Naked Genetics

Nature, nurture and wiring the brain

The more we understand about the genetic variations that affect our brains, the more questions are raised - for example, are we a product of nature or nurture, and what should we test for? Plus, why Y loss is bad for men, the usefulness of junk DNA, and a crunchy…

13 May 2014 30 min

Genes, depression and schizophrenia

Around one in four adults in the UK experiences mental health problems in any year, and mental illness is a major problem for sufferers, their loved ones, and society. It's becoming clear that genes are involved, but what do we actually know? Plus, artificial chromosomes, autism in the womb, and…

13 Apr 2014 30 min

DNA damage and repair

Every second your DNA is under assault - not just from chemicals in our environment or food, but from the hurly-burly of life within our own cells. We'll be finding out how DNA gets damaged and repaired, and how researchers are exploiting this to find better treatments for cancer. Plus,…

13 Mar 2014 30 min

Smells like gene spirit

Smell is probably the oldest sense, hardwired right into our brains and closely linked to memory. Now researchers are trying to unravel the complex genetics that underpin it. Plus, contagious dog genital cancers, gene therapy for blindness, and a rather slimy gene of the month.

13 Feb 2014 30 min

Now hear this

Hearing loss is distressing, whether it occurs later in life or in childhood. Now researchers are starting to unpick the genetic causes behind some of these problems. Plus, mice on drugs, stress and death, and a wobbly gene of the month.

13 Jan 2014 30 min

Taking shape

Across the natural world, cells organise themselves into a wonderful array of shapes and structures. But how do they do this? Plus, building bones, plant sex in space, and a rather plump gene of the month.

13 Dec 2013 30 min

Come together

All living cells are made up of protein molecules - but how do they organise themselves into structu…

13 Nov 2013 30 min

Have a heart

The heart is a vital biological pump, beating around a billion times in a lifetime. But faulty genes…

13 Oct 2013 30 min