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

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

Author: The Genetics Society July 28, 2022 Duration: 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 @GeneticsUnzip

This 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.


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
S6.27: Next Generation Sequence: Forging new paths in genetics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 Socie…
S6.26: The battle for biology: How Mendel came to rule the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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…
S6.25: 2023 Unzipped [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 cl…
S6.24: Genes, junk and the ‘dark genome’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:31
Please take a minute or two to fill out our listener survey and help shape the future of the podcast: https://geneticsunzipped.com/surveyWe discover how 500,000 whole genome from UK Biobank will help medical research, pl…
S6.23: 40 years of HIV: the disease that broke the rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
Please take a minute or two to fill out our listener survey and help shape the future of the podcast: https://geneticsunzipped.com/surveyWith 2023 marking 40 years since the discovery of HIV, we're looking back over four…
S6.22: Dumb luck: Amazing adaptations from happy little accidents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 exp…
S6.21: Time of your life: how circadian rhythms shape the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
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…
S6.19: Food for the future: Helping plants adapt to a changing world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 referenc…
BONUS Hormones: The Inside Story - Is my diabetes my fault? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 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 Pod…