The genetic material locked within museum collections could help us better understand and conserve the world around us. In this episode PhD student Mario Ernst (Natural History Museum, Berlin) and Dr Knud Jønsson (Natural History Museum of Denmark) explain how, as they tell us about their work on a charismatic group of birds: the Asian orioles.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00499-0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Utilizing museomics to trace the complex history and species boundaries in an avian-study system of conservation concern</a>”

Asian oriole museomics

Tom Oosting discusses his research on the population demographics of the Australasian snapper, an economically important fish found in the waters around New Zealand. This study combines modern sampling with museum samples collected from pre-colonial Māori middens.&nbsp;&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00579-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mitochondrial genomes reveal mid-Pleistocene population divergence, and post-glacial expansion, in Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus)</a>”&nbsp;

Australasian snapper demographics

Every year, Heredity publishes some outstanding student-led papers, and to recognise the quality of this work the journal runs a student paper prize. So, what makes a paper stand out? Find out, as Co-Editor-in-Chief Aurora Ruiz-Herrera joins the podcast to explore the three best student-led papers of 2022. &nbsp;Find the full Student Prize Longlist Collection here: <a href="https://www.nature.com/collections/bvttbjrkyx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nature.com/collections/bvttbjrkyx</a>

The best student-led papers in Heredity, Vol. 3

Dr Emiliano Trucchi (Marche Polytechnic University) and Dr Céline Le Bohec (University of Strasbourg; Monaco Scientific Center) discuss the genetic basis of cold adaptation in the emperor penguin. Céline also shares her experience of visiting Antarctica.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00564-8 " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Selection-driven adaptation to the extreme Antarctic environment in the Emperor penguin</a>”

Life in the cold 

In this episode, Dr Sara Nilson&nbsp; (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Dr Jared Decker (University of Missouri) and Prof. Leslie Lyons (University of Missouri) discuss their quest to find the geographical origins of cat domestication.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00568-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genetics of randomly bred cats support the cradle of cat domestication being in the Near East</a>”

The cradle of cat domestication

In this episode, Dr Paul Maier tells us about his research on the landscape genetics of the Yosemite toad, which only inhabits high-altitude meadows in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://rdcu.be/cYehZ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landscape genetics of a sub-alpine toad: climate change predicted to induce upward range shifts via asymmetrical migration corridors</a>”

Connecting the toads

Social interactions play an essential role in the lives of many animals. But how do we disentangle the genetic and non-genetic factors influencