Naked Genetics - Taking a look inside your genes

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Naked Genetics takes a look at the science of genes. With in-depth interviews, the latest news from the world of genetics, answers to your questions, and our gene of the month, tune in for a look inside your genes...

The Naked Scientists


    • Mar 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 109 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Naked Genetics - Taking a look inside your genes

    CRISPR: the cutting edge of gene editing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 29:53


    In this edition of Naked Genetics, we take a closer look at CRISPR gene editing. What is it? And what are the ethics involved in rewriting the human genome? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Debunking 'junk' DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 32:47


    In this episode of Naked Genetics: What new DNA techniques are revealing about human sacrifices in Mayan culture; we debunk the 'junk', in junk DNA; and, the upside down sea snail that makes rafts of its own snot... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Will It Sequence? Synthetic DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 24:43


    In this episode of Naked Genetics: How much of your personality is down to your DNA; we also look at synthetic DNA, and why we'd want to make it; plus, the spiders that turn one species of insect against its own kind... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Will It Sequence? 700-year-old DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 21:17


    In this episode of Naked Genetics: A mammoth discovery in ancient DNA structure; on the subject of ancient DNA, what can we sequence for a centuries old body? And, in quirks of evolution, the animal that drinks its own offspring's blood... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Will It Sequence: How effective is handwashing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 19:24


    In this episode of Naked Genetics: The risk factors between schizophrenia and substance use disorder have had a fresh genetic examination; I put Illumina to the test and ask, 'what difference does washing our hands really make?' And, the the extraordinary way in which dung beetles use the night sky to orientate themselves... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Will It Sequence? What grows on your food?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 24:41


    In this episode of Naked Genetics: What the latest genetics research has to say about restless leg syndrome; I put Illumina to the test and ask, 'what really grows on our food?'; And, what makes a tardigrade so tough? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Will It Sequence? Hunting drug resistant bugs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 22:37


    In this month's edition of Naked Genetics: Why a genetic bottleneck created decades ago means some whales are in deep water; how wastewater is helping genetic sequencer track down deadly diseases; And, surf's up! how one beach dwelling creature is shredding the gnar in order to find food... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    ADHD advantages, and mining microbiomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 22:40


    This episode of Naked Genetics: has the evolutionary advantage to ADHD been uncovered? Also, We look at the microbiome of mining. And, the only vertebrate in the world that would thank you for saying that it looked like crap... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The roamin' Roman Empire, and Charles Darwin's love life

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 28:36


    In this edition of Naked Genetics: The surprising findings of a roman empire diversity study; Are hybrid animals the way out of the biodiversity crisis? And, was charles darwin as romantic as he was scientifically brilliant? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The origin of Europe's MS disease, and South Pole sequencing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 27:42


    This episode of Naked Genetics, the origins of multiple sclerosis markers in northern Europe is revealed, and why it might have helped more people than it hindered; we also look at organisms surviving in Earth's most extreme conditions; and ask just why might a bunch of organisms be turning into crabs? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Testing for genetic diseases, and bats with big penises

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2023 27:50


    This episode of Naked Genetics, we catch up with our genetics experts and look into the hot button genetics news; we look at how genetics affects our genes, and how genes affect our ageing; and, another extraordinary mating ritual in Quirks of Evolution... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Is vegetarianism genetic, and the penis-eating spider

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 30:46


    This episode, we catch up with some of the more curious genetics news from the past month including how much Neanderthal is in you and how that affects your risk of disease. Also, we look at one of the most remarkable breeding strategies in the animal kingdom, a spider with two penises that eats one of them... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    COVID In Your Genes: The Risk Factors

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2021 29:46


    Do our genes control how we respond to COVID? The question has been nagging at the world since the pandemic began. Now we have the answer - and it's yes. In this programme, geneticist Nathan Pearson uncovers the specific bits of DNA that make you more likely to catch coronavirus, as well as the bits that might make you sicker.... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The Genes Who Came in for the Cold

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 29:37


    How do we cope at the extremes of low temperature? Across the world, groups of people have historically made their home in icy and inhospitable landscapes... and even today, groups of thrill seekers push their bodies to the limits by going swimming in water close to freezing. In this month's programme, genes that help us handle - and even enjoy - being very cold. We've got two stories from the ancient ice, including the oldest ever DNA; plus, two modern genes found to be helping us out in interesting ways, whenever things get particularly chilly... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    How To Tell Coronavirus Variants Apart

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 28:32


    We're looking at the most critical variants of the coronavirus, and finding out how to tell whether they're flummoxing COVID vaccines. Plus: the cost of catching a serial killer; DNA with four strands instead of two; and a mutant fish whose fins have started turning into limbs! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Identical Twins: Not Identical?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 28:45


    Meet the small DNA differences that make their mark by existing in the magical period of early development. We'll hear how mutations in the very first stages of human embryos have bizarre consequences for identical twins; and how even earlier in the process, sperm use selfish genes to get ahead of the competition. Plus, an immunologist untangles mRNA COVID vaccines, from efficacy numbers to delayed booster shots... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    RNA vaccines, privacy, and penguins

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 24:03


    The first group of people in the world have received a 'genetic' vaccine against the coronavirus. What is it, and how does it work? Naked Scientist Chris Smith breaks it down and addresses your concerns. Plus, why some genes have to change rapidly just to stay the same; a new way to keep functional genetic information private; and three new species of penguin arrive on the scene... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Mink, Ivory, & a Disease Discovered Backwards

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 27:11


    It's a regular Noah's Ark: from the coronavirus strains that have been spreading through minks, to a new DNA test that can track poached elephant ivory, to the genetics of a very useful - and very inbred - cat. Plus: scientists have discovered a brand new genetic disease, via an unlikely approach and an even unlikelier coincidence... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Slave Trade, Neanderthals, & COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 28:22


    This week: a risk factor for severe COVID that comes from Neanderthals; using genes to track the millions transported as slaves across the Atlantic; a doctor runs through the list of what coronavirus mutations are worth watching out for; and learning population genetics from a video game... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    How To Survive Poison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 29:54


    This week, a message from Naked Scientists listener Loretta. "I'm curious if your show might cover some of the most interesting case studies of organisms developing tolerance to severe toxins, what genetic insight this gives us about adaptation and natural selection more broadly, and what some of the tradeoffs might be when evolving to have such tolerances." We're answering her question: how do animals - and even humans - eat poison, and get away with it? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The Inner Lives of Birds

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2020 28:40


    Tweet tweet! We're talking birds, and the incredible things they can do. Today we're spotlighting five of the coolest recent stories in bird genetics: hummingbirds powering their lightning-fast flight; a gene that controls migration; why males have different colours to females; how light pollution makes sparrows sicker; and the bird trapped for thousands of years under the Siberian ice... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Female Mosaicism: The Stronger Sex?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 27:00


    The same thing that makes the patchwork colours on a tortoiseshell cat, also - according to some - is why human females live longer, see colour better, and even more often survive the coronavirus. It's all thanks to having two X chromosomes. Females compensate by switching one of them off, and the result is two distinct groups of cells in the body, each preferring one of the two X's. Welcome to the weird world of female mosaicism... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Fermented foods: the real deal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2020 29:55


    We take a look at the trendy world of fermented foods. Are they actually good for you? And if so, why? Plus, the latest genetics news: from bacteria that live inside cancer cells, to gene sequencing the dead sea scrolls... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    ACE2: The Coronavirus Gateway

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 34:01


    Are you one of the many people who take ACE inhibitors or ARBs to treat high blood pressure? Or to help with heart issues or diabetes? In the UK, this is about one in seven people, making these are some of the most common prescription drugs out there; and recently there have been worries that they might make a coronavirus infection worse. The link between the drugs and the virus is a molecule inside everyone's bodies called ACE2. On today's show, meet ACE2, the protein in the spotlight: the bastion of our defenses, that's become the very breach in our walls. Protector, turned betrayer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The Coronavirus Mutation Situation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 25:03


    In this episode we're taking apart the tiny creature behind this global pandemic. From how looking at the genes of the coronavirus can help figure out the animal it comes from; to the exact ways it's spreading around the world; and even how a hidden mutation is threatening to lead vaccine-makers on a wild goose chase. Plus, Gins & Genes goes virtual; stay tuned to hear what's inside our guest's downstairs toilet... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Gene Genealogy & The Lost Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2020 24:08


    One of the biggest tech booms of the past half decade has been direct to consumer DNA tests. The results come in the post, and with them come both answers and new questions: questions that tens of thousands of people now have to figure out how to ask. In this episode, a new book from journalist Libby Copeland about a sociological phenomenon and its effects, both grand and intimate... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    FOXG1 Syndrome: Fighting the Odds

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2020 25:08


    Listener Vivek got in touch with a question about a rare genetic disease his son has, called FOXG1 Syndrone. In fact, it's so rare - and so newly-discovered - that only about six hundred people in the world have been diagnosed. Kids with FOXG1 have severe developmental delays; in Vivek's words, "everything that can go wrong - it's gone wrong with him." But the parents of FOXG1 children have been unusually tenacious when it comes to shaping the course of science. In this programme we meet those people blurring the line - metaphorically speaking - between the brain and the heart. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The Fly Infest-agation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 28:08


    We got a Christmas present from listener Anna: a small plastic tube full of dead flies. They've recently been infesting the hospital where she works. She wants us to figure out what they are, and what caused the infestation. Can DNA crack the case? Plus, the return of Gins & Genes... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    African genetics and ethics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2019 28:56


    There are very few African studies in genetics. And on the whole, there is a big European bias in the field. In Europe there are resources of hundreds of thousands of individuals' data, like the UK Biobank, and so that's where most research take place. But there's a potential problem: the subtle differences in DNA may start to make a difference the more genetics is used to diagnose and treat diseases. All this is why a number of institutions have collaborated to survey thousands of people's genomes in rural Uganda. In this episode we cover the results of Africa's biggest ever genetics study;... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    What's in the water?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 26:05


    This month we're diving into the stuff that makes up two thirds of the Earth's surface. Can you use genetics to figure out what's in the water? We put the science to the test by making a geneticist guess our mystery fish. Plus, a story about whales and dolphins: what do you lose when you leave the land? Jump in, the water's fine. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Quadrillions: Sequencing the UK Biobank

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 29:35


    Half a million genomes. That's how many the UK Biobank has, stored as blood samples in freezers up in Manchester. And in September 2019 they announced a project to sequence every single one of them. It's the obvious next step for the UK Biobank, the research study that began in 2006 and now consists of an enormous biological database: the personal and medical information of its 500,000 volunteers. That data is available to any researcher who applies to use it. But how is this, the biggest whole-genome sequencing project ever, going to work? Who's coughing up the hundreds of millions of pounds... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The Dog Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 30:52


    It's a doggy dog world... in this episode we're talking pugs, bulldogs, and French bulldogs. They've all been bred for flat faces, but their airways haven't shrunk alongside their skulls - meaning that they often struggle to breathe. How has this happened? After evolving for millions of years, why are their airways literally too big to fit into their heads? Have they been betrayed by their own genes? Naked Genetics is on the case. Plus, the origin of puppy dog eyes, and we sequence the genome of Bruce the black lab puppy... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Mendel's Trick

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2019 30:02


    Naked Genetics is back with new episodes every month! Today we're taking a step back. Where does genetics actually come from? How did we get to today's world of genome sequences and gene editing? It all started with a 19th-Century monk, working in his garden - but who was he really, and how did it take thirty years for him to be recognised? If you think you know this story, you might be surprised. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Decoding a Mammoth with George Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2019 30:51


    Join Harvard DNA pioneer George Church and Chris Smith in conversation as they discuss gene cloning, DNA sequencing, decoding the mammoth genome, the risks posed by fossil viruses lurking in extinct genomes, the prospects of xenotransplantation and safety of gene therapy, and the risks of human CRISPR. The discussion was recorded on March 15th, live in front of a studio audience at the Hello Tomorrow Summit, in Paris, 2019... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The CRISPR baby controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2018 28:04


    In November, He Jiankui claimed that two genetically engineered children have been born. Did he really do it? And if so, what are the ramifications for the babies and for the field? Georgia Mills explores the controversy in a special edition of Naked Genetics. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The future of forensic genetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2018 32:34


    We're returning to the scene of the crime with another look at the latest techniques in the world of forensic genetics - can we really predict physical features or even ethnicity from your DNA, and what does this mean for our criminal justice system? Plus, is the 'CSI effect' real? And our gene of the month would be more at home at a rave than a lab. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    A Festival of Genomics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2018 39:48


    We're off to a festival - but before you worry about where your tent and wellies are, it's the Festival of Genomics, held at a clean and dry conference centre in London rather than a muddy field full of rock bands and dodgy burgers. Plus, what does the public really think of genetic technology? And a fiery gene of the month. This is the Naked Genetics podcast for March 2018, brought to you in association with The Genetics Society. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Crime scene genes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2018 31:22


    It's CSI Naked Genetics, as we find out how genetic technology is used to solve crimes. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Back to the womb

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2018 34:58


    We take a trip back to the womb and before, to find out about early development. Plus, the importance of placentas, why the age of your womb rather than your eggs matters, and a video game-inspired gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    The future of genomic medicine

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2017 32:50


    This month we're finding out how genetic advances are shaping the future of healthcare at the Genetics Society autumn meeting. Plus, signposts for bees and an operatic gene of the month. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Matchmaking at the zoo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2017 35:22


    This month we're off to the zoo to meet some lovelorn laughing thrushes, endangered snails, and the Cilla Black of Sumatran Tigers. Plus, a sneak preview of this year's Genetics Society JBS Haldane lecture, and a gene of the month that likes a tipple. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

    Evolution's luxury item

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2017 32:22


    You're a mammal. I'm a mammal. Your pet cat or dog is a mammal, as are whales, lemurs, pandas and polar bears. But what exactly is a mammal, and what can our genes tell us about our evolution? Plus, school students take on the whipworm genome, the surprising genetic diversity of Papua New Guinea, and a gene of the month that's up all night. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

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