Genetics

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Are Marathon Winners Determined by their Genetics?

What role does your DNA play in how fast you run? Alex Dainis breaks down the real science behind running performance and explores whether marathon winners are shaped more by training or by genetics.
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Dire Wolves Are Back—Thanks to Gene Editing

The dire wolf is no longer just a creature of the past. Using cutting-edge genetic engineering, scientists have created two hybrid wolves by splicing ancient dire wolf DNA into the genome of modern gray wolves. These aren’t just symbolic tributes. They...
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You Might See 100x More Colors

Can you see millions more colors than the people around you—and not even realize it? Alex Dainis explains how a rare genetic trait called tetrachromacy could give you superhuman vision without you even knowing it.
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Is the "Celtic curse" real?

Is the "Celtic curse" real? 🍀 Alex Dainis unpacks hereditary hemochromatosis — a genetic mutation that makes the body absorb too much iron, causing joint pain, liver, and heart issues. But here’s the good news: early screening can stop it before symptoms...
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ZIP Codes Affect Lifespan More Than Genetics – Here’s Why

Your zip code may predict your lifespan more than your genes. Dr. Amanda Masino studies how where you live affects your health, from the microbes in your home to access to food, air quality, and healthcare. Science isn’t just about discovery—it’s about...
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Pi Memory Challenge: Remember 70,030 Digits?

Think you could memorize 70,030 digits of Pi (π)? 3.1415926535... Alex Dainis‬ breaks down the fascinating science behind extreme memory feats—and what role genetics might play.
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Can CRISPR Cure Blindness?

Can CRISPR be used to treat blindness? In this video, Alex Dainis discusses how scientists have found that gene editing can improve vision in people with a form of inherited retinal degenerations.
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CRISPR Explained: Fixing DNA Mistakes

How could CRISPR help cure diseases? Feng Zhang, Professor of Biological Engineering at MIT, describes how CRISPR works like a search box for DNA.
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How DNA Reveals Your True Age!

Can your genes tell you how old you are? In this video, Alex Dainis explains how telomeres and histones are both DNA signatures that can be used to determine age!
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Is Self-Control Genetic? Studies Reveal Surprising Links

Does your DNA determine whether you keep up with your resolutions and goals? In this video, Alex Dainis explains how studies have shown that genetics plays a role in a person’s ability for self control!
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Why Reindeer Eyes Change Color!

Why do reindeer’s eyes change color with the seasons? In this video, Alex Dainis explains why reindeer eyes change color from orange-gold in the summer to blue in the winter.
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Corn’s Wild Origins: From Grass to Feast

How did corn transform from the ancestral teosinte, which has small hard cornels, into the popular and juicy staple we know today? Alex Dainis explains how around 10,000 years ago, humans began picking seeds from the tastiest teosinte plants to grow...
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Axolotls Halt Aging? Discover Their Secret

How do axolotls stop the aging process? In this video Insoo Hyun, Bioethicist and Director of the Center for Life Sciences at the Museum of Science, describes how axolotls are known for their amazing ability to regenerate lost limbs.
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Pigeons Do Backflips? How Genetics Makes Them Flip!

Why do some pigeons somersault on the ground or in the air? In this video, Alex Dainis explains the genetics of roller pigeons.
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Octopuses - The Secret to Better Sunscreen

Do octopuses hold the secret to better sunscreen? In this video, Alex Dainis dives into the color-changing abilities of these amazing ocean creatures, and how this trait could teach us how to improve sunscreen.