Nice Genes!

Artificial Intelligence has gone from science fiction to something that is almost impossible to avoid in the day-to-day. But what happens when AI intersects with our DNA? On this episode we learn about a tool called CRISPR-GPT, which uses AI to help scientists design gene edits and tackle some of the challenges of treating rare diseases. We also confront the many ethical considerations that these...

Many rare genetic diseases are caused by a “typo” in our DNA. For most, fixing that spelling mistake has been out of reach. But a  recent  clinical trial has changed everything, opening up the door for possible cures we never thought were possible through a cutting-edge gene-editing tool called prime editing. In this episode, Ty Sperle takes us through his own story of being cured of a r...

For the past 25 years, we’ve been hearing that male contraceptives are just a few years away. And then a few more… and then some more after that. So for something that has been in development for such a long time, what is with the hold up?  In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us through the history of birth control – from silk condoms to beaver testicles – before heading back to high scho...

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Survivor , you know the rules: outwit, outplay, outlast. But in the animal kingdom, Survivor isn’t a game– in a very real way, it’s adapt, or… And as climate change intensifies and human disasters reshape the environment, animals are being forced to come up with new ways to cope- fast! In this season 6 premiere, host Dr. Kaylee Byers explores some winning (and lo...

Have you heard about the radioactive wolves in Chernobyl? Or the latest gene-editing tech that’s curing rare diseases? Or that male birth control might be on the horizon? No?! Well, get ready, because while we’ve been busy living our lives, genomics has been moving – fast! Things that once read like science fiction are moving on over to the non -fiction section. This season on Nice Genes! , join D...

This episode was originally released on August 2, 2022 Just like any good superhero comic, we start this episode with the science going incredibly wrong. Think: vats of toxic waste producing evil mutants that ravage the city. Or maybe not so evil. It really depends on your perspective. Just like the X-men, genetic mutations get a bad rap in the public eye. But they aren’t  all  nasty. Dr...

Have you ever wondered why most orange cats are male? Scientists have been scratching their heads over this for decades, and now we finally have answers. In our final Gene Short of the season, Sarah Lando and Dr. Kaylee Byers explain the surprising new evidence that finally explains this purr-ticular quirk. Resources 1.  Gene behind orange fur in cats found at last -  Science.org 2.&nbsp...

This episode was originally released on November 15, 2022 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...

The story of 23andMe has more twists than a soap opera. Spit parties, ghosting the FDA, unicorn valuations, and massive data breaches—this company has done it all. In this Gene Short, Sarah Lando walks Dr. Kaylee Byers through the drama behind the headlines, and what it all means if you’re thinking about exploring your own ancestry DNA. Resources 1.  The rise and fall of 23andMe  - ...

This episode was originally released on November 5, 2024 Dr. 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– causi...

Bowhead whales can live for nearly 2 centuries, weigh as much as 22 elephants, and– surprisingly– rarely get cancer. So what’s their  sea -cret? Sarah Lando from Genome BC brings us the splashy new genomic research behind these Arctic giants’ longevity, and what it could mean for the future of cancer research. Resources 1.  “This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help extend hu...

This episode was originally released on December 13, 2022 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 c...

Listening to and creating music is one of the most universal human experiences. It gets stuck in our heads, makes us cry in the car, and has the power to bring people together – sometimes without even a single word. So for something so deeply ingrained in us - IS IT... ingrained in us? like, in our DNA? it raises a big question: is our connection to music something we learn… or something written i...

Why Tuberculosis is still the most deadly infectious disease. Attention, DNA detectives! We’ve got a rat on the loose – but don’t worry, not the snitching, double-agent kind. We’re talking about the whiskered, hyper-skilled, tiny agents who aren't snitching - they're sniffing out one of the world’s deadliest diseases: tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis might sound old-timey, but it’s still the globe’...

Got a sec? Kaylee’s popping into your feed with a teensy, weensy favour to ask: if you’re a fan of the podcast, would you do us the honour of leaving Nice Genes! a review? Not only does it help the show, but it could also score you some very fun, one-of-a-kind prizes (details below ). How to leave a review: Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the bottom of our show page, tap those five shiny stars, and tell...

Turning up the heat on a life stage science is still catching up to. Ok, most of us may have gotten “the period talk.” But the “menopause talk?” Not so much. For something that half the world will experience, menopause and perimenopause are still wildly misunderstood. Luckily, the DNA detectives are finally reopening a mystery that’s been overlooked for too long. In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers...

What genomics can tell us about food safety, the microbiome, and the mind. You’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat”... Well, our gut microbes take that  very  literally. If you’ve ever gone on vacation, eaten something tasty, and next thing you find yourself bonding with a bathroom floor, you’re not alone. Food poisoning might occasionally make for a good story later, but it’s a s...

How vector-borne diseases spread– and the critters that carry them Malaria, Lyme disease, dengue, Zika… what do they all have in common? They’re what we call vector-borne diseases– spread to us by tiny, bite-happy arthropods. These little troublemakers are responsible for 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide, and with climate change and urbanization on the rise, they’re becoming an even bigger...

The genetic clues behind sudden cardiac arrest in young individuals Every so often, we see headlines about an elite athlete collapsing mid-game. The crowd goes silent, emergency crews rush to the field, and everyone’s left wondering: how could this happen? The truth is, sometimes a hidden heart condition written deep in our DNA will unmask itself on the field. In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sit...

How medical dramas shape the way we think about genomics Medical dramas have been a staple of television for decades, from iconic primetime hits like  Grey’s Anatomy  and  HOUSE,  to newer favorites like  The Pitt . It’s easy to get swept up in the high-stakes surgeries, love triangles, and melodramatoc monologues– but when it comes to the science, a second opinion might b...

How new genomic approaches are helping diagnose and treat our tiniest patients Welcoming a new baby brings boundless love, joy, and the usual sleepless nights of early parenthood. But in the NICU, when a newborn is unexpectedly sick, it’s the uncertainty that keep parents awake. In this episode, our investigation takes us inside the neonatal intensive care unit, where genomic tools are mapping med...

How wastewater surveillance is tracking diseases outbreaks When you flush your toilet, where does the waste go? Down the pipes, through the sewers, and into a… lab? That’s right, hidden in our collective waste is a archive of genomic clues revealing our health, habits, and maybe even happiness levels. In this episode, host Dr. Kaylee Byers teams up with Dr. Jess Steier from the  Unbiased Scie...

Every mystery leaves a trail of clues. Fingerprints, call logs, maybe some tire tracks… or, of course, DNA. And when it comes to mysteries about our health, there are no shortages of leads to chase. This season, join host, Dr. –or Detective– Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! CSI unit as we investigate the genomic breadcrumbs shaping the way we age, treat diseases– and even watch TV. We’ll uncover h...

Houston, we have… a microbe? A mysterious bacterial species has shown up aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station, and Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando are hopping into the  Nice Genes!  mothership to investigate. Where did this intriguing new organism come from? Did it evolve in orbit? And what does it mean for the future of space travel? Click here for tickets and more information about t...

German cockroaches are notorious for making themselves at home in our kitchens and bathrooms, but how did they become such persistent pests? Dr. Kaylee Byers and Sarah Lando explore the fascinating genomics behind this unwanted guest—and why we’re partly to blame. Resources: 1. Solving the 250-year-old mystery of the origin and global spread of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica  – PNA...