BioAudio
Welcome to BioAudio: The Teaching Podcast. After many years teaching biology in universities in the UK and in Canada I've come to the conclusion that we can do better than text books. I always want something more flexible, that can be updated with new topics and new discoveries. After years avoiding textbooks… I've created BioAudio a collection of discussions to accompany lectures in university biology courses . So let's ditch the textbook and just listen.
BioAudio
Transposable Elements: half your genome, hardly understood
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Elizabeth Clare
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Season 1
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Episode 13
Did you know that about half your genome is made of small bits of DNA called transposable elements? These "genomic parasites" are not genes, and they are not there to help run your body... they are small selfish elements out only to replicate themselves. They can cut themselves out of your genome, duplicate and re-enter you genome... and they can disrupt things as they go. Some of them appear to be ancient viruses, now there almost like fossils, some are highly dynamic bits of DNA. They are fascinating selfish elements ... and you are crammed full of them.
