KYTOS Biology

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)

More than 99% of the species that ever existed have become extinct. The concept of de-extinction, therefore, seems to hold so much promise. Scientists are using cutting edge technology to make breakthroughs that may result in extinct species appearing once more in their natural habitats. However, this may still take some time. Critics of de-extinction programmes will point to the fact that the first resurrected mammoths, for example, will be more elephant-like than mammoth or that perhaps the first aurochs, more cattle-like than the originals. Scientists are edging closer to their goals, and for some, it really is just a matter of time before species are brought back from extinction. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

The term ‘Multiple Sclerosis’ refers to the replacement of myelin, a fatty substance that forms a protective sheath around neurones, with scar tissue. It is thought that MS is an auto-immune disorder, where cytotoxic T lymphocytes have essentially attacked molecules in the myelin, although recent studies suggest that both a genetic predisposition and environmental factors are important in determining whether someone develops MS. In this podcast, I will explore the underlying pathology behind the condition, the signs and symptoms sufferers experience, and the current treatments available. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)