The Documentary Podcast

Ingenious: The milkshake and the cyclops gene


Listen Later

The Milkshake Gene - (LCTL) - More than 90% of people in some parts of the world are unable to properly digest milk, cheese and other dairy products. Most other animals are also unable to drink milk once they leave babyhood behind. So why did some of us evolve the ability to tuck into cheese, butter and cream with a vengeance? The answer lies in the history of human evolution and the early days of farming. The Cyclops Gene - (SHH) Building a baby is a complicated business, with thousands of genes to be turned on or off at exactly the right time and in the right place. One of them is Sonic Hedgehog – named after the computer game character – which has its genetic fingers in all kinds of developmental processes. Sonic Hedgehog helps to decide how many bits you have, where they go, and whether you’re symmetrical, so it’s not surprising that any mistakes can have potentially devastating consequences.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Documentary PodcastBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,607 ratings


More shows like The Documentary Podcast

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,837 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

374 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,071 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,503 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

963 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

587 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,887 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,068 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

357 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

605 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

976 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

413 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

417 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

737 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

838 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

364 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

1,023 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,212 Listeners

The Missing Cryptoqueen by BBC Sounds

The Missing Cryptoqueen

1,068 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

780 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,044 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

378 Listeners