Nice Genes!

Repairing the Environment: Climate Special Part 2 With disappearing species, plastic-filled oceans, and environmental commitments lagging behind global targets, it's easy to feel like humanity's fate is already sealed. But can we 'science' our way out of it? In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers meets up with Dr. Aria Hahn to discuss what she believes could be a handy tool to repair some of the damage...

Tracking diseases using genomics  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 can understanding our gen...

Preparing the Environment: Climate Special Part 1  In part 1 of our climate special, we revisit our oceans to look at the rocky atolls and reefs that are home to colourful world builders, coral! Since the 1950’s the planet has lost half of its coral reefs due to degradation. With ocean temperatures rising and harmful environmental and human activities, how can we better protect essential ecosystem...

A genomic whale of a story 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 with us. She sits down with wha...

The Importance of Biodiversity  Conservation is often about protecting the species that still wander around our Earth. But what about those that once did but have gone extinct? In this Halloween-inspired episode, we take a look into how one spooky idea has gone from science fiction to science fact, de-extinction style. Dr. Kaylee Byers takes us to the upside-down world of wild animals in Australia...

Protecting Local Wildlife Icons What do you get when you cross a polar bear and a grizzly… and why should you care? In this episode of Nice Genes!, host Dr. Kaylee Byers and National Geographic explorer Dr. Christine Wilkinson look into the mysterious case of pizzly bears, a rare hybrid between polar bears and grizzlies. Together they speak with Dr. David Paetkau, whose team unravelled this strang...

Species loss, warming temperatures, and pollution are just the tip of the iceberg concerning the challenges of climate change. Oh, and you can forget about that iceberg... because it's melting too. The point is, it's easy to feel down on our luck on this planet we all know and love. But what if we don't have to feel that way? On Season 2 of Nice Genes! we look into the incredible science, bold mis...

Solving murder mysteries with genomics [TW: murder, mention of suicide, violent imagery] In order to seek genomic justice, you have to get out of the lab and into the field. Dr. Kaylee Byers grabs a magnifying glass and a deerstalker cap as she goes to the scene of one of North America’s oldest cold case murder mysteries, the “Babes in the Woods.” This over 70-year-old unsolved case has finally ha...

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. Kaylee Byers speaks with data scientist and evolutionary biologis...

Race is not genetic. TW: racism, systemic racism What exactly is the relationship between race and genetics? And where do concepts of ancestry and identity enter the conversation? In the realm of genomics, these are myths waiting to be busted. “What does the information stored in our genomes tell us about our past and our present?” Dr. Kaylee Byers and Co-host Dr. Shawn Hercules join forces to bre...

How the hunt for wild species leads to eDNA Most of us have a hard-enough time looking for our cell phone chargers in the dark. So imagine trying to find something that’s hidden high in building rafters, deep in muddy bogs, or scattered across endless savannahs. And now, imagine the thing you’re looking for has fangs… and sharp claws. Dr. Kaylee Byers and her wing-woman Dr. Cylita Guy, call-in wil...

Can genomics find the perfect antidepressant for your body? [TW:MH,MI] This episode discusses mental health and mental illness. If you, or someone you know, needs support, call the BC Mental Health Support Line at 310-6789 or find Canada-wide resources right here . The world of pharmacology helps a lot of people manage mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and sch...

“Genomics? Isn’t that just Genetics? Are we making up words now?”    Look, we get it. 'Nice Genes!' host Dr. Kaylee Byers talks with neuroscientist and science communicator Dr. Samantha Yammine (‘Science Sam’) to get the downlow on what “genomics” actually means. They’ll explore extinct species, secret photographs, and the DNA jungle that lies within our brains; all just the tip of the iceberg whe...

From healthcare and biotechnology to forests and fisheries, the evolving study of genomics is leading to some of the most exciting and world-changing discoveries in science and medicine. Like – did you know that your individual genomic signature can help determine the healthcare treatment you receive? Or that mapping the genomes of trees can inform forest management?  But while the study of genomi...