through her explanations and storytelling, making even complex subjects easy to comprehend. Her sense of humor adds an enjoyable touch to each episode.

    However, there are a few drawbacks worth mentioning. Recently, Dr. Arney has made some pejorative remarks regarding women's roles as mothers, which can be off-putting for some listeners. While these remarks may be mild, they detract from the overall experience of the podcast and could potentially alienate certain individuals who have chosen domestic careers over pursuing their education-related paths. It would be preferable if these comments were left out of future episodes.

    Another concerning aspect was a recent episode that seemed like a blatant promotion for a commercial enterprise producing exosomes. Although Dr. Arney limited her input on this topic, it felt crassly commercial and out of place in what is otherwise an educational program. This type of programming should be avoided in favor of maintaining integrity and focusing on informative content rather than product promotions.

    In conclusion, despite these minor criticisms, Genetics Unzipped remains an exceptional podcast for anyone interested in genetics. It consistently delivers great storytelling and content, allowing listeners to learn something new with each episode. Whether you are a biology enthusiast looking to explore the history of the field or a professional seeking insights at the cutting edge of genomics, this podcast has something valuable to offer. With its informative, accessible, and entertaining approach, Genetics Unzipped is a must-listen resource for anyone interested in genetics and genomics.



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    Latest episodes from Genetics Unzipped

    S5.16 Hap-pea 200th birthday, Mendel!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 35:56


    We celebrate the 200th birthday of Gregor Mendel and learn about the latest genetics research that would have blown his mind.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

    S6.27: Next Generation Sequence: Forging new paths in genetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 37:30


    Please fill out our listener survey at geneticsunzipped.com/survey before January 31stThis episode is all about the next generation, as we meet three up-and-coming scientists who have been supported by the Genetics Society, and learn all about Bermuda skinks, the Black Death and life after a genetics PhD.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S626: The battle for biology: How Mendel came to rule the world

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 42:54


    Please take a minute or two to fill out our listener survey and help shape the future of the podcast: https://geneticsunzipped.com/surveyIn this episode, we talk to Greg Radick from the University of Leeds to explore the impact that Gregor Mendel and his populariser William Bateson have had on the past century of genetics, and ask whether there could have been a more Weldonian view of the world.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented and produced by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.25: 2023 Unzipped

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 35:38


    Please take a minute or two to fill out our listener survey and help shape the future of the podcast: https://geneticsunzipped.com/surveyAs 2023 draws to a close, we're bringing you a smorgasbord of previously unaired clips from some of our favourite interviews this year.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page & Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    media unzipped kat arney genetics society
    S6.24: Genes, junk and the ‘dark genome'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 37:31


    We discover how 500,000 whole genome from UK Biobank will help medical research, plumb the depths of the ‘dark genome' with Nucleome, and Larry Moran tells us how much of our DNA is just junk.Please fill out our short listener survey hereFull show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented and produced by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.23: 40 years of HIV: the disease that broke the rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 35:12


    With 2023 marking 40 years since the discovery of HIV, we're looking back over four decades of AIDS, from the earliest whispers of a mysterious new disease to fighting back against this deadly virus.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner in collaboration with Sally Le Page and with additional research by Miyako Rogers.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.22: Dumb luck: Amazing adaptations from happy little accidents

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 29:15


    Author and science journalist Rebecca Coffey chats with us about some amazing adaptations and Darwinian delights from her book, Beyond Primates. She tells us about wasp facial recognition genes, how yeast epigenetics explain the Dutch Hunger Winter and a dinner party tale of spider cannibalism.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    media accidents adaptations darwinian dumb luck genetics society
    S6.21: Time of your life: how circadian rhythms shape the world

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023


    In this episode we're clocking in to chat about the genetics of circadian rhythms. How can molecules tell the time, why don't we have drugs for jet lag yet and could a midnight snack stop malaria in its tracks?Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.20: That's so extra: Exploring the weird world of extrachromosomal DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 32:54


    We explore the weird and wonderful world of extrachromosomal DNA - what it is, what it does, and why it breaks the normal rules of inheritance.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented and produced by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.19: Food for the future: Helping plants adapt to a changing world

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 44:29


    We're finding out how plants adapt to a changing environment, and how we might be able to give them a helping hand so that we can keep feeding the world sustainably in the future. Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented and produced by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    BONUS Hormones: The Inside Story - Is my diabetes my fault?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 40:18


    In this bonus episode, we're bringing you the third instalment of Hormones: The Inside Story, Season 3. This podcast is produced for the Society for Endocrinology by the same team behind Genetics Unzipped. Find it on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.In this episode, Dr Sally Le Page investigates the role of genetics, ethnicity and maternal environment on type 2 diabetes, with our guests Dr Inês Cebola, Dr Shivani Misra and Dr Lorna Smith.This week, we investigate the role of genetics, ethnicity and maternal environment on type 2 diabetes, with our guests Dr Inês Cebola, Dr Shivani Misra and Dr Lorna Smith.

