99% Invisible Smart Stuff with Justin and Roman- Founder Effect
Dec 15, 2019
The hosts dive into the quirky concept of 'asynchronous podcasting,' blending humor with scholarly insights. They explore the founder effect in population genetics, using a fictional Martian colony to illustrate genetic diversity issues, referencing real-world examples like the Amish community. Listener support takes center stage, with fun promotions and a quirky initiative named the 'Beautiful Nerd Brigade,' ensuring fans stay engaged while enjoying a good laugh. Tune in for a mix of intelligence and wit!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Smart Stuff Pitch
- Justin McElroy pitches a "smart" podcast idea to Roman Mars, focusing on erudite topics.
- He uses the founder effect as an example, leaving space for Mars's (fictional) contributions.
Founder Effect Explained
- The founder effect describes reduced genetic variation in new populations started by a small group.
- This limited diversity can lead to unique traits and even new species over time.
Amish Polydactyly
- The Amish population of Pennsylvania exhibits a higher rate of polydactyly due to the founder effect.
- This is because one of the founding families carried the mutation for extra digits.