Statins are designed to lower cholesterol levels in those deemed at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In this podcast, I'll discuss how statins work and the biological importance of 'good' cholesterol in our bloodstream. Moreover, I'll explain why the use of these so-called 'miracle drugs' has proven controversial, with some clinicians citing the poor correlation between statin intake and reduction in CVD risk in certain individuals. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Rickets is a condition characterised by a curvature of the spine, bowed legs, thickened ankles, knees and wrists - such skeletal deformities arise because the bones become softer and therefore more brittle. Rickets was just about eliminated after WW2, but recently doctors have warned that its incidence is increasing rapidly. In this podcast, I discuss the possible reasons why. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

The human body is made up of about 30–40 trillion cells. Each cell is specialised to carry out a particular job. Cells work together to form co-ordinated units called tissues, organised into organs. This complicated organisation of cells that makes up a human being all originated from a single fertilised cell – the zygote. Embryology is the study of the development of the zygote in the first trimester - this podcast is deigned to be a short introduction to this fascinating area of Biology. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Scientists use the concept of homology to identify evolutionary relationships among organisms. Homologies are characters shared between different species that were also present in their common ancestor. Homologies can be structural, biochemical, developmental, physiological or behavioural. In this podcast, I focus on homologous structures and, in particular, the pentadactyl limb. This bony arrangement is thought to provide irrefutable evidence for evolution. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Zika virus was first identified in 1947, having originated in rhesus monkeys in the Zika forest in Uganda. In this podcast, I examine how the virus spread, the effects of its outbreak, and assess the evidence implicating Zika as a cause of microcephaly. I'll also describe the measures used to attempt to control transmission of the disease. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

In this podcast, I'll be exploring a number of issues around the use of Class A drug, Ecstasy. Ecstasy is the street name for a version of MDMA, or 3,4 methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. It is an illegal, synthetic drug classified as a stimulant with potentially hallucinogenic properties. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women, whilst it accounts for just 1% of cancers in men. The incidence of breast cancer in women is increasing, but, encouragingly, the mortality rate from it is falling. In this podcast, I will discuss the causes, which are thought to be both genetic and environmental in nature, the current trends in breast cancer detection and the different methods of treatment. This podcast will explore how oestrogen may stimulate breast cancers to develop and will outline the ethical issues associated with screening. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Long lasting immunity to disease is provided through memory cells and the production of antibody-secreting plasma B lymphocytes. These come about through our cell-mediated and humoral responses to invading pathogens, forming part of our specific response to disease. This podcast is the second in a two-part series examining our immune defences.

Our bodies have the innate ability to prevent harmful pathogens from infecting them; namely through physical barriers to infection and the process of phagocytosis. These form part of our non-specific response to disease, the focus of this, the first in a two-part series on our immune defences. 

Medical imaging includes all of the non-invasive techniques used to create images of the human body for medical purposes. It is used to diagnose or monitor the progress of disease, and for medical science in the study of anatomy and physiology. Imaging techniques involve the detection of how different structures in the body, for example the brain, change or produce electromagnetic, sonographic or radioactive signals. The data collected is used to produce images of the structures under investigation. In this podcast, I will explain the physics behind these imaging techniques, with reference to their applications and limitations. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)