The Blindboy Podcast Speaking about evolution and medicine with a Professor of Genetics
6 snips
Jan 10, 2024 Professor Aoife Mclysaght, a geneticist, discusses genetics and evolution. Topics include DNA as the blueprint of the human body, the impact of climate change on evolution, genetic consequences of inbreeding, the misuse of genetics by racists, privacy concerns with DNA companies, the high cost of drugs, epigenetic trauma, a unique learning method, cloning humans, the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, and exploring meditation and nature.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
DNA as a Recipe
- DNA is like a recipe, not a blueprint, for a human.
- A recipe yields similar results but with variations, like baking a cake.
Mendel's Pea Plant Experiments
- Gregor Mendel, a contemporary of Darwin, pioneered genetics by studying pea plants.
- His work revealed that genes are passed on as separate units, not blended like paint.
Mitochondrial Eve
- Mitochondrial Eve is the most recent common ancestor through the maternal line.
- This is traceable because mitochondrial DNA passes down only from mothers.