Your DNA is constantly mutating, and that’s a good thing
4/27/202617 min
Our bodily systems are rife with mutations. In fact, your DNA is mutating right now. These errors, and attempts to repair them, are a key to understanding immune function, aging, and even how heart disease develops. Gene mutations can even mitigate the harm caused by some inherited diseases.
Host Ira Flatow goes on a journey through the illuminating science of genetic mutations with Roxanne Khamsi, science writer and author of “Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health.”
Guest:
Roxanne Khamsi is a science writer and author of the book, “Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health.”
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Ira Flatow· Host0:29
[gentle music] Hi, this is Ira Flatow, and you're listening to Science Friday. Right now, your DNA is mutating. Yes, yours. Well, and mine too. And no, I'm not giving you an early cancer diagnosis. Cancer and mutations obviously go hand in hand, but you may be surprised to know that our bodily systems are rife with mutations. These errors and attempts to repair them are a key to understanding immune function, aging, and even how heart disease develops. In fact, gene mutations can even mitigate the harm caused by some inherited diseases. My next guest is here to take us on a journey through the illuminating science of genetic mutations. Roxane Kamzi is a science writer and author of the new book, Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health. She's based in Montreal, Quebec. Welcome to Science Friday. Welcome