Radio4 - The Life Scientific

[Doug Carpenter]

One of my favourite radio programmes is The Life Scientific on Radio4 with Jim al-Khalili. Yesterday’s guest was Elizabeth Fisher, Professor of Neurogenetics at University College London.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000b5k4

She talked mainly about her work on the genetics of Down’s Syndrome, but at 22 minutes in she briefly mentioned her research into (familial) ALS.

Her biography and publication list confirms this:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/centre-for-neu...eth-fisher-bio

If nothing else, the programme illustrates the often slow and frustrating reality of scientific research and the huge amount of painstaking hard work required to achieve even small successes.

Doug

[Lynne K]

Me too Doug, always enjoy Jim Al-Khalili. Lynne

[Gillette]

Thank you for posting the link, Doug. It was interesting to hear her explaining why it’s important to use mice in research.

[Kayleigh]

Hi Doug,

Thank you for kindly posting the links.

'The Life Scientific' is new to me and in addition to the episode you posted a link to, I found it interesting to listen to some of the other clips on The Life Scientific website.

Some of my favourite clips are listed below (and as you can see, I had a go at guessing what might be in each clip before I listened to it LOL).

Do we have free Will?
(Only if Solicitors choose to waive their fee LOL) .

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02tsj3j

'Why teenagers take risks' (because 'Playing it Safe' isn't on their I-Tunes playlist LOL).

http:/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02pchk2/

'The day a leopard seal leapt on me' (I ended up being covered in flippin' spots and with a mouth full of whiskers, sealed with fishy kisses LOL).

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p05glv6h

'Why don't more girls take Physics?' (Because Physics is boring!! LOL - and they are far more physically attracted to GCSE Sports Science and BTEC Beauty Therapy LOL).

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p019v49z

'Why TV can be better for babies than books' (Because they find it much easier to press buttons than turn pages LOL).

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0141hgk

'Why do we laugh when others laugh?' (Because it's impossible to completly laugh off someone else's sense of humour, especially when their jokes are covered with contagious corns and their cheesy puns are so easy to spread! LOL)..

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p01hjdw2

'Should we clone humans?' (Possibly?? - but if you only want sensible 'Eggheads', avoid cloning human being 'Crackerkayleigh'! LOL).

http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p012rrlb

Love
Kayleigh x