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The Science Show|Science Show - 2009-02-07 Episode
Darwin and show business
Excerpts from Jane Goodall´s series, Science and Show Business, broadcast on The Science Show in January 2004. Jane Goodall looks at the history of tension between science and show business, the contradiction between promoting a sceptical attitude and a respect for evidence, while accepting the magic of show business and conjuring. Scientific principles have been promoted over time and this compares to the rise of magic and razzle dazzle in side shows, circuses and Broadway shows, even TV shows like The X-Files. So when do we stop believing and when do we start again? How do we balance scepticism and credulity?
Epigenetics
Epigenetics is information that influences how DNA is expressed. Cells which are genetically identical can have different physical characteristics. This suggests environmental conditions can affect gene expression. It is thought some cancer cells have a switch meaning they lie dormant, but at some point are triggered by the environment to develop into cancer. It is also thought that some environmental factors carry over generations. So a grandparent´s diet could eventually affect the health of a grandchild. In yeast, Jane Mellor is looking at the epigenetic code, trying to understand how it influences the expression of genes. The code is also being investigated in the human genome, the long-term goal is to understand the role of epigenetics in cancer.
The discovery of P elements
Stuart Gilchrist describes the role played by fruit flies in the discovery of P elements. P elements are sections of DNA which have become a universal tool of molecular biology. They have provided the tool used to clone most animal genes during the last 15 years. The story is linked to the proliferation of human transport and trade.
Amphioxus - toolkit genes
Amphioxus is seen as one of the first animals with the hint of a backbone. After a lull, there is now a renewed interest in studying amphioxus, with the animal´s genome being sequenced. The idea is to compare it with vertebrates and discover the genetic control over backbone development. Peter Holland´s group is working on `toolkit´ genes which are common between a range on organisms. These are regulatory or control genes. The homeobox genes are a major set of toolkit genes. Investigations continue on how this group of genes has evolved. It is hoped this may reveal how the diversity of life on earth came about.
[ Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1000 ]
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