• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
Science Update

Science Update

Sharing Science | Satisfying Curiosity | Debunking BS

  • Spotlights
  • Reality Check
  • Why Is It?
  • Radio Archives
  • Sciup @ School
Home » Radio Archive » Daily Show » Unique Genes

Unique Genes

April 14, 2008
https://podcast.scienceupdate.com/080414_sciup_uniq.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

BOB HIRSHON (host):
The genetics of humanity…I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

Philosophers have long wondered what makes us uniquely human. Modern science, on the other hand, is just beginning to shed light on this age-old question. Evolutionary biology allows us to trace most of the genes we need for basic survival all the way back to simple organisms like yeast. But according to cell biologist Phil Stahl of Washington University School of Medicine, researchers have identified about 50 to 100 unique genes found only in human beings. So far, not much is known about these genes that separate us from our closest relatives.

PHIL STAHL (Washington University School of Medicine):
It is amazing that very little work has been done on exactly what these human-specific genes actually do.

HIRSHON:
But he says scientists are starting to find out. He suspects many of these genes are involved in speech, cognition and diseases that occur only in humans. I’m Bob Hirshon for AAAS, the science society.

Category: Daily ShowTag: Biology, Brain Science, Genetics & Evolution, Medicine & Health, Social & Behavioral Sciences
Previous Post:Podcast
Next Post:Southpaw Minority

Sidebar

Radio Program Archives

Want to learn more about the brain? The environment? Here you can browse the topics that come up regularly on Science Update.

Search the Archives

Categories

  • Daily Show
  • Station Download
  • Weekly Show

Find By Tag

  • 2020
  • Acoustics & Sound
  • Aging
  • Animal Behavior
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy & Space
  • Biology
  • Brain Science
  • Bugs
  • Chemistry
  • Children & Families
  • cicadas
  • Climate & Weather
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Economics & Business
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Genetics & Evolution
  • Geology
  • Marine Science
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine & Health
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nutrition & Food Science
  • Paleontology & Dinosaurs
  • Physics
  • Plants & Agriculture
  • Political Science
  • Reality Check
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Sports & Fitness
  • spotlight
  • Spotlight Bugs
  • Terrorism & War
  • Why Is It? Questions
  • Wildlife
  • Year in Review

Find By Date

Science Update
  • About Science Update
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

Mayan Honeybee hives
House sparrow wearing top hat rides aboard a red fireworks rocket

Copyright © 2023 · Springtail Media LLC · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Pongos