Cancer cure, Strep A research and hopes for biodiversity

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Base editing is a technique for substituting the building blocks of DNA. It has only been around for a few years, so its use to apparently cure cancer was all the more remarkable, as BBC Health Correspondent James Gallagher tells us. We take a trip down the river Wye with ecologist Steve Ormerod who tells us why the river is a microcosm for some of the global issues being discussed at the UN Biodiversity summit in Montreal. BBC Environment Correspondent Victoria Gill gives us the latest on the state of negotiations there. And the current surge in infections associated with the streptococcus bacteria has led to deaths in a few cases. It is usually a seasonal infection, worse in the spring. We ask microbiologist Dr Claire Turner from Sheffield University why we seem to be seeing a surge of infections now and her research on strep vaccine targets. BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.
0:03.7	My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a Load of Sport Podcasts.
0:08.4	I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced
0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sport stars.
0:14.3	Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'
0:18.5	mouths.
0:19.5	But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport in world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.8	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.0	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:36.0	You have downloaded the podcast of BBC Inside Science, first broadcast on the 15th of December
0:42.3	2022.
0:43.3	Hello.
0:45.3	This week feels a bit like a takeover of inside health, but only because I'll be wielding
0:50.8	the stick of science and poking at the current surge of strep A cases.
0:55.8	Why is a seasonal disease which usually peaks in spring kicking off now?
1:00.6	And should we be worried?
1:02.4	And in happy and news, as a new therapy looks like it has beaten a 13-year-old's aggressive
1:07.7	cancer, I'll be finding out about the exquisite science that has put a smile on many faces
1:13.4	this week.
1:15.1	And as the global biodiversity conference in Montreal reaches its final few days, we'll
1:19.9	get the highlights and a picture of health from closer to home in the river.
	...

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