Nice Genes!

Got a sec?Kaylee’s popping into your feed with a teensy, weensy favour to ask: if you’re a fan of the podcast, would you do us the honour of leaving Nice Genes! a review?Not only does it help the show, but it could also score you some very fun, one-of-a-kind prizes (details below).How to leave a review:Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the bottom of our show page, tap those five shiny stars, and tell us what you think.Spotify: Tap the star rating at the top of our show page and leave a comment on your favourite episode this season.Contest details:If you leave the pod a review by December 31st and DM a screenshot to @GenomeBC on Instagram, you could win a swag bag, or the chance to maybe even be featured on the show next season.Your feedback helps our beloved podcast reach new ears, supports the science stories you care about, and lets us know exactly what’s resonating most with you.So… what are you waiting for? Show the pod a little love and earn yourself a shot at some exclusive Nice Genes! goodies!

Turning up the heat on a life stage science is still catching up to.Ok, most of us may have gotten “the period talk.” But the “menopause talk?” Not so much. For something that half the world will experience, menopause and perimenopause are still wildly misunderstood. Luckily, the DNA detectives are finally reopening a mystery that’s been overlooked for too long.In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers unpacks the science behind menopause. She calls on educator Shirley Weir to understand what menopause and perimenopause actually are– and why so many people feel dismissed when they try to get answers. Plus, reproductive genomics researcher Dr. Aspasia Destouni reveals what our genes (and a few unlikely informants– from orcas to naked mole rats) can teach us about the rebellious internal clock that drives ovarian aging.Special thanks to Andrea Rathborne- creator, host and producer of the Half Betty podcast.A note on language: This episode often uses the terms “women” and “female” interchangeably, but we want to acknowledge that menopause is not experienced exclusively by women. People of various gender identities can go through perimenopause and menopause, and it's important to be inclusive in how we talk about this life stage.Resources: Menopause and perimenopause can feel isolating, and support isn’t always easy to find. Check out resources below for guidance and trusted support networks.- Resources to help you on your menopause health journey- Menopause Foundation of Canada- Menopause & Midlife Health- BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre- Older Adults - Trans Care BC- Balancing Your Health and Wellness During Menopause- First Nations Health AuthorityShow Notes/Resources:1. Menopause and Perimenopause- Health Link BC2. ‘Unprepared and Disoriented.’ New Findings on Menopause Impacts- The Tyee3. IN HER WORDS Women’s Experience with the Healthcare System in British Columbia- BC Women’s Health Foundation, Pacific Blue Cross4. Health and Economics Research on Midlife Women in British Columbia- Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s5. Menopause and Work in Canada- Menopause Foundation of Canada6. Postreproductive killer whale grandmothers improve the survival of their grandoffspring- PNAS7. Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees- Science8. Naked mole rats defy the biological law of aging- Science

What genomics can tell us about food safety, the microbiome, and the mind.You’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat”... Well, our gut microbes take that very literally. If you’ve ever gone on vacation, eaten something tasty, and next thing you find yourself bonding with a bathroom floor, you’re not alone. Food poisoning might occasionally make for a good story later, but it’s a serious issue that lands millions of people in hospitals every year– and tracing the culprit isn’t always as simple as pointing at last night’s tacos.In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers chats with microbiologist Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, who explains how genomics helps track foodborne outbreaks – from the harmful bacteria in our food to the microbes living inside us. Then, Dr. Mary Sco. dives into the science of the gut-brain connection, revealing how your gut and brain are constantly in conversation.So grab a snack, and get ready to stomach the science.Resources1. Yearly food-borne illness estimates for Canada- Government of Canada2. Salmonella Syst-OMICS – Salmonella Syst-OMICS Consortium3. Hack Your Health- The Secrets of Your Gut Health- Netflix4. Probiotics: 100 years (1907-2007) after Elie Metchnikoff's Observation- Research Gate5. Revisiting Metchnikoff: Age-related alterations in microbiota-gut-brain axis in the mouse- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity6. Intragastric infection of germfree and conventional mice with Salmonella typhimurium- NIH7. A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial)- BMC Medicine8. Pick fecal microbiota transplantation to enhance therapy for major depressive disorder- Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

How vector-borne diseases spread– and the critters that carry themMalaria, Lyme disease, dengue, Zika… what do they all have in common? They’re what we call vector-borne diseases– spread to us by tiny, bite-happy arthropods. These little troublemakers are responsible for 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide, and with climate change and urbanization on the rise, they’re becoming an even bigger threat.In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with insect investigator Dr. Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec to untangle the intricate web of vector-borne disease dynamics, and explain what makes these insects such masterful disease spreaders. Then, Dr. Pooja Swali shares how ancient DNA from thousands of years ago revealed a pathogen’s curious evolutionary switch from one creepy crawly to another.From mosquitoes to ticks to the not-so-affectionate kissing bug, every insect in this lineup is guilty of something– and genomics is helping us figure out what.Resources1. Vector-borne diseases- The World Health Organization2. Ancient DNA used to map evolution of fever-causing bacteria- Science Daily3. Mapping the distribution of Amblyomma americanum in Georgia, USA- Parasites & Vectors4. Focal persistence and phylodynamics of Heartland virus in Georgia- Virus Evolution

The genetic clues behind sudden cardiac arrest in young individualsEvery so often, we see headlines about an elite athlete collapsing mid-game. The crowd goes silent, emergency crews rush to the field, and everyone’s left wondering: how could this happen? The truth is, sometimes a hidden heart condition written deep in our DNA will unmask itself on the field.In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with sports cardiologist and cardiogeneticist Dr. Prashant Rao to explore the genetic roots of sudden cardiac events in young athletes. Together, they unpack the most common underlying genetic conditions responsible, what genomics is revealing about the specific genes involved, and the ongoing debate around genetic screening. Plus, the remarkable story of JJ: a young wrestler who survived cardiac arrest thanks to his early genetic diagnosis and fast-acting friends.Listen in to learn why these devastating events happen, and how genomics is helping keep athletes safely in the game.Resources1. 78 minutes in the life (and near death) of Fabrice Muamba- The Guardian2. Reggie Lewis death, explained: Revisiting the tragic passing of Celtics star in 1993- The Sporting News3. Marc-Vivien Foe death: His legacy 10 years after collapsing on pitch- BBC Sport4. The day Denmark stood still: Christian Eriksen’s collapse and the heroes who saved him- The Guardian5. Soccer star speaks out 2 months after collapsing on field mid-game- ABC News6. Sudden Cardiac Death in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: A 20-Year Study- AHA Journals7. Sudden cardiac death in the young: the molecular autopsy and a practical approach to surviving relatives- European Heart Journal8. An 18-Year-Old Athlete Almost Dropped Dead, but Friends Saved His Life: 'It's Really a Miracle'- People Magazine

How medical dramas shape the way we think about genomicsMedical dramas have been a staple of television for decades, from iconic primetime hits like Grey’s Anatomy and HOUSE, to newer favorites like The Pitt. It’s easy to get swept up in the high-stakes surgeries, love triangles, and melodramatoc monologues– but when it comes to the science, a second opinion might be in order.In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers sets out to investigate how these kinds of TV shows shape our perceptions of science. First up, Watson script consultant Dr. Krysta Coyle breaks down some of the biggest genomic missteps medical dramas make, and dishes on what it’s like to be the science voice on set. Then, Ayden Eilmus, a bioethicist and medical drama scholar, explores the evolution of genetics on TV, from problematic eugenics-era storylines to the more complex and ethically rich portrayals we see today.Hit "play" to uncover how our guilty-pleasure binge watches can have a bigger impact than just entertainment.Resources1. Eugenics and genetic screening in television medical dramas- BMJ Journals2. Genetics in Television Medical Dramas- J Lit Sci3. How Accurate Are Medical TV Shows?- Cleveland Clinic4. Eugenics: Its Origin and Development (1883 - Present)- National Human Genome Research Institute 5. Watson Episode 12 recap: Bioengineered chaos, betrayal, and Moriarty’s return- Soap Central6. Private Practice (2007, S1E6)7. Chicago Hope S5E128. Grey's Anatomy, (2015, S11E10)

How new genomic approaches are helping diagnose and treat our tiniest patientsWelcoming a new baby brings boundless love, joy, and the usual sleepless nights of early parenthood. But in the NICU, when a newborn is unexpectedly sick, it’s the uncertainty that keep parents awake.In this episode, our investigation takes us inside the neonatal intensive care unit, where genomic tools are mapping medical mysteries in record time. You’ll hear the remarkable story of “Baby KJ,” the first newborn to receive a personalized CRISPR treatment; insights from pediatric geneticist Dr. Tara Wenger on how new approaches to testing are changing care; and the story of Meredith Thomas– a mother whose fight for answers helped uncover a diagnosis that saved her daughter’s life.From faster diagnoses to fairer care, join Dr. Kaylee Byers to learn how these genomic breakthroughs are redefining what’s possible for newborns and their families.Resources1. World's First Patient Treated with Personalized CRISPR Gene Editing Therapy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia2. SeqFirst: Building equity access to a precise genetic diagnosis in critically ill newborns- The American Journal of Human Genetics3. Implementation of First-Line Rapid Genome Sequencing in Non–Critical Care Pediatric Wards- The Journal of Pediatrics4. Genetic Non-Discrimination Act- The Government of Canada

How wastewater surveillance is tracking diseases outbreaksWhen you flush your toilet, where does the waste go? Down the pipes, through the sewers, and into a… lab? That’s right, hidden in our collective waste is a archive of genomic clues revealing our health, habits, and maybe even happiness levels.In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers teams up with Dr. Jess Steier from the Unbiased Science podcast as they dive into the world of wastewater surveillance. Along the way, they enlist a seasoned “poo detective,” Dr. Natalie Prystajecky, who wades through some wastewater 101, and how sewage can tip us off to disease outbreaks before symptoms even start. Then, Dr. Yemisi Bokinni brings the investigation to the not-so-small town of Makoko, Nigeria, where a new genome sequencing lab is chasing an old culprit: polio.From your neighbourhood sewers to global health and future pandemics, we're using genomics to identify poo dunnit.Resources1. Wastewater Surveillance– BC Centre for Disease Control2. Wastewater surveillance tells a quiet story of polio’s return– BMJ3. Nigeria’s polio battleground'– Nature4. Makoko: ‘Venice of Lagos’– SmartCities Dive

Every mystery leaves a trail of clues. Fingerprints, call logs, maybe some tire tracks… or, of course, DNA. And when it comes to mysteries about our health, there are no shortages of leads to chase.This season, join host, Dr. –or Detective– Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! CSI unit as we investigate the genomic breadcrumbs shaping the way we age, treat diseases– and even watch TV. We’ll uncover how “poo water” can tip us off to pandemics before they spread, to why some of the fittest athletes suddenly collapse on the field. And if you thought you smelled a “rat,” well, you’d be correct. Because we'll also learn how our rodent sidekicks are helping us sniff out the world's deadliest infectious disease.Explore these cases and more in Nice Genes! season 5: “DNA Detectives”– resolving the genetic riddles behind our health, one story at a time.Click here for tickets and more information about the Nice Genes! Live podcast event on Tuesday December 2nd, 2025.

Houston, we have… a microbe? A mysterious bacterial species has shown up aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station, and Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando are hopping into the Nice Genes! mothership to investigate. Where did this intriguing new organism come from? Did it evolve in orbit? And what does it mean for the future of space travel?Click here for tickets and more information about the Nice Genes! Live podcast event on Tuesday December 2nd, 2025.Resources1. New Bacteria Have Been Discovered on a Chinese Space Station - WIRED2. New space-adapted bacteria discovered on China’s space station - CBC3. Unknown strain of bacteria found on China's Tiangong Space Station - Live Science4. Niallia tiangongensis sp. nov., isolated from the China Space Station - International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology 

German cockroaches are notorious for making themselves at home in our kitchens and bathrooms, but how did they become such persistent pests? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando explore the fascinating genomics behind this unwanted guest—and why we’re partly to blame.Resources:1.Solving the 250-year-old mystery of the origin and global spread of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica – PNAS2. The world's most common cockroach is 'a monster of our own creation,' study finds - CBC3. German Cockroach – Rutgers4. Prevalence of Cockroaches, Bed Bugs, and House Mice in Low-Income Housing and Evaluation of Baits for Monitoring House Mouse Infestations – Journal of Medical Entomology

The Importance of BiodiversityDescription:This episode was originally released on October 31, 2022Conservation is often about protecting the species that still wander around our Earth. But what about those that once did but have gone extinct? In this Halloween-inspired episode, we take a look into how one spooky idea has gone from science fiction to science fact, de-extinction style.Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us to the upside-down world of wild animals in Australia. She sits down with Dr. Axel Newton whose research addresses how to resurrect a species that has been extinct for nearly a century. Also joining her is Dr. Carolyn Hogg who uses the latest genomic technology to understand the impacts of reintroducing endangered species into their native habitats. In this wacky tale of resurrection and 'devils' will the spirit of scientific discovery mean incredible changes for the future, or is a line being crossed that we can't come back from?References:1. Lab takes 'giant leap' toward thylacine de-extinction with Colossal genetic engineering technology partnership | The University of Melbourne2. Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGRR Lab) | The University of Melbourne3. Thylacine: How we plan to de-extinct the Tasmanian tiger | Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences4. Extinction of thylacine | National Museum Australia5. A year after Australia's wildfires, extinction threatens hundreds of species | Science News6. Rewilding returns lost species to strengthen ecosystems | Science News7. Park Conscious | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture8. Endangered Tasmanian devils insured against future threats | The University of Sydney9. The 9 Steps to De-Extincting Australia's Thylacine | The University of Melbourne10. The Value of Reference Genomes in the Conservation of Threatened Species | Marsupial Genetics and Genomics11. Assessing evolutionary processes over time in a conservation breeding program: a combined approach using molecular data, simulations and pedigree analysis | Biodiversity and Conservation

Mutton was one of the last of the Salish Woolly Dogs– a breed raised by Indigenous Coast Salish communities before colonization led to its disappearance. Sarah Lando and Dr. Kaylee Byers delve into how genome sequencing is helping uncover the Woolly Dog’s legacy—and could even lead to its revival.Resources:1. The history of Coast Salish “woolly dogs” revealed by ancient genomics and Indigenous Knowledge – Science2. Salish Woolly Dog – The Canadian Encyclopedia3. Extinct Woolly Dog was carefully bred for weaving, ancient DNA confirms – Washington Post4. Extinct Woolly Dog Analyzed in Collaborative Study with Coast Salish Co-authors – American Museum of Natural History

This episode was originally released on September 19, 2023Is the world running out of bananas? Well, no. Not…yet — but nature is flashing a big, yellow, squishy "caution" sign. In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers peels away our assumptions about food security by looking at bananas. Venturing Down Under, we connect with Dr. James Dale from Queensland University of Technology – a bona fide banana expert, who tells us exactly why this iconic yellow fruit could one day become a rarity. But, with the help of a clever genomic idea, he and his intrepid team of Aussie researchers and farmers are looking at how to hit "abort" on complete Bananageddon.Special thanks to Mark Smith with Darwin Fruit Farm Party Limited for providing field recordings for this episode.References:Why Don’t Banana Candies Taste Like Real Bananas? | Science FridayWhat We Can Learn From the Near-Death of the Banana | TIMEBanana Wars: Power, Production, and History in the Americas | Duke University PressChinese coolies | National Library BoardThe Story of the Cavendish Banana | Tenerife WeeklyNot your mother’s banana | BananageddonFungal attacks threaten global food supply, say experts | The GuardianThe banana is dying. The race is on to reinvent it before it's too late | WiredQUT-developed GM Cavendish offers safety net to world banana industry | Queensland University of TechnologyCredit:Journey to Banana Land: By the United Fruit Company (1950) | Institute of Visual TrainingAg Report: Fighting rural farm crime; banana disease; and ag grant award | ABC News

The food supplement industry rakes in billions of dollars every year. So with so much money being spent on things like vitamins, they must be worth it, right? Right?! Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando give you the down low on what’s good for you– and what’s just good for business.Resources:1. Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins? – Hopkins Medicine2. Daily multivitamins do not help people live longer, major study finds – The Guardian3. Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts – JAMA4. Do You Need to Take Magnesium Supplements? – The New York Times5. Role of Beta-Carotene in Lung Cancer Primary Chemoprevention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression – National Institute of Health6. Dietary Supplements Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Ingredient (Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics), By Form (Capsules, Gummies, Liquids), By End User, By Application, By Type, By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030 – Grandview Research

This episode was originally released on November 14, 2023Sleep is essential to our lives, but our perception of how it functions in our non-waking life is not always well understood. So in the mires of our busy daily lives do we overlook sleep by seeing it as a means of refilling our energy for a productive day? By questioning this assumption, one term rolls from out of the haze: The ‘Circadian Rhythm’.Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Dr. Hiroki Ueda from the University of Tokyo in the Faculty of Medicine on demystifying the links between our sleep and genomics. Then neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Coogan shares the connection between sleep and ADHD. Finally, we hear from Dr. Ueda and Dr. Hiroshi Ono, from Hitotsubashi University Business School, on how their homeland of Japan is reckoning with an off-balance relationship with sleep and work.References:Molecular Mechanisms of REM Sleep | NeurosciThe ability to dream may be genetic | Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC)Next-Generation Mice Genetics for Circadian Studies | NeuromethodsEvolution of temporal order in living organisms | Journal of Circadian RhythmsLearn about the bunker experiment to understand the human biological clock | BritannicaGenetic sleep deprivation: using sleep mutants to study sleep functions | EMBO reportsCircadian rhythms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: The what, the when and the why | Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol PsychiatryInsomnia: Definition, Prevalence, Etiology, and Consequences | Journal of Clinical Sleep MedicineNo Sleep for Japan? Survey Reveals Half of Population May Have Insomnia | Nippon.comWhy Sleep Matters: Quantifying the Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep | Rand CorporationJapan has some of the longest working hours in the world. It’s trying to change | CNBCAnnouncement of the establishment of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | Sleeping Council FederationFounder/Director CTO Yasumi Ueda gave a speech at the inaugural general meeting of the nonpartisan "Parliamentary League to Promote Initiatives for People's Quality Sleep" | ACCELStarsFree-running circadian activity rhythms in free-living beaver (Castor canadensis) | Journal of Comparative PhysiologyCredits:Dr. Rackeb TesdayeCurbing death by overwork | Financial TimesWhy does Japan Work So Hard? | CNBC ExplainsWorked to Death: Japan questions high-pressure corporate culture | France 24 EnglishInside Japan’s growing ‘lonely death’ clean-up service | CNN InternationalHow can governments help stop overwork? | The Question | CBC News: The National

We’ve all been there— tempted by the irresistible smell of hot, melty cheese. So what is it about this perfect blend of milk and microbes that keeps us coming back for more? What does cheese do to our brain? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando slice through the science. Resources:1. Is cheese actually addictive? Here's the real science – Salon2. Which Foods May Be Addictive? The Roles of Processing, Fat Content, and Glycemic Load – PLOS ONE3. Cheese really is crack. Study reveals cheese is as addictive as drugs – LA Times4. Science Says Cheese is Basically Cocaine – GQ5. Divergent effects of central melanocortin signalling on fat and sucrose preference in humans – Nature6. Your Genes May Influence What You Like to Eat – Scientific American

This episode was originally released on August 16, 2022In order to seek genomic justice, you have to get out of the lab and into the field.Dr. Kaylee Byers grabs a magnifying glass and a deerstalker cap as she goes to the scene of one of North America’s oldest cold case murder mysteries, the “Babes in the Woods.” This over 70-year-old unsolved case has finally had some closure due to emerging forensic genomic science.But while looking for leads, Dr. Byers spots a bright red thread pointing her to questions about how our genomics are being accessed by law enforcement. How can genomics bring justice to unsolved mysteries? And at what cost are we willing to pay to find answers?Genetic Genealogist, Cece Moore, from ABC’s Prime time series The Genetic Detective helps connect the dots. And partnering with us to get to the bottom of one of Canada’s oldest mysteries is true crime author and podcaster Eve Lazarus from Cold Case Canada.References:Eve Lazarus, Author and PodcasterMurder, Mystery and Intrigue in Review: Babes in the WoodsCece Moore - the DNA DetectiveHow Your Family Tree Could Catch a Killer - The New YorkerGenetics, Law enforcement and crime - Personal Genetics Education ProjectKiller Eludes Police for 31 years - how did one woman find him in two hours? - cbsnewsSeattle man's conviction for 1987 murders of B.C.'s Tanya van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook overturned - CBCThe National DNA Data Bank - The B.C. Civil Liberties AssociationFor nearly 70 years, these 2 murdered boys were known as the 'Babes in the Woods.' Now they finally have names - CBCMaryland V. King - 2013 Supreme Court decision on Maryland DNA Collection ActSupreme Court Upholds Warrantless Collection Of DNA - NPRHow DNA can reunite families - Endeavor DNA Laboratories

Rapid Evolution in the Modern AgeEvolution is like the ultimate slowburn, unfolding over millennia. And in our modern society, where things move so fast, it’s easy to miss this incremental but constant transformation. Not only is evolution happening all around us, in some cases it’s even picking up the pace.In our season finale, our resident superhero, Ratwoman, returns with a new sidekick: The Bat Whisperer. Join Dr. Kaylee Byers and Dr. Cecelia Sánchez as they team up to explore the marvels of rapid evolution– from bats in the Solomon Islands, to modern dating. We’ll meet cave explorer and mammal detective Dr. Tyrone Lavery along with paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Nick Longrich to unlock predictions for the future, by looking into the past.With unprecedented access to genomic information, we can now remix evolution like never before. But just because we can, does it mean we should?Learn-a-Long: https://bit.ly/4jgbFI2Highlights(5:57) Into the bat cave: tracking evolution in the Solomon Islands with Dr. Lavery(11:18) The peppered moth survival story(20:18) Dr. Longrich explains how humans are evolving in the modern age–Resources:1. Charles Darwin: History’s most famous biologist - Natural History Museum2. Bat Beauty Contest: Vote Now To Crown The Best-Looking Bat Of Them All - Forbes3. Parallel evolution in an island archipelago revealed by genomic sequencing of Hipposideros leaf-nosed bats - Oxford Academic4. Bats Are Going Through a Rare Evolutionary Phenomenon - Newsweek5. The Peppered Moth - Age of Revolution6. A continuous fish fossil record reveals key insights into adaptive radiation - Nature7. Study of 17,000 years of fish fossils reveals rapid evolution - Science.org8. How long does evolution take? It happens on two different timescales- New Scientist9. Future evolution: from looks to brains and personality, how will humans change in the next 10,000 years? - The Conversation10. Ancient Urbanization Predicts Genetic Resistance To Tuberculosis - Oxford Academic

Managing an Invisible DiseaseIs there a Zombie moose on the loose?! Not quite... But there is something lurking in the woods that has our “deer” friends shakin' in their hooves. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100% fatal illness that’s creeping its way through cervid populations, and it’s nearly impossible to spot. Luckily, wildlife biologists like our guest Cait Nelson from the BC Ministry of Water, Lands, and Natural Resource Stewardship are on the case.In this episode host Dr. Kaylee Byers and Cait Nelson talk about the clever scientific tools that are helping us track CWD– from grapefruit spoons to genomics! We’ll also hear from Alfred Joseph from the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation and member of the Ktunaxa Tribe, who explains how CWD is more than just a threat to wildlife, but also has deep implications for community and food sovereignty.Join us on a pun-packed hunt to find out how we can get ahead of this deadly and stubborn disease, one dead head at a time.Special thanks to Jeff Berdusco, CWD Coordinator in the Kootenay region for providing field recordings for this episode.–Highlights(4:46) What is CWD?(13:10) A threat to cultural independence.(17:48) Tracking a silent killer.Learn-along: https://bit.ly/4hersVVResources:1. Chronic Wasting Disease - British Columbia2. To Fight Chronic Wasting Disease, BC Begins to Harvest Deer - The Tyee3. “It’s important to know about this” - risk communication and the impacts of chronic wasting disease on Indigenous food systems in Western Canada - Environmental Science & Policy4. Chronic Wasting Disease: Prevention, Surveillance, and Response - BC Wildlife Federation