African genomes sequenced; Space weather; sports head injuries

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 31 October 2019

⏱️ 30 minutes

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Summary

Since the human genome was first sequenced nearly 20 years ago, around a million people have had theirs decoded, giving us new insights into the links between genes, ancestry and disease. But most of the genomes studied have been in people of European descent. Now a decade-long collaboration between scientists in the UK and in Uganda has created the largest African genome dataset to date. Dr Deepti Gurdasani discusses her research with Gaia Vince. After 7 years of orbiting the Earth and sending us important information about space weather, NASA’s Van Allen Probes are retiring. Professor Lucie Green from UCL explains how the sun can spit out superhot plasma and streams of high energy particles in our direction. We are mostly protected by the Earth’s magnetic field - but not always. The worst-case scenario is that the radiation could disrupt navigation satellites and bring down electrical power supplies. Professor Green will be keeping an eye on space weather with a new spacecraft. Growing evidence shows that repeatedly getting your head knocked around during competitive sports can lead to long-term serious consequences. The head doesn’t necessarily need to be the target of the blow – a hard tackle can ricochet through your body giving your head a jolt. Roland Pease speaks with sports scientist Liz Williams of Swansea University about a new device to measure these impacts. Presenter: Gaia Vince Producers: Jen Whyntie and Louisa Field

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and trust me you'll get there in a moment but if you're a comedy fan
0:05.2	I'd really like to tell you a bit about what we do. I'm Julie Mackenzie and I commission comedy
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0:18.0	making people's days a bit better, helping them process, all manner of things.
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0:24.4	subjective and everyone has different tastes so we've got a huge range of comedy on offer
0:29.6	from satire to silly shocking to soothing profound to just general pratting about. So if you
0:36.2	fancy a laugh, find your next comedy at BBC Sounds.
0:40.3	Hello, this is the podcast of Inside Science from BBC Radio 4, first broadcast on the 31st of October 2019.
0:49.0	I'm Gaya Vince.
0:51.0	It took us 13 years to sequence the first human genome. These days it's a job
0:57.1	done in less than a day. And since that first genome was sequenced nearly 20 years ago.
1:03.4	Around a million people have had theirs decoded,
1:06.6	giving us new insights into the links between genes and diseases.
1:11.0	But most of the genome studied have been in people of European descent.
1:15.0	There's so much more to be learnt, particularly from where humanity first started,
1:21.0	in Africa. Now a decade-long collaboration between
1:26.4	scientists in the UK and in Uganda has produced the largest African genome
1:31.6	data set. What secrets does Uganda DNA hold? We shall find out.
1:37.0	Also on the program we will be bidding farewell to a couple of sturdy NASA probes. Forecast to survive only a couple of years,
1:46.0	they surprised their makers by lasting an extra five years,
	...

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