KYTOS Biology

Coral reefs are widely regarded as some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They provide habitat for approximately 25% of all marine species but surprisingly account for a microscopic 0.1% of the world’s ocean surface. Coral reefs are continually under threat from both natural and anthropogenic (human) factors. In this podcast, I will explore the different types of coral along with their specific growth requirements, the various and very real threats they face, and more importantly, the wide-ranging conservation efforts underway to protect these valuable resources. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

In this podcast, I discuss the characteristics of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as Multiple Personality Disorder and review the evidence presented in Thigpen and Cleckley’s’ (1954) case study of a person with three distinctly different personalities. It is called a dissociative disorder because there is a division , or dissociation between areas of the person’s conscious awareness. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

The prostate gland grows in men at puberty and secretes the fluid that carries the sperm. It remains a constant size until about the age of forty, then it begins to grow again. About 50% of men aged 60 have some enlargement of the prostate gland and this rises to 90% at the age of 80. This  enlargement may be benign – effectively harmless. However, it may be a sign of prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer in men. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Many biologists consider the microbes in our bodies to be, effectively, another body organ. The bacteria in our intestines help to release nutrients from the food we ingest, manufacture crucial vitamins, protect against infection by out-competing other, harmful bacteria and interact genetically with the immune system reducing inflammation, to name but a few examples. These undisputed benefits are the basis for the adverts that claim we should all be taking probiotics - live microorganisms, which when ingested in adequate amounts, improve a person’s heath. In this podcast, I explore how we can all keep our microbiomes healthy (the genetic material of all the microbes - bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that live on and inside the human body) and critically assess the evidence that probiotics can improve overall gut health. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Actions taken at the outset of an investigation at a fire and arson scene can play a pivotal role in the resolution of a case. Careful, thorough investigation is key to ensuring that potential physical evidence is not tainted or destroyed, or potential witnesses overlooked. Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary detective Sherlock Holmes is quoted as saying, 'It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts.' As Holmes pointed out, many types of investigations are susceptible to prejudgment, but few as often as fire scene investigations. Fires, by their destructive nature, consume the evidence of their initiation and progress as they grow. Investigations are compromised, and often scenes are further destroyed by the activities of the fire service, whose primary responsibilities are to save lives and protect property against further damage. In this podcast, I explore how cases of arson are determined, the motivating factors for someone to commit such an attack and what fire patters can reveal to the trained eye. I also make reference to a number of high profile cases involving fire investigations. 

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to alter its structure and function in response to new learning or changes in the environment. Therefore, when it is said that the human brain is ‘plastic’, it means malleable and able to change. This may seem impossible, but our brains are constantly changing from the moment we are born. Each time we learn or experience something new, synaptic connections and neural pathways are formed and the more that we use them, the stronger they become. Functional recovery of the brain after trauma is about how the brain manages to adapt and repair its structure and functioning after suffering damage, including head injuries, strokes, tumours and infections. Through neuroplasticity, the brain is able to change in order to compensate for the loss of function. It is thought that the brain is able to rewire and reorganise itself by activating and taking over existing, but rarely used neural pathways close to the area that has been damaged in order to regain functioning. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Whooping cough, also called ‘the cough of 100 days’, is an acute and highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is transmitted via droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing. The main symptoms are severe bouts of coughing, often followed by vomiting. Before the introduction of a whooping cough vaccine in the 1950s, whooping cough was a major cause of infant death, with more than 120,000 infections annually in the UK. Vaccination was incredibly successful and resulted in a 99% fall in incidence. However, worldwide (mostly in developing countries), it still kills nearly 200,000 infants and adolescents annually. In this podcast, I explore why we're now seeing a re-emergence of whooping cough in the UK, particularly in older children and adults. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that can be explained by cognitive psychology and theories of memory. Evidence from fMRI scans show that the brain functions differently in a person with dyslexia, resulting in strengths and limitations. It affects the ability to develop effective reading skills due to difficulties with working memory, processing skills and phonological awareness. The view of dyslexia is moving away from a deficit model to one of difference in cognitive processes, supported by evidence from brain scans and other research. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)