Nice Genes!

Forensic Methods in Disaster RecoveryContent warning: this episode discusses forensic science and the identification of human remains that may not be suited for all audiences.Natural disasters can strike without warning. And when they do, they can leave destruction, displacement, and loss of life in their wake. First responders rush to help those in need, while forensic scientists face the difficult but incredibly important task of identifying human remains– a process known as Disaster Victim Identification (DVI).In this episode, we’re going back to 2004, to the largest DVI event in recent history. Host Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Chief Forensic Odontologist Dr. Dirk van der Meer as he shares his first-hand experiences of helping identify victims following the devastating tsunami in Thailand. Then, how are genomics reshaping forensic identification today? We head to Australia to hear from Dr. Dadna Hartman about a new tool that’s offering answers—and closure—to families, faster than ever. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the important and fascinating world of forensic science.–Highlights(6:51) On the scene after the tsunami(16:01) A speedy genomic tool(23:00) Beyond the science–Resources:1.2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami: Facts and FAQs- World Vision2. The 10 most significant natural disasters worldwide by death toll from 1950 to 2022- Statista3. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)- Interpol4. Forensic odontology in DVI: current practice and recent advances- Forensic Sciences Research5. Rapid DNA from a disaster victim identification perspective: Is it a game changer?- Forensic Science International

Rethinking the Divide in Autism DiagnosesDr. Hannah Belcher was already studying autism she found out she herself was Autistic. Getting her diagnosis felt like everything suddenly clicked… but why did it take so long to get answers?In this episode, Hannah shares her journey and talks about how many Autistic people, especially women, learn to mask their true selves to fit in– causing them to slip through the diagnostic cracks. Then, we invite Dr. John Constantino to break down the genetic underpinnings of Autism Spectrum Disoder and related conditions like ADHD—and how science is shaking up the genomic picture of what we thought we knew about this male-female bias.From outdated theories to “refrigerator mothers,” join hosts Dr. Kaylee Byers and Dr. Rackeb Tesfaye as they comb through the tangled web of sex bias and ask whether our current methods of studying neurodiversity is actually addressing the questions the people with ASD want answered?A Note on Language:When talking about Autism - semantics matter. So, it’s important to recognize the nuances of language. Many people in the Autism community prefer identity-first language, such as "Autistic person," as it centers Autism as a core part of their identity. Others, however, may prefer person-first language, like "person with Autism," which places the individual before the condition. We’ve used both forms of language in this episode, and we encourage respecting individual preferences by asking what each person is most comfortable with. For more on this, check out resources like the National Institutes of Health’s guide on writing respectfully about identity and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s explanation of identity-first language.Additionally, when we refer to ‘Autism risk’ in the context of academic research, it typically means an increased genetic likelihood of receiving an Autism diagnosis. However, we recognize that "risk" can imply a negative connotation (which we do not support.) Instead, we aim to discuss Autism in ways that honour the neurodiversity of all individuals.Lastly, regarding sex differences in Autism diagnoses, in this episode, we’re talking specifically about sex assigned at birth. Although we mention gender, we want to be clear that we aren’t exploring how Autism diagnoses may vary by gender identity—that area remains understudied! So, our conversation is focused on differences between males and females, and we look forward to seeing more research on the richly complex interactions between gender identitiy and neurodiversity in the future.Highlights:(6:32) Growing up undiagnosed(18:52) The genetic underpinnings of Autism and related neurodiverse conditions(22:20) Debunking the “female protective effect”(26:37) A biased assessmentLearn-A-Long: (coming soon)Resources:1. ‘Taking off the Mask: A Practical Guide for Managing Autistic Camouflaging and Mental Health‘ - Dr. Hannah Belcher2. Inherited Risk for Autism Through Maternal and Paternal Lineage - National Institute of Health3. 'Decade of data dents idea of a ‘female protective effect’- The Transmitter4. How ADHD Gender Bias is Slowly, Steadily Harming Females - ADDitude Mag5. Refrigerator Mothers - A Discredited Cause Of Autism- Autism Help6. Study challenges idea that autism is caused by an overly masculine brain- Science.org7. Autism Spectrum Conditions In Women: Diagnosis, Mental Health, And The Role Of Camouflaging- Research Gate (source?)

The Deceptive Seduction of Femme Fatale FirefliesIn the buzzin’ firefly nightlife scene, neon lights glow bright and sparks fly. But, there’s murder on the dancefloor… The infamous 'Femme Fatale' firefly has mastered the ultimate bait-and-switch seduction strategy, and these sly flies (that are really beetles, actually) aren’t interested in a happily ever after, instead they’re looking for a ‘one-bite stand.’Get consumed in this episode by one of nature’s flashiest insects. Join host, Dr. Kaylee Byers, as she chats with Dr. Sarah Lower about the enchanting world of glow beetles. And later, Dr. Peter Andolfatto reveals how genomics is uncovering the secrets behind how Femme Fatale fireflies have evolved to resort to such drastic measures. Plus, find out what studying firefly toxin DNA could mean for future medical breakthroughs.–Highlights:(5:40) Dr. Sarah Lower covers some firefly basics(12:11) Dr. Lower on the deceptive strategy of the Femme Fatale Fireflies(19:21) Dr. Andolfatto explains how fireflies have evolved difference resistance strategies to toxins(26:02) Dr. Lower on how to get involved in firefly conservation–Learn-A-Long: (coming soon)—Resources:1. A Comprehensive Review of Firefly Conservation - NCBI2. Firefly Genome and Its Role in Bioluminescence - Science Advances3. Patterns of Firefly Species Extinction Risk - PNAS Nexus4. Fireflies: Species at Risk of Extinction - Xerces Society5. Sarah Lower - Faculty at Bucknell University - Bucknell University6. Andolfatto Lab - Andolfatto Lab

How genomics is shaping the future of cervical cancer screening[Content Warning: This episode mentions sexual assault and medical trauma.]Nearly 80% of people will get Human Papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Even though HPV is super common, the symptoms are often subtle or invisible and can sometimes lead to cervical cancer if left undetected. But thanks to new government initiatives like British Columbia’s (BC) self-screening program, cancer testing is levelling up.In this episode, BC resident Christina Price shares how an easy at-home HPV test helped her catch cancer early. Then, Dr. Aisha Lofters debunks persistent myths about HPV, and explains how these test kits are making screening more accessible, comfortable, and equitable. Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers to find out how this genomic tool is empowering people to take their healthcare into their own hands (literally!), and getting us closer to eliminating cervical cancer for good.If you, or someone you know needs support, you can call 1-800-563-0808 or find Canada-wide resources right here.–Highlights:(4:25) Christina talks about the steps that happen after receiving her result from the at home testing kit.(8:09) Dr. Lofters explains what HPV is, the symptoms and what differentiates different strains of HPV.(15:54) Dr. Lofters explains the two different methods for HPV screening(19:30) Dr. Lofters talk about some of the inequities and social barriers people face when finding and accessing healthcare.–Learn-A-Long: (coming soon)—Resources:1. Human papillomavirus - Women's Health2. Doctors say at-home screening for HPV could be an opportunity to 'eliminate a cancer sooner - CBC News3. New self-screening program will help detect cervical cancer sooner - BC Gov News4. Pap test - Canadian Cancer Society5. When a pelvic exam is traumatic - Harvard Health6. “Doing it on my own terms”: Transgender and nonbinary adults’ experiences with HPV self-swabbing home testing kits - National Library of Medicine

The hidden battle between medicine and microbes Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have been our frontline defence against bacterial infections. But this revolutionary medicine is losing ground in the fight. Today, Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the biggest threats to human health– and the stakes only getting higher.But don’t panic, hope is on the horizon!In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers takes you on a journey of petri dishes, mouldy melons, and artifical intelligence to investigate our best hopes of curbing antibiotic resistance. She chats with Dr. Rylan Duivenstein about what’s happening in hospitals, and Dr. Nadine Ziemert about using genomics to help find new antibiotics before we run out of options.—Highlights:(01:37) Mark is faced with the possibility of Necrotizing Fasciitis.(04:32) Kaylee teaches us about the discovery of antibiotics.(08:05) Dr. Ryland Duivenstein explains how antibiotics work.(20:37) Dr. Nadine Ziemert explains how genomics is helping us discover new antibiotics.—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/4eGsTeX—Resources:1. Antibiotics: past, present and future - ScienceDirect2. The real story behind penicillin - PBS NewsHour3. The Forgotten Mother of Penicillin - Science History Institute4. Alexander Fleming (1881–1955): Discoverer of penicillin - NCBI5. Alexander Flemming Nobel Lecture Speech - Nobel Prize6. How can we solve the antibiotic resistance crisis? - Gerry Wright7. WHO - Antimicrobial Resistance - World Health Organization (WHO)8. WHO updates list of drug-resistant bacteria most threatening to human health - World Health Organization (WHO)9. Ziemert Lab - Translational Genome Mining for Natural Products - University of Tübingen

Separating Skincare Science Fact from FictionCould your skincare be hiding more than just a few blemishes? Or, is the word “toxic” getting a li’l too much attention these days… You may have heard the buzz about endocrine-disrupting compounds that silently interfere with our hormones. But with so much misinformation online fueling the fear-fire, it’s hard to know what’s really harmful and what’s all hype.In our ‘Nice Genes!’ season 4 opener, host Dr. Kaylee Byers re-joins forces with the one and only Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam) to clear up some of the confusion surrounding cosmetic safety. With help from environmental toxicologist Dr. Isabelle Plante, we’re un(face)masking the science of dosage and exposure to decode cosmetic formulas and why it's more complex than TikTok would have you think!—Highlights:(06:55) Dr. Plante Defines Endocrine disruptors.(16:43) Dr. Plante talks about the relationship between endocrine disruptors and health concerns.(26:38) Science Sam highlights the important role of regulation.—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3ZAZHBf—Resources:1. Clean Beauty Is Wrong and Won’t Give Us Safer Products - Lab Muffin2. Parabens in Cosmetics - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)3. Parabens and Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer UK4. The Association between Paraben Exposure and Human Health - MDPI5. Parabens, Fragrance, Colorants, Talc: Debunking Bobby Parrish’s TikTok Misinformation - Lab Muffin6. Endocrine Disruptors - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)7. Chapter: Parabens in Cosmetics - SpringerLink8. Environmental Exposure to Parabens and Health Effects - Nature9. Canadian Institute for Environmental Assessment - CIAPE ICEDA

…98, 99, 100! Ready or not, here we come with a brand new season of 'Nice Genes!' Science is like a game of hide and seek, and genomics is one of its stealthiest players, challenging us to uncover its "see-crets".Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers for Season 4 of Nice Genes! where we shine an ultraviolet light on the hidden forces that shape our world– and investigate the genomic questions you didn’t even know you had. Like, is “clean beauty” worth the hype? Can genomics help solve the looming threat of antibiotic resistance? And WTF (what the fawn) is chronic wasting disease?!Get ready for eye-opening episodes that are helping make the invisible, visible– with genomics! Because sometimes, the most exciting scientific questions are hidden in plain sight. 

Indigenous Environmental StewardshipDescription:The Indigenous peoples of what’s now known as Western Canada had a relationship of reciprocity with the land. But when explorers from Europe arrived eager to tame the land and absorb its vast natural resources these two world views came to a head. And caught in between an iconic species of the Pacific Northwest—the Gary Oak—has become threatened. So how can we reconcile the harmful assumptions of the past that overlooked other ways of managing ecosystems?Dr. Kaylee Byers and Co-Host Dr. Lyana Patrick, look to the forests, rivers, and oceans of Turtle Island to uncover the various food systems and traditional stewardship practices that existed before colonization. Ethnobotonist, John Bradley Williams shares the traditional use of Garry Oaks and how they became systematically destroyed. Dr. Tabitha Robin from the University of British Columbia shares her experience working with and studying Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Lastly, Canadian Anthropologist and National Geographic explorer Dr. Wade Davis, through insights from his career visiting communities around the world shares how we can dismantle the prevailing biases that continue to threaten the health of our planet.—Highlights:(3:53 - 8:55) An icon on the brink, J.B. Williams shares the origins and challenges of Garry Oak meadows(11:24 - 14:50) Moving forward, Dr. Tabitha Robin shares the overlooked history of Indigenous food sovereignty(18:45 - 23:20) How an academic divide threatens our planet, anthropology lessons from National Geographic's Dr. Wade Davis—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3GPwxnf—Resources:Indians and Europeans on the Northwest Coast: Historical Context | Center for the Study of Pacific NorthwestThe Strait of Juan de Fuca is mentioned for the first time in April 1596 | History LinkPurchas His Pilgrimes: Contayning a History of the World in Sea Voyages and Lande Travells by Englishmen and others | Center for the Study of Pacific NorthwestThe Garry Oak Learning Meadow | Parks CanadaHarvesting strategies as evidence for 4000 years of camas (Camassia quamash) management in the North American Columbia Plateau | The Royal SocietyConservation status of native tree species in British Columbia | Global Ecology and ConservationSeeing the garden through the trees: The Indigenous forest gardens of coastal B.C. | Canadian GeographicBison Bellows: Indigenous Hunting Practices | National Parks ServiceWeir Fishing | Heritage Lower Saint LawrenceCombining Genomic Insights and Traditional Indigenous Knowledge for the Conservation of Pacific Salmon | Genome British ColumbiaPuyallup Tribe hosts c’abid (camas) harvest at PLU | Pacific Luthern UniversitySaving the planet means listening to Indigenous peoples: Wade Davis | CBCSpatial and temporal assessments of genetic structure in an endangered Garry oak ecosystem on Vancouver Island | Canadian Science Publishing—Credit:Interview with Tibet's 14th Dalai Lama by Robert AF Thurman, Harvard 1981 | Tibet House US Menla Online

Challenging our assumptions about painWhen Jackie Gonzalez was just young, doctors assumed that she was pining for attention when she restlessly tried to rub her feet and describing that she was in constant pain. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that doctors and scientists diagnosed her with Erythromelalgia, also known as ‘Man on Fire Syndrome’. It's a rare condition, and even rarer for people to be born with it, like Jackie was. But what if this uncommon ailment could be cured with the help of an even less common animal?Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Adele Gonzalvez from the University of Sydney on her work to understand the genetic properties of platypus venom. Researchers indicate that their peculiar toxin could put a halt to chronic pain. Meanwhile, producer Sean Holden, puts on rubber waders and sloshes into the boggy waters of Southern Australia to find the notoriously elusive platypus and its venom.—Highlights:(6:28) A lifetime of pain, Jackie Gonzalez on having Erythromelalgia(13:51) A weird and wonderful platypus with Adele Gonzalvez(21:30) On the platypus prowl, Josh Griffith and his team search for platypus and their venom—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3Nv5X6v—Resources:Next-gen painkillers from nature’s deadliest life forms | The University of QueenslandChronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021 | MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportYou Won’t Think the Platypus Is So Cute if You Feel the Excruciating Pain of Its Venom | SlateThe Science of Pain | GI SocietyThe mysterious science of pain - Joshua W. Pate | TED-EdHuman pain and genetics: some basics | British Journal of PainGenetic contributions to pain: a review of findings in humans | Oral Dis. 2008 Nov;14(8):673-82Why Do I Have Pain? | KidsHealth Medical ExpertsChannelopathy-associated congenital insensitivity to pain | Medline PlusErythromelalgia | StatPearls PublishingSCN9A gene sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 | Medline Plus—Credit:Special thanks to Jackie Gonzalez from the Erythromelalgia Association for providing field recordings of her daily experience living with EM.

Challenging our assumptions about sleepSleep 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.—Highlights:(06:37) - Clocks in our bodies, understanding Circadian Rythms(10:17) - Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder and later sleep, a chicken or egg dilemma(15:19) - Challenging overwork in Japan and the importance of sleep—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/47PXwuv—Resources: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 TesfayeCurbing 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

Challenging our assumptions on toxinsWhat’s more terrifying than the true life tales of bloodcurdling and breathstopping toxins? This Hallows' Eve we're taking a page from the history books to make sense of puzzling poisons of our past and present.Dr. Kaylee Byers speaks with Toxicologist Dr. Kimberly Garrett as they connect the dots across the globe of some of the most notorious and subtle poisonings in history. From investigating the final words of a disgraced emperor, tragic fates of conquesting explorers, wisdom from whimsical alchemists and desperate Victorian candy maker ploys, they demystify the distinction between necessary warning labels to lifelines concocted with a drop of poison.In these ghoulish stories, a healthy dose of information could be a lifesaver.—Highlights:(08:46) - Origins of 'the dose Makes the poison', a sometimes right alchemist(20:30) - A deathly candy maker on hallows eve(23:28) - Toxins in the water, understanding PFAS—Learn-A-Long:  https://bit.ly/47ub5Qo—Resources:Was Napolean Poisoned? | American Museum of Natural HistoryA Visit to Longwood | Napoleon.orgPick Your Poison - 12 Toxic Tales | National GeographicParalytic Shellfish Poisoning Safe Shellfish | Fisheries Research Board of CanadaUnprecedented toxic algal blooms impact on Tasmanian seafood industryParacelsus, the Alchemist Who Wed Medicine to Magic | Science History Institute“The Dose Makes the Poison” | Chemical Safety FactsEveryday Toxicology – The dose makes the poison & the cure | Michigan State UniversityBox Jellyfish | National GeographicPhylogenetic and Selection Analysis of an Expanded Family of Putatively Pore-Forming Jellyfish Toxins (Cnidaria: Medusozoa) | Genome Biology and EvolutionFollowing Lewis and Clark’s Trail of Mercurial Laxatives | DiscoverHow Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 | Atlas ObscuraMulti- and Transgenerational Effects of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Levels of PFAS and PFAS Mixture in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) | ToxicsPFAS Resources | PFAS ExchangePFAS Free Producsts| PFAS CentralThe US National Institutes of Health's searchable chemical database | PubChemImproving governance of “forever chemicals” in the US and beyond | One EarthArsenic Exposure and Toxicology: A Historical Perspective | Society of ToxicologyThe gastric disease of Napoleon Bonaparte: brief report for the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death on St. Helena in 1821 | Virchows Archiv—Credit:Bonapartes Retreat - Kay Starr - Pee Wee King | CapitolRule, Britannia - Royal Choral Society - The Philharmonia Orchestra | His Master’s Voice

Challenging our assumptions around fatnessShantaQuilette Carter was in her late 30’s when she had her first stroke. It felt like death was lurking over her shoulder. But when her doctor suggests fending it off by using a drug she had never heard of before, a boatload of questions come to the surface.Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with experts to challenge the everyday assumptions we make about our health and weight. She speaks with professor and journalist Harriet Brown on the fact-finding mission she embarked on to help her daughter struggling with anorexia. Then, Dr. Michael Lyon, with the Obesity Medicine and Diabetes Institute, shares the scaly lizard origins of one of the world's most powerful tools in treating type 2 diabetes.—Highlights:(06:57) The drug that changed her life, ShantaQuilette on struggling with weight(09:00) How a lizard from Utah is saving lives, Dr. Michael Lyon explains the origins of Ozempic(17:00) Harriet Brown on a mission to display assumptions on weight and health—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3QM7EPi—Resources:Diabetes: Key Facts | The World Health OrganizationHow a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic | Global NewsI’m a Fat Activist. I Don’t Use the Word Fatphobia. Here’s Why | self.comShortage of diabetes, weight-loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada, says manufacturer | Canadian Broadcast CorporationAn Aggressive New Approach to Childhood Obesity | The New York TimesBody of Truth: By Harriet Brown | Da Capo Lifelong BooksIs Body Positivity Glamourising Obesity | The Wellness InsiderWhy People Become Overweight | Harvard UniversityHere’s How Your Genes Impact Your Ability to Lose Weight | healthlineWhat Made Humans ‘the Fat Primate’ | Duke UniversityGenes and Obesity | Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAfter his suicide, a man’s family says Ozempic should carry a warning label | ABC News—Credit:Ozempic commercial ™ | Ozempics TMNew Ozempic lawsuit over alleged 'stomach paralysis' | WNN | ABC NewsWhy Are Some Using Diabetes Drug Ozempic for Weight Loss? | Inside EditionJimmy Kimmel’s Oscars Monologue 2023 | Jimmy Kimmel Live

Questioning persistent myths about same-sex behaviour in natureCan we predict who we love from our genetics alone? For LGBT History Month in October, Dr. Kaylee Byers is joined by co-host Dr. Julia Monk to look at what our genes teach us about diverse forms of sexuality and identity. Starting by witnessing a pair of male penguins cozying up, our hosts join flippers to unearth research from naturalists who have recorded same-sex behaviour in the wild. Then they invite socio-geneticist Dr. Robbee Wedow to guide us through his own research, where he puts the question: "Is there a gay gene?" to the test.—Highlights:(00:30) A match made in pebbles(07:15) Buried papers, Darwinian Paradoxes, and reframing same-sex behaviour(20:27) Is there a Gay Gene? 'Damned if you do damned if you don't.'—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/3FNfz8C—References:Gay Penguins Klaus, Jones ‘rekindled their romance’ at Melbourne aquarium | New York Daily NewsNature is queer. Queer ecologists want us to learn from it. | GristIs nature Queer? | Out & About | CBCTerra Nova notebooks describing penguin sexual behaviours acquired by the Museum | Natural History MuseumAn alternative hypothesis for the evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in animals | Nature Ecology & EvolutionLarge-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior | ScienceMany Genes Influence Same-Sex Sexuality, Not a Single ‘Gay Gene’ | The New York TimesNo 'gay gene', but study finds genetic links to sexual behavior | ReutersHow Earnest Research Into Gay Genetics Went Wrong | Wired—Credit:Gentoo Penguin · Pygoscelis papua | xeno-canto"No Gay Gene"-Born This Way Is A Lie Says GOP Lawmaker | Michael McInteeAustralian current affairs programme "The 7.30 Report" (1995) "Gay Brains" | The 7.30 ReportNature or Nurture - Are People Born Gay? | Naked Science

Challenging assumptions around food securityIs 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.—Highlights:(01:48) Peeling into bananageddon(10:33) The cavendish equation, a lucky banana swap (20:57) Safety net, saving the cavendish —Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/46THrTU—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 Technology—Credit: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

Cross-examining the origins of our base pairsOne of our most foundational assumptions is that ‘Our DNA is our own.’ But what if our DNA is stolen? There's a puzzling phenomenon called 'horizontal gene transfer' in which one organisms' genetics jumps to another. Dr. Kaylee Byers is joined by invertebrate specialists Dr. Anna Klompen from the Stowers Institute, and Dr. Jessica Goodheart, a marine biologist hunting for nudibranchs, "gene pirates" of the sea. And Dr. Ted Turlings will tell us how his trip to China led to an exciting discovery about the whitefly -- another common but crafty genetic thief. A final word of advice. Next time a goopy organism bumps into you in a crowd, make sure to check your genes! A special thanks to the laboratory of Professor Youjun Zhang Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing. Drs. Zhaojiang Guo, Jixing Xia, and Zezhong Yang.—Highlights:(00:00) Finding the Transforming Principle(11:34) A colorful and slick ocean pirate(17:50) The hunt for a fluttering and destructive gene thief—Learn-A-Long: https://bit.ly/49qSB4T—Resources:Frederick Griffith - British Bacteriologist | BritannicaGriffith’s Experiment - Progress in Molecular Biology and Transitional Science | Science Direct20 Cool Genomics Facts - 13&14: Antibiotic resistance | Genome BCAncient viral DNA may help humans fight infections | National Institute of HealthVenom system variation and the division of labor in the colonial hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus | Science DirectNematocyst sequestration evolution | The Goodheart labA chromosome-level genome for the nudibranch gastropod Berghia stephanieae helps parse clade-specific gene expression in novel and conserved phenotypes | bioRxivFirst Report of Horizontal Gene Transfer Between Plant and Animal | The ScientistPretty Sly for a Whitefly | The AtlanticFirst known gene transfer from plant to insect identified | NatureWhiteflies stole a gene from plants to survive their lethal toxins | Earth.com—Credit:Lady Margot Asquith on the outbreak of World War I Roman Styran

What did your grade four teacher say? "Never Assume. It makes an..." well, you know the rest. We all fall into the trap of our own assumptions from time to time. But in the weird and wonderful world of science, assumptions can misguide research madly off in all directions. That's why challenging assumptions is so important!Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! podcast team on a journey to learn the truth about some of our most deeply held assumptions. We’ll uncover whether our DNA is truly our own, or a product of genetic theft. We’ll question how societal baggage colours commonly held views about weight and health. And we’ll ponder the genetic puzzle that many assume holds the key to who we are, and who we love. So buckle up your genomics belt and help us follow the assumptions "paper trail." Along the way -- you just might learn the truth about some of our most deeply held societal beliefs.

Repairing the Environment: Climate Special Part 2 With disappearing species, plastic-filled oceans, and environmental commitments lagging behind global targets, it's easy to feel like humanity's fate is already sealed. But can we 'science' our way out of it?In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers meets up with Dr. Aria Hahn to discuss what she believes could be a handy tool to repair some of the damage that's already been done to the planet. While becoming a scientist, she spotted the incredible potential of microbes, tiny organisms responsible for the foundations of life on earth. These tiny microbes have a large role to play in helping us create renewable resources and repair the areas devastated by our climate crisis. Second, we join microbiologist Dr. Christian Rinke whose relaxing sailboat getaway lead him to discover a wriggly solution to the world's plastic pollution problem.From insect guts to cold hydrothermal vents, the odd places on our planet hold critical answers, and may even shape our future on this spinning rock we call home.Special thanks to the University of British Columbia students who shared their voices on this episode and scientist and diver Dale Anderson for sharing recordings from his adventures to Antarctica.Resources:1. What Microbes Can Teach Us About Adapting to Climate Change | American Society for Microbiology2. Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change | Nature3. Nutrient Acquisition and the Metabolic Potential of Photoferrotrophic Chlorobi | University of British Columbia4. BC's giant landslide serves as warning for other parts of the world | Global News5. Soapy the Germ Fighter | Avis Films6. Here’s how the mining industry can respond to climate change | McKinsey Sustainability7. 'Superworms' survive solely on polystyrene, as researchers look to create plastic recycling technology | ABC News8. Superworms: how plastic-eating larvae sparked a scientific breakthrough | The University of Queensland9. Wax worm saliva rapidly breaks down plastic bags, scientists discover | The Guardian10. Climate change and the microbiology of the Antarctic Peninsula region | British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council11. Survival strategies of an anoxic microbial ecosystem in Lake Untersee, a potential analog for Enceladus | Nature PortfolioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracking diseases using genomics  Stop the presses! New research shows that viruses locked in the Arctic permafrost for thousands of years have the potential to infect present-day organisms. Accompanied with a warming planet, this issue is really starting to thaw out. So what can brave scientists and institutions on the frontlines of tracking diseases do about it? And how can understanding our genomic history with diseases over thousands of years better prepare us in the fight to overcome them?Dr. Kaylee Byers starts our journey by slinking into a disease-tracking genomics lab at Simon Fraser University to meet Dr. Michael Trimble and Dr. Will Hsiao to understand the challenge of outpacing the rapid evolution of viruses. Then she pops across the ocean to speak with Dr. Birgitta Evengård and Dr. Jean-Michel Claverie about whether the Pandora's box of ancient diseases frozen in the arctic have the potential to become the next global outbreak as temperatures warm. Plus, we unearth ancient burial sites in Vietnam with Dr. Melandri Vlok, to investigate how climate change exacerbates the tension between human health and pathogens.Special thanks to Dr. Will Hsiao and Dr. Michael Trimble for allowing us to record with them at Simon Fraser University.Click here for this episode's Learn-A-Long! Resources:1. Infection control in the new age of genomic epidemiology | British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory2. The permafrost pandemic: could the melting Arctic release a deadly disease | Unearthed3. Viral spillover risk increases with climate change in High Arctic lake sediments | The Royal Society4. Healthy ecosystems for human and animal health: Science diplomacy for responsible development in the Arctic | The Nordic Centre of Excellence5. Understanding and Responding to Global Health Security Risks from Microbial Threats in the Arctic: Proceedings of a Workshop | National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine6. Next pandemic may come from melting glaciers, new data shows | The Guardian7. Scientists Revived Ancient 'Zombie Viruses' Frozen For Eons in Siberia | Science Alert8. A 48,500-year-old virus has been revived from Siberian permafrost | NewScientist9. Anthrax outbreak in Siberia | euro news10. CBC News: The National | Russia invades Ukraine | Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC)11. National Geographic: Explorer Directory, Melandri Vlok | National Geographic12. Paleoepidemiological Considerations of Mobility and Population Interaction in the Spread of Infectious Diseases in the Prehistoric Past | Bioarchaeology International13. The Epidemiological Transition: A Theory of the Epidemiology of Population Change | Milbank Memorial Fund14. Forager and farmer evolutionary adaptations to malaria evidenced by 7000 years of thalassemia in Southeast Asia | nature portfolio15. CARD 2020: antibiotic resistome surveillance with the comprehensive antibiotic resistance database | Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser UniversitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preparing the Environment: Climate Special Part 1  In part 1 of our climate special, we revisit our oceans to look at the rocky atolls and reefs that are home to colourful world builders, coral!Since the 1950’s the planet has lost half of its coral reefs due to degradation. With ocean temperatures rising and harmful environmental and human activities, how can we better protect essential ecosystems for communities and marine life alike?Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Dr. Shayle Matsuda, a marine biologist looking into the effects of environmental stresses on coral reefs due to the climate crisis. And with the aid of genomic sequencing, Shayle wonders if we can utilize a clever symbiotic relationship found on these fascinating organisms to cultivate greater reef resilience into the future. Next, meet Ben Williams from the University of Exeter, who shares a unique acoustic invention to help restore reefs in Indonesia. And finally, researcher Madelyn Jones takes us through her work on the British Columbia coast to replenish the spiralling towers we call "kelp forests."Click here for this episode's Learn-A-Long! Resources:1. The sound of recovery: Coral reef restoration success is detectable in the soundscape | British Ecological Society2. Vital Signs: Ocean Warming | NASA3. The Planet Has Lost Half of Its Coral Reefs Since 1950 | Smithsonian4. Coral Reefs Could All Die Off by 2050 | EcoWatch5. ‘Dire outlook’: scientists say Florida reefs have lost nearly 98% of coral | The Guardian6. Report: Florida's Coral Reefs Among Most Damaged In U.S. | CBS Local News7. HydroMoth: Testing a prototype low-cost acoustic recorder for aquatic environments | ZSL8. What is a kelp forest? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration9. Canada’s kelp forests are at risk. A seaweed farmer is trying to save them | CBC Creator Network10. Months after mass die-off of sea creatures in B.C. heat dome, researchers return in search of signs of life | CBC News11. Coral Bleaching Susceptibility Is Predictive of Subsequent Mortality Within but Not Between Coral Species | Frontiers12. Larval thermal conditioning does not improve post-settlement thermal tolerance in the dominant reef-building coral, Montipora capitata | Springer13. Genome-powered classification of microbial eukaryotes: focus on coral algal symbionts | Science Direct12. Do Coral Reefs Produce Oxygen? | Techie Scientist14. What is coral spawning? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration15. Myth 5 - Genomics Can't Help Climate Change | Genome British ColumbiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A genomic whale of a story Things aren’t always what they seem on the surface, especially when it comes to our oceans. So many mysteries hum below its watery surface. So, you may just have to use your ears when it's too dark to see exactly what's going on down there.Dr. Kaylee Byers looks into the ocean giants that lurk in the depths and the unique songs they share with us. She sits down with whale biologist Dr. Jennifer Allen on how whale songs are imparting a cultural exchange between populations that are hundreds of miles apart. Filmmaker Joshua Zeman shares his journey to find the infamously dubbed 'Loneliest Whale'. And Paeleobiologist Dr. Travis Park from the Museum of Natural History in London tells us how whales developed their unique singing superpowers by taking us back through millions of years of evolution. Finally, researcher Grace Baer brings us to a remote west coast station studying whale populations and the effects of ocean traffic noise.It's a whale-sized episode taking you on a listening journey into this wonderful watery world!Click here for this episode's Learn-A-Long!CREDITS: Special thanks to Captain Gaelen Krause of the Island Odyssey, for capturing recordings on his journey to search for whales along the British Columbia coast. Thank you to BCwhales.org, North Coast Cetacean Society, for providing hydrophone recordings in this episode. Credit to Joshua Zeman and Bleecker Street Media for providing audio clips from their documentary The Loneliest Whale: The Seach for 52. And finally, credit to Watkins Mammal Sound Database with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for access to their whale recordings.Resources:1. Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Project | Parks Canada2. Whales learn songs from each other in a cultural 'deep dive' | phys.org3. Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission | Popular Science4. Whale Songs Are Getting Deeper | The Atlantic5. The search for the loneliest whale in the world | The Guardian6. The Loneliest Whale: The Search fro 52 | Bleecker Street Media7. BTS (방탄소년단) Whalien 52' MV | BigHit Entertainment7. Watkins Marine Mammal Sound Database  | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution8. Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean Life - But We Can Fix it | TIME9. Convergent evolution in toothed whale cochleae | BMC Evolutionary Biology10. Evolutionary Basis of High-Frequency Hearing in the Cochleae of Echolocators Revealed by Comparative Genomics | Oxford Academic11. Genome-culture coevolution promotes rapid divergence of killer whale ecotypes | Nature12. DNA Suggests Cultural Traits Affect Whale Evolution | Science13. San Francisco: Dead Whale Opens Seafood Season | Universal International Newswire14. Songs of the Humpback Whale | Roger Payne, CRM Records15. Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive16. Monaco - International Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive17. Bubble Net Feeding | BC Whales18. Cool Genomics Facts - Fact 4 & 5: Environmental DNA | Genome British ColumbiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.