Nice Genes!

For the past 25 years, we’ve been hearing that male contraceptives are just a few years away. And then a few more… and then some more after that. So for something that has been in development for such a long time, what is with the hold up? In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us through the history of birth control – from silk condoms to beaver testicles – before heading back to high school bio for a good old-fashioned male anatomy lesson. Then, urologist Dr. Premal Patel walks us through the current options for males (spoiler alert: not a lot), and endocrinologist Dr. Stephanie Page gives us the lowdown on some of the promising gels, pills, injections and other methods that could finally change the game. So hit play for some sexy science– from vasectomies, to genomics and infertility research, to reproductive equity for all. -Highlights2:18 - The wacky history of contraceptive methods7:54 -  Breaking down misconceptions of vasectomies 18:29 -  A gel and a frontrunner for male birth control -SourcesThe History and Future of Birth Control - Live ScienceWorld Contraception Day: 10 of history’s most horrible contraceptives - BBCBreakthrough takes big step toward safe, reversible male contraception - Cornell

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Survivor, you know the rules: outwit, outplay, outlast.But in the animal kingdom, Survivor isn’t a game– in a very real way, it’s adapt, or…And as climate change intensifies and human disasters reshape the environment, animals are being forced to come up with new ways to cope- fast!In this season 6 premiere, host Dr. Kaylee Byers explores some winning (and losing) survival strategies. First up, wildlife biologist Dr. Kendall Calhoun takes us into the aftermath of wildfires to see how different animals are adapting to an ever-changing landscape. Then, evolutionary biologist Dr. Cara Love brings us to her work in Chernobyl, where a population of wolves is living a  radioactive life– and their genomes could even offer clues for cancer treatment.Highlights04:58 Deer vs. Squirrels – Who’s Built to Survive a Wildfire?12:27 Barry the Bear – The 500-Pound Bear Who Moved In After a Fire19:57 Chernobyl’s wolves – Survival in a Radioactive World SourcesFACT SHEET: Climate change and wildfires - Climate InstituteMovement behavior in a dominant ungulate underlies successful adjustment to a rapidly changing landscape following megafire - Movement Ecology40 Years After Chernobyl, Wolves May Be Adapting to Live With Radiation - Science AlertSignatures of Radiation-Induced Stress and Putative Selection on Immune Targets in Chornobyl Wolves - Molecular EcologySurviving in a poisoned land: Chernobyl's wildlife is different, but not in the ways you might think - BBCWhat We Know About the Chernobyl Animal Mutations - ThoughtCo.

Have you heard about the radioactive wolves in Chernobyl? Or the latest gene-editing tech that’s curing rare diseases? Or that male birth control might be on the horizon? No?!Well, get ready, because while we’ve been busy living our lives, genomics has been moving – fast! Things that once read like science fiction are moving on over to the non-fiction section.This season on Nice Genes!, join Dr. Kaylee Byers as she engages in some big genomics breakthroughs – from personalized cancer treatments, to how our bodies react in space, to how animals adapt to the most extreme environments, and whether we can actually change how we age.It’s a whole new gene-eration (if you will) of discoveries that you won’t want to miss!New episodes every two weeks, starting September 8th. Make sure you follow Nice Genes! so you don’t miss an episode!

This episode was originally released on August 2, 2022Just like any good superhero comic, we start this episode with the science going incredibly wrong. Think: vats of toxic waste producing evil mutants that ravage the city. Or maybe not so evil. It really depends on your perspective. Just like the X-men, genetic mutations get a bad rap in the public eye. But they aren’t all nasty.Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with data scientist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Brian Arnold on how the genetic ‘mistakes’ known as variants occasionally encode incredible abilities. Odd elephants, hiding in our ocean depths, and Rogue-ish bacteria are just a few examples. Dr. Arnold defends these genetic anomalies, and explains how they can make a huge difference to the future of humanity and life on this planet. Also joining us is marine biologist Dr. Maria Pia Miglietta, who shares an incredible ability sitting in our ocean depths. Immortality.So strap on your capes, because we’re heading straight into the strange terrain of “heroic mutations.” Listen to Nice Genes! wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by Genome British Columbia.Resources: Genetic Mutation - NatureGenomic mutation rates: What high-throughput methods can tell usShane Campbell Staton Group - Tuskless ElephantsIvory poaching and the rapid evolution of tusklessness in African elephants - ScienceReal-Life X-Men: How CRISPR Could Give You Superpowers in the Future - synthego.comIndonesian divers have evolved bigger spleens to hunt underwater - ScienceMutations may reveal how Tibetans can live on world's highest plateau - ScienceThe Immortal Jellyfish - American Museum of Natural HistoryCellular reprogramming and immortality: Expression profiling reveals putative genes involved in Turritopsis dohrnii’s life cycle reversalTranscriptome Characterization of Reverse Development in Turritopsis dohrnii (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)Horizontal gene transfer and adaptive evolution in bacteria - nature reviews microbiologyHorizontal gene transfer overrides mutation in Escherichia coli colonizing the mammalian gut - PNASThe Ship of Theseus Dilemma - Open Okstate

Have you ever wondered why most orange cats are male? Scientists have been scratching their heads over this for decades, and now we finally have answers. In our final Gene Short of the season, Sarah Lando and Dr. Kaylee Byers explain the surprising new evidence that finally explains this purr-ticular quirk.Resources1. Gene behind orange fur in cats found at last- Science.org2. Scientists track down mutation that makes orange cats orange- Science Daily