S3.24 Best bits of 2020

S3.24 Best bits of 2020

Author: The Genetics Society November 19, 2020 Duration: 32:08

We look back over our favourite bits from the podcast over the year, from dark family secrets revealed by genetic testing to the secret scientific history of bird poop.

Jack Nunn - hidden family secrets revealed Listen to the full episode 

The bird poop boom Listen to the full episode

Ewen’s angry birds Listen to the full episode

Darwin’s finches Listen to the full episode

Sarah Tishkoff Listen to the full episode

Full show notes, transcript, music credits and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com

Follow us on Twitter @GeneticsUnzip

Genetics Unzipped is written and presented by Kat Arney with audio production by Hannah Varrall, with additional research and scripting by Emily Nordvang and reporting by Georgia Mills.

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.


Ever wondered how a monk's garden peas changed science, or what your own DNA might reveal about you? Genetics Unzipped, presented by The Genetics Society, explores these questions and countless others, weaving together the past, present, and future of heredity. This isn't a dry lecture series; it's a collection of conversations and narratives that make the complex world of genes feel immediate and fascinating. Each episode delves into a specific story, whether it's a historical breakthrough, a debate in modern medicine, or the surprising genetic connections in nature and our daily lives. You'll hear from researchers, historians, and sometimes the subjects of genetics themselves, all unpacking how DNA shapes health, fitness, evolution, and what it means to be alive. The podcast moves seamlessly from the fundamentals to the frontiers, making the science accessible without oversimplifying the profound implications. Tune in for a thoughtful and engaging exploration that goes far beyond the helix, examining the very code that writes our stories.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 168

Genetics Unzipped
Podcast Episodes
S6.17: Vax to the future: The science of DNA and RNA vaccines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 Col…
S6.15: Cordelia Langford: Making Big Science Happen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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…
S6.12: Da Vinci’s DNA: What happens when genetics meets art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:38
We’re taking a journey into the world of art and artefacts, unearthing the genetic secrets of long-dead legends like Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Beethoven.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.…
S6.11: Meet the DNA Detectives hunting the causes of cancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:48
We’re chasing down the perpetrator of a scientific Whodunnit, joining the DNA detectives on the hunt for the causes of cancer.Full show notes, transcript and references online at GeneticsUnzipped.com Follow us on Twitter…
S6.10: Space invaders: The amazing adaptations of tardigrades [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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…