KYTOS Biology

In this podcast, I’ll be taking a look at the Biology behind tattoos, from the anatomical arrangement of skin layers and how the ink is retained, to the healing process and the mechanisms of tissue repair. I’ll also be discussing whether there is any merit to the claim that tattoos promote health and well-being, and do so by priming the immune system.

Why would anyone want to pay for private medical services, when they could be treated on the NHS for free? Is one really better than the other? In this podcast, I’ll be asking whether the NHS and private healthcare systems can co-exist and actually benefit one another, or whether the existence of both is simply causing more harm than good.

In this short podcast, I summarise the different forms of reproductive isolating mechanisms, by looking at those that occur before fertilisation (prezygotic - including pre and post-mating barriers) and those that occur after fertilisation (postzygotic). 

Ever since the emergence of social media back in the early 2000’s, questions have been raised about the potentially harmful effects it has on mental health, particularly in adolescents. In this extended podcast, I discus why people would use social media, and which aspects of it have been a cause for concern. (With thanks to Zoe B for conducting the research and providing the content for this podc...

Could superheroes live among us?... perhaps not heroes, but what about super-humans? Do people exist who possess extraordinary abilities, or could we soon start to genetically engineer organisms with capabilities far in excess of average? (With thanks to Lottie L for conducting the research and providing the content for this podcast)

The majority of genetic disorders have a recessive inheritance pattern, but Huntington's Disease is an autosomal dominant condition. In this podcast, I discuss the cause (expanding CAG nucleotide repeats) and the associated symptoms sufferers experience.  

From evolutionary theory to IVF and fertility, a number of podcasts I have recorded mention aspects of reproduction. In this podcast, I take it back to basics to describe how egg and sperm cells are produced, and make direct comparisons between these two biological processes. 

Why would an animal cell contain mitochondria with 70S ribosomes, organelles typically found inside prokaryotic cells? This podcast aims to answer that question, by discussing the origin of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the development of the early atmosphere and the fascinating endosymbiotic theory.

In this podcast, I discuss three key aspects of animal behaviour, namely social organisation, the evolution of altruistic behaviour and the expression of exaggerated traits. 

An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart (or more specifically, the depolarisation and repolarisation of the myocardium). In this podcast, I describe what a normal ECG trace looks like, and then explain how an atypical one may appear. The ECG is just one diagnostic tool that medics can use to form a differential diagnosis.

ASD, or autistic spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour. Animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic intervention for patients with ASD, that incorporates animals as part of their care plan. In this podcast, I will examine how effective this has been. Current research suggests that animal exposure enhances both mental health and physical well-being, not...

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in mental ability, severe enough to affect daily life. The key question that this podcast wishes to raise, is to what extent sufferers can live independent lives; both the pharmacological and non-pharmacological components of dementia care will be discussed.  (With thanks to Jhyni R for conducting the re...

In this podcast, I describe the structure of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and the important roles this macromolecule performs. 

How much value can we place on GSR evidence? With reference to past criminal cases, I describe what GSR (gunshot residue) is, the methods we employ to detect it, and why GSR evidence has, on occasion, been inadmissible in a court of law. 

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes to gene function and expression that are a result of environment factors, and not the result of altering the base sequence of DNA itself. In this podcast, I discuss how acetylation and methylation alter the chemical tags that make up the epigenome, and how, despite being part of normal development, they may trigger diseases such as cancer.

In this podcast, I’ll describe the location of the thyroid gland with reference to key anatomical landmarks, discuss the significant and rather diverse roles the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 play in our body, and consider diseases and disorders of the gland, including hyper/hypothyroidism and cancer. 

In this podcast, I'm joined by Year 9 student Poppy GT, who discusses what really goes on in our brains when we sleep. She will also explain the science behind some of the most fascinating concepts, including REM sleep and how to achieve a lucid dream state. 

In this podcast, I discuss the nature of partial and generalised seizures, and explain how a diagnosis of epilepsy is made. With reference to clinical cases in my own family, I describe how the condition can be managed through surgery and anticonvulsants, and highlight the need for greater awareness and education, on what is generally thought to be a poorly understood condition. 

My mother-in-law (Lesley) has a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, and experiences complex partial seizures. The condition has had a profound effect on her day to day life – not just in terms of the medication she takes, but the activities which she can involve herself in. Lesley suffered a major head trauma, but following MRI scans, doctors were unable to find any physical damage or injury relating...

In this podcast, I'm joined by former A-Level Biology student Emma Thornton, who describes the CRISPR gene editing technique and its possible future applications. 

In this podcast, the first of a series on First Aid Essentials, I discuss how to ascertain the level of responsiveness in a casualty, how to carry out checks for open airways and normal breathing and explain the technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 

How well do you know your neighbour? Well enough to recognise the sound of their voice - even in a crowded room...well enough to testify in a court of law to that effect? In this podcast, I discuss the key areas of Forensic Science where voice and audio analysis is utilised, and discuss high profile criminal cases where voice evidence has been used to wrongly convict the innocent.

Imagine that you can design your own respiratory airways – what would they look like? This is a question I ask my own students, to see if they bring in ideas about Fick’s law, and the factors that increase the rate of diffusion. That’s what ideal airways would do – maximise diffusion, specifically of oxygen from the air to our blood. In this podcast, I discuss the gross structure of the human resp...

This podcast is aimed at those students sitting their Biology A-Levels, or more specifically, those sitting the AQA Paper 3 at A2, with the synoptic essay question. In this podcast, I give an overview of the essay in terms of general structure and marking policy, then give some tips and advice about how best to approach it, including a more detailed look at the planning aspect.

Research suggests that conservation investment will become inconsequential as the human population grows. Why is that? In this podcast, I try to provide some answers to one of the biggest questions, we as a society, must ask ourselves - is the vast amount of money spent on wildlife conservation actually worth it?  What is clear, is that conservation must be focused on crucial organisms that m...