Welcome to 'Nice Genes!' Season 3
IN THIS EPISODE
What did your grade four teacher say? “Never Assume. It makes an…” well, you know the rest. We all fall into the trap of our own assumptions from time to time. But in the weird and wonderful world of science, assumptions can misguide research madly off in all directions. That’s why challenging assumptions is so important!
Join host Dr. Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! podcast team on a journey to learn the truth about some of our most deeply held assumptions. We’ll uncover whether our DNA is truly our own, or a product of genetic theft. We’ll question how societal baggage colours commonly held views about weight and health. And we’ll ponder the genetic puzzle that many assume holds the key to who we are, and who we love. So buckle up your genomics belt and help us follow the assumptions “paper trail.” Along the way — you just might learn the truth about some of our most deeply held societal beliefs.
TRANSCRIPT
Jenny Cunningham 00:02
Test test test. I’m at the beach, about to ask people about some of the biggest assumptions they’ve made.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 00:09
We all make assumptions.
Streeter 00:10
That’s a hard one.
Read TranscriptStreeter 00:12
We’ve made many.
Streeter 00:14
I’m sure I make assumptions about people and about things constantly.
Streeter 00:17
We actually run a startup and it’s solely based on assumptions we’ve made.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 00:21
These moments where our brain fills in a blank space.
Streeter 00:24
One of the biggest assumptions I’ve made was that no one would talk to me today.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 00:30
Sometimes those assumptions might be true.
Streeter 00:33
The one thing that I’ve learned, it’s never good to punish yourself.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 00:37
And other times, they might keep us from seeing the truth.
Streeter 00:41
Biggest assumption I’ve ever made was that I’m good at everything.
Jenny Cunningham 00:43
I don’t think people like admitting that they make assumptions, but we make them every day.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 00:50
I wish these kinds of mistakes were limited to the realm of like, assuming where your wallet is or that you’ve left a light on. But in the realm of science, it happens more than you think.
Dr. Harriet Brown 01:05
Oh, boy, we can talk about this for many, many hours.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 01:12
I’m Dr. Kaylee Byers, your guide into the world of science and genomics, and this is Nice Genes!. In our upcoming season, we’re confronting everyday assumptions that cloud our worldview, and have sometimes rolled science down the wrong path. We’ll ask — are all toxins toxic? Or could a drop of poison produce some powerful benefits?
Dr. Kimberly Garrett 01:36
Chemicals can have all kinds of benefits to us, right? But do we need all of those benefits for the risks that they pose?
Dr. Kaylee Byers 01:43
Genetics makes up so much of who we are, but does it determine who we love?
Dr. Julia Monk 01:48
Look, a lot of these studies are assuming that same sex behavior did not exist in deep evolutionary time, and instead we asked, why not?
Dr. Kaylee Byers 01:57
And what about weight, could all the banter about lowering our BMI for health be bogus?
Dr. Harriet Brown 02:03
That assumption that fatness is a terrible thing — some of the people in my life just could not accept that there was anything to talk about. You always know you’ve hit a nerve when people can’t even talk about something.
Dr. Kaylee Byers 02:16
So don’t forget to follow Nice Genes! for season three wherever you get your podcasts. Join us to strap on those lab goggles and undo some of those everyday assumptions with science. Thanks for listening. Talk to you soon!
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Host: Kaylee Byers
Creative Director: Jen Moss
Strategy: Roger Nairn
Producer: Jenny Cunningham
Partnership Manager: Sarah Lando
Audio Engineer: Patrick Emile
Cover Art Designer: Amanda Di Genova
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