Fresh Lens Podcast

In this episode, we explore the nature versus nurture debate with the help of behavioural genetics. In human development, what matters more - the environment or our genome? Join us for a deep dive into the fascinating research of twins and adoption. From the uncanny similarities of twins reared apart to the effects of different parenting strategies, we untangle what the research says about our genes and environment... and what it doesn't. 

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In this episode, we discuss David Reich's book, Who We Are & How We Got Here. Starting with an overview of DNA sequencing technology and how it helps paint a picture of our past, we review what we know about ancient humans: Where did we evolve, and how did we spread around the globe? We discuss early modern humans' interactions with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. Then, with a focus on Europe and India, we discuss how modern human populations ended up where they are today and what that tells us about the meaning of 'race' and differences among human populations.

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Predator and prey, parent and offspring, mates and rivals in courtship – animal communication is ubiquitous. The Handicap Principle provides a fascinating explanation of how organisms with divergent evolutionary needs develop means of reliable communication with one another.

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If you have feedback on how we can make the show better, please reach out to us. Our email address is [email protected].

Thanks for listening,
Trish & Hirad

Several years after the best-selling book, The Selfish Gene, which was the topic of our first episode, Richard Dawkins published The Extended Phenotype. In this book, Dawkins doubled down on the concept the gene as the central unit of selection and outlined how genes can have effects that reach far outside of the bodies in which they ride, sparking heated debate within the world of biology.

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If you have feedback on how we can make the show better, please reach out to us. Our email address is [email protected].

Thanks for listening,
Trish & Hirad

In this inaugural episode of the Fresh Lens podcast, we talk about a book that has had a profound impact on how both of us see the world – The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. We give a quick overview of the key concepts and talk about what it has meant for each of us.

Get the book on Amazon here.

If you have feedback on how we can make the show better, please reach out to us. Our email address is [email protected].

Thanks for listening,
Trish & Hirad