Genetics

Video
Watch
time
under 1 minute

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...
Video
Watch
time
under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
under 1 minute

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...
Video
Watch
time
under 1 minute

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...
Video
Watch
time
under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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!
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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!
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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...
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

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.
Video
Watch
time
Under 1 minute

Saving Bees with Pesticides

How are pesticides helping to save honey bees? In this video, Alex Dainis explains that varroa mites are pests that threaten bee populations by acting as a parasite to both adult bees and bee larvae.