Biopedia
Biology is a fascinating subject which is well worth exploring. Its scope stretches from individual DNA strands and viruses to blue whales, metapopulations and the biosphere. We will shine the spotlight on a different biological concept in every episode. Topics I've covered in the past include the origins of cell theory, Dollo's law and the Anthropocene; however, there is still plenty more to discover. Our focus will range from the very smallest scales to the very largest; from virions to the Gaia hypothesis. So come and explore the fascinating world of biology, one episode at a time!
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 5 minutes
- Episodes
- 131
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
9- The Platypus’ Larger Cousin
We’re all familiar with the platypus, but it still has surprises up its sleeve. On the show today, we get to know its bumper-sized cousin- Obdurodon tharalkooschild.
Sources for this episode:
- Dell…
8- Orca Population History
Killer whales are an icon of the world's oceans. However, genetic studies show that they haven't always been doing so well- especially during the last Ice Age. What's the story? And what relevance do…
7- Localised mRNA and Cell Polarity
On the podcast today, we cover the concept of localised mRNA, which can be relevant to cell polarity.
Sources for this episode:
- Martin, K. C. And Ephrussi, A. (2009), mRNA Localisation: Gene Expre…
6- Persister Cells
Antibiotic resistance we’ve all heard of by now, but what about antibiotic persistence? Join us as we explore the phenomenon of persistence, which allows bacterial infections to reappear even after a…
5- A Projected Range Shift during Global Warming
It is common knowledge that bees as a whole are declining as a result of climate change, although bee decline as a larger topic is not in itself the subject of today's episode. But what about individ…
4- GTPases and Actin Remodelling in Yeast
This episode builds on content covered in episode 3, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t listened to it already. This week, we explore an example of the GTPase content we discussed last time. S…
3- Cell Polarity and GTPases
On the podcast today, we scratch the surface of cell polarity and how enzymes known as GTPases are linked to this process.
Sources for this episode:
- Alberts, Johnson, Lewis Raff, Roberts and Walte…
2- The Identification of Richard III
It’s genetics time! Back in 2012, a skeleton was unearthed in a car park in Leicester, which was later positively identified as Richard III of England. But how? Join us as we delve into how genetics …
1- Biofilms
Welcome to our first proper episode! This week, we tackle the problem of biofilms- an extracellular matrix which can protect the species inside it and is a source of frustration to doctors and dentis…
0- Introduction