    S6.18: An Evolutionary Revolutionary: Alfred Russel Wallace and the discovery of natural selection

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 31:51


    We're exploring the epic life of Alfred Russel Wallace; adventurer, naturalist and co-discoverer of natural selection. Biologist and author, Jim Costa, recounts the life of this often forgotten founding father of evolution.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.17: Vax to the future: The science of DNA and RNA vaccines

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 33:20


    We look at the science behind DNA and RNA vaccines - How do they work? What can they do? And how can they be made at scale so that more people around the world can benefit from them? With John Tregoning from Imperial College London, Christian Ottensmeier from the University of Liverpool, and Lisa Caproni from Touchlight.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.16 Double helix double crossing? What really happened between Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 52:03


    Kat Arney chats with Professor Matthew Cobb about what really happened between James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin during the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.15: Cordelia Langford: Making Big Science Happen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 26:28


    We're going behind the scenes at the Sanger Institute with Cordelia Langford, Director of Scientific Operations, to find out what it takes to make Big Science happen, and hear the stories behind the sequencing.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    director media langford big science kat arney genetics society scientific operations
    S6.14: Tracking COVID and tackling obesity: Meet this year's Genetics Society award winners

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 32:34


    We're chatting with two of this year's Genetics Society award winners - Cecilia Lindgren, who's an expert on the genetics of obesity and metabolic disorders, and Lucy van Dorp, who has spent the past three years tracing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 around the world.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.13: Kings, car parks and consent: should we sequence DNA from human remains?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 28:03


    We're venturing into ancient territory and archaeological digs, excavating the complex ethics of extracting and sequencing DNA from human remains. We chat to Prof. Turi King about her role uncovering the body King Richard III and who decides which research gets done.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.12: Da Vinci's DNA: What happens when genetics meets art

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 25:38


    Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.11: Meet the DNA Detectives hunting the causes of cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 32:48


    Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    media hunting kat arney causes of cancer dna detectives genetics society
    S6.10: Space invaders: The amazing adaptations of tardigrades

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 29:08


    In this episode we're going microscopic, exploring what tiny tardigrades can teach us about desiccation, vaccine delivery … and even space travel!Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S609: Raiders of Noah's Ark: Stealing genetic tricks from the animal kingdom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 27:12


    Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    BONUS Re-release S3.22 - The Past, Present and Future of the Human Genome Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 28:55


    To celebrate DNA Day, we are rereleasing an episode from series 3, called The Past, Present, and Future of the Human Genome Project, when Kat interviewed the director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute, Dr Eric Green about his work on the Human Genome Project from its very inception. Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.08: Pop goes the genome! Genetics in popular culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 34:16


    We take a leftfield look at public communication of genetics, exploring how the science of DNA turns up in popular culture from comics and music to cakes, with Great British Bake Off winner Syabira Yusoff.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.07: Chris Hemsworth took a genetic test for Alzheimer's. Should you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 37:56


    We're discussing Chris Hemsworth's recent Alzheimer's risk findings and the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer DNA testing with genetic counsellor and host of the podcast DNA Today, Kira Dineen.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

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    S6.06: Bye-bye boys: The genetics behind the extinction of males

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 36:01


    We're saying bye-bye to the boys, and exploring whether new gene technologies and climate change will make males extinct.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.05: GMO or GM NO? The ethics and realities of genome editing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 36:50


    We're exploring the ethics and regulations of genome editing. What is allowed? What shouldn't be? And who should get to decide? Plus we explore a new exhibit on the topic that lets the public have their say.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.04: The diagnostic odyssey: A journey into genetic testing for rare diseases

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 38:22


    We're off on a journey to the world of rare genetic disorders, exploring the diagnostic odyssey that patients go on in search of answers, research into variants of unknown significance and new approaches for treating the rare disease Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS)Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.03: Confident, competent or confused: What do you think you know about genetics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 38:39


    How much do you know about genetics? In this episode we're sharing the results of a large survey asking the UK public what their opinions are, what they know, or more importantly, what they think they know about genetics and what that means for society.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Sally Le Page with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.02: Would you Adam and Eve it? In search of our earliest genetic ancestors

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 30:07


    We're going back to the very genesis of our species in search of the genetic Adam and Eve. Who were they? When and where did they live? Were there really just two of them? And how should we really be referring to these ancient ancestors anyway?Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S6.01 Baby brain, baby body: the genetics (and epigenetics) of reproduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 31:18


    We're going back to the womb to explore the genetics of how to make babies - from finding out how birthweight is linked to the risk of diabetes to investigating the multifaceted role of the hormone prolactin in pregnancy and the role of epigenetics in the placenta.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S525: 2022 Unzipped

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 40:19


    Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

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    S5.24: Bats, boats and buried bodies: the hidden power of environmental DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 39:02


    In this episode we're testing the air for tigers and digging up dead bodies as we explore the exciting new field of environmental DNA. Dr Sally Le Page chats with Prof. Elizabeth Clare about sampling the DNA of rare species from the air, and Dr Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser and Charles Konsitzke tells us about their project using eDNA to recover the missing bodies of fallen service personnel.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Michele Goodwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2022 17:36


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.The last lecture of the day was given by Michele Goodwin - Chancellor's Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy at the University of California Irvine, and also a senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School. Her talk focused on how the long shadow of eugenics and white supremacy persists into the present day and remain embedded in contemporary political frameworks, and why this pernicious ideology is taking so long to die. So, how does she start thinking about such a complex and challenging topic?You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Joe Cain

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2022 16:19


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.Much of Francis Galton's academic life is associated with University College London, or UCL, and he bequeathed not only his archive but also an endowment for the UK's first professorial chair in Eugenics. The University's Galton Laboratory was finally folded into a larger department of genetics, evolution and environment in 2013, and the Galton Lecture theatre was only renamed in 2020. So why did Galton's name persist for so long? And, looking back, why was he even supported by the University in the first place? These are exactly the kinds of questions that Joe Cain, Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology at UCL, has been trying to answer.You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Anneke Lucassen

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 14:28


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.Anneke Lucassen is Professor of Genomic Medicine & Director of the Centre for Personalised Medicine at the University of Oxford and Professor of Clinical Genetics at the University of Southampton. Her talk, titled “Genomic Medicine, Diverse Data and the Language of Race, Ancestry and Ethnicity” explored the issues caused by a lack of diversity in genomic databases, and the challenges of addressing this in a way that doesn't cause additional injustice and harm. Kat Arney started by asking why it's so necessary to do this work.You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Brian Donovan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 14:31


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.Dr Brian Donovan is a senior research scientist at BSCS Science learning – the oldest science education non-profit organisation in the United States. They have a long history in teaching biology, having been developing biology curricula for over 50 years, and were responsible for reintroducing evolution into American high school biology textbooks. His talk explored how better understanding of genetics and genomics in schools can help to dismantle white supremacist culture. Kat Arney started by asking Brian how his interest in biology education intersects with the topic of eugenics.You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Adam Rutherford

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 16:46


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.Dr Adam Rutherford is a writer and broadcaster, and is an honorary senior research associate at University College London, where he first trained as a geneticist in what was then known as the Galton laboratory. He's the author of the recent book Control, which explores the dark past and troubling present of eugenics, and gave this year's Adelphi Lecture on ‘Eugenics and the misuse of Mendel'. To begin our conversation, I asked him where Galton's ideas originally came from.You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Elaine Riddick

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 16:37


    CONTENT NOTE: This interview includes discussion of rape, forced sterilisation and first-hand experience of state-sanctioned eugenic policies.This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.Elaine Riddick – a Black woman who grew up in North Carolina - was kidnapped and raped and became pregnant at the age of just 13. Nine months later, in 1968, she was forcibly sterilised by the state without her knowledge during the process of having her son Tony, now a successful businessman. She was not the only one. Tens of thousands of people were sterilised in the US as a result of eugenic policies in the decades following the second world war. Today, Elaine is a steadfast campaigner for women's rights, and is the Executive Director of the Rebecca Project for Justice, dedicated to protecting life, dignity and freedom for people in the US and Africa. Kat Arney asked her to share her story.You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    Living with the Eugenic Past: Turi King

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 11:09


    This podcast is part of a miniseries of interviews with speakers from the 2022 annual conference of the Adelphi Genetics Forum - a learned society that aims to promote research and discussion concerning the scientific understanding of human heredity. Formerly known as the Galton Institute, and before that, the Eugenics Education Society, the society has changed its name to the Adelphi Genetics Forum to firmly reject and distance itself from the discredited and damaging ideas of its namesake, Francis Galton – widely viewed as the founder of eugenics.In this first episode, I spoke to Turi King, the President of the Adelphi Genetics Forum and Professor of Public Engagement and Genetics in the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology at the University of Leicester, to discover the story of the society and why it was finally time to change its name. You can find out more about the Adelphi Genetics Forum, including their grants, awards and publications, at adelphigenetics.org You can check out the rest of this series on the Genetics Unzipped podcast feed – just search for Genetics Unzipped on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This series was produced by the team at First Create The Media – that's Kat Arney, Sally Le Page and Emma Werner, with help from Ed Prosser and Frankie Pike. Our music is Drops of H2O by J. Lang, licensed under Creative Commons.

    S5.23: Birds and bees… and sardines: the genetics of animal behaviour

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 25:24


    In this episode we're taking a look at the birds and the bees - not like that! - from the unusual migratory habits of European blackcaps and the ‘greatest shoal on earth' to the division of labour in a beehive, we'll be exploring the role that genetics plays in shaping animal behaviours.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S5.22 Little Shop of Genetic Horrors: the evolution of carnivorous plants

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 39:54


    There's something unnatural about carnivorous plants. We're so used to plants being at the bottom of the food chain, that to see them trapping, killing and eating animals seems to go against the laws of nature. But of course, carnivory in plants is very real and has evolved multiple times in response to a lack of nutrients. In this episode we're looking at how carnivorous plants work, what lives inside the digestive juices, and even a future with carnivorous crops.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S5.21 Past to present: Searching for evolutionary stories in ancient DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 23:00


    We're exploring what we can discover about our evolution from our DNA, and what evolutionary secrets might be contained in the ancient DNA of our ancestors. Kat Arney looks at why this year's Nobel Prize awarded for the genomics of ancient humans, how genetic mutations allow Tibetans and their dogs to survive in high altitudes, and dispelling the myth about why many adults can drink milk.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with additional scripting by Eleanor Bird and audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    BONUS! Big Biology: food for thought - plant domestication and the promise of green super rice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 75:26


    It's a special bonus episode this week, as we wanted to showcase another podcast we think you'll like, Big Biology, and featuring their discussion about the domestication and genetic modification of rice.If you're enjoying it, you can find more about them at bigbiology.org and on Twitter @Big_Biology

    S5.20 Bread and fishes: the future of food in a changing climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 35:41


    In this episode we're looking at the future of food. With climate change making crop harvests more unpredictable and fresh water becoming a more scarce resource, what are geneticists doing to make sure we will still have food on our plates? Dr Kat Arney chats with Dr Hannah Rees about giving wheat jet lag to create a more reliable crop, and Dr Sally Le Page talks to Dr Tarang Mehta about breeding genetically improved tilapia for fish farming.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page.This podcast is created by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S5.19 Let there be light: the origins of photosynthesis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 26:12


    We're turning the lights on, looking back at the origins of photosynthesis and the mysteries of the chloroplast genome. From The King James Bible to The Great Oxygen Catastrophe, every lungful of air you breathe has a remarkable story.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Emma Werner and Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S5.18 The Genesis Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 37:47


    We're exploring the frontiers of genetic engineering and synthetic biology with Amy Webb and Andrew Hessel, authors of the new book The Genesis Machine - taking a look at what's possible now, what's coming fast in the future, and what we as individuals and wider society should do about it.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page and Emma Werner.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

    media amy webb kat arney andrew hessel genetics society
    S5.17 Genetics of Society: How to be a queen bee

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 26:19


    As we always say, this is the podcast from the Genetics Society, but that's more true than ever as today we're looking at the genetics of societies. How can you find your place within a rigid social structure, and is it possible to rise up the ranks and become queen?Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics.

    S5.15 Does size matter when it comes to your genes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 24:35


    In this episode we're discovering whether size really does matter - when it comes to your genes and genome, that is. Dr Kat Arney gets to grips with why the human genome has so few genes, why some species have more junk DNA than others, and whether you should avoid eating anything with more genes than you.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

    S5.14 Genes, brains and the mind: How much of your personality is encoded in your DNA?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2022 34:21


    In this episode we're exploring genes, brains and the mind, as we ask how much of our personality is innate, and whether anything we do as adults can change who we fundamentally are. Presenter, Dr Sally Le Page, sits down with Kevin Mitchell, an Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of the book Innate: How the wiring of our brains shapes who we are.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

    S5.13 Genetics at your fingertips: stories from the science of identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 29:26


    We're looking at the stories at your fingertips. Dr Sally Le Page uncovers how excrement espionage could bring down a superpower, and unearths a 100 year old family secret. But it's not just genetic fingerprinting we're interested in. We also grasp the genetics of fingerprints, and what they tell us about our early life in the womb.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

    S5.12 In the blood: using circulating DNA to detect and monitor cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 30:10


    We're taking a closer look at the red stuff, finding out what a few millilitres of blood can reveal about the development, progression and treatment of cancer within the body. Rather than painful surgical biopsies, expensive scans or complicated screening tests, what if we could simply take a small tube of blood and discover a wealth of information, such as whether or not you have cancer in your body, where it started, how to treat it, and whether that treatment is actually working? Presenter Dr Kat Arney finds out what circulating tumour DNA is from Dr Susan Galbraith, how it can be used to monitor the progression of a cancer from Professor Charles Swanton, and what this will mean for future cancer patients from Sir Harpal Kumar.Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzipThis episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Sally Le Page.This podcast is produced by First Create the Media for the Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics.

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