Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
What Makes Me, Me?
2018 • E3 Dec 28, 2018 60m
Are you genetically destined to despise brussels sprouts? We’re all human, but why are we all so different? With the help of a line-up of dogs and many sets of twins, Prof Alice Roberts explores what makes each of us totally unique.
Alice is joined by geneticist Prof Aoife McLysaght to find out how much of this difference is down to our genes or our environment, revealing why we see colours differently and why some people can taste chemicals others can’t. They challenge just how far you can predict a person from their genome and discuss the big ethical questions of our generation, asking where we should draw the line with genetic testing and engineering. The series culminates with a musical grand finale from the Greatest Showman, to celebrate our incredible diversity across the globe.
Alice is joined by geneticist Prof Aoife McLysaght to find out how much of this difference is down to our genes or our environment, revealing why we see colours differently and why some people can taste chemicals others can’t. They challenge just how far you can predict a person from their genome and discuss the big ethical questions of our generation, asking where we should draw the line with genetic testing and engineering. The series culminates with a musical grand finale from the Greatest Showman, to celebrate our incredible diversity across the globe.
