Nice Genes!

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. 

Scientists have reversed a mutation causing blindness in mice using gene editing technology. Research in Wuhan, China shows promise in restoring vision. Mice with retinitis pigmentosa benefited from gene editing, offering hope for human treatment.

How Deleted DNA Reveals the Origins of HumanityIn 2007, researchers pitted humans against chimpanzees in a memory test competition. Who was the victor of this mental jungle gym? Phoebe Melvin and Dr. Kaylee Byers delve into Yale University research that reveals what DNA humans share with our primate relatives but, more intriguingly, what sets us apart.References:Mankind’s Missing Puzzle Pieces: The “Deleted” Genes That Made Us Human | Yale UniversityChimps Beat Humans on Memory Tasks | ABC NewsCredits:ABC News, Chimps vs Humans | ABC News & laffsteve

How an Oddball Bunny Saved Millions of LivesCan a make-believe tale have real-life consequences? Perhaps a 1930s legend from a snowy town in Wyoming illustrates signals just how the strange things found in nature can become life-saving treatments.References:Are jackalopes real? | Live ScienceNew Research Shows the HPV Cancer Vaccine Saves Lives | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCredits:The Legend Of Bigfoot | Internet Archive (CC)Somewhere In Wyoming 1930 Joe Green Orchestra | Internet Archive (CC)

Meet the Magic of Mushrooms on Colour BlindnessRoughly 300 million people have a colour vision deficiency. But with a few mushrooms and some magic, those who experience colourblindness might be able to see a whole range of colors for the first time.References:Magic Mushrooms seem to have a strange effect on color blindness | Science AlertIshihara test: Color Blind Test | ColormaxWhat is LSD | Science AlertCase report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use | Drug Science, Policy and LawImproved colour blindness symptoms associated with recreational psychedelic use: Results from the Global Drug Survey 2017 | Drug Science, Policy and Law

Explore the clash between indigenous and colonial world views in Western Canada, focusing on the threat to the Gary Oak ecosystem. Learn about the history of indigenous food sovereignty and the impact of colonization. Discover the use of a fish fence for selective fish passage and the importance of preserving genetic diversity. Understand the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, and the wisdom of indigenous peoples. Gain insight into restoring areas and expressing gratitude for the season.

A young woman with a rare condition, Erythromelalgia, shares her experience of living with constant pain. Researchers explore the potential of platypus venom to alleviate chronic pain. The podcast delves into the unique properties of platypus venom and the challenges of studying it. It also discusses the extraction and synthesis of the venom for medical purposes.

The podcast discusses the importance of sleep, the concept of circadian rhythms, and the connection between sleep and ADHD. It also explores the high rates of insomnia in Japan and its impact on the country's work culture. Additionally, the podcast delves into the fascinating world of recurring dreams and explores the evolutionary aspects of sleep in animals and humans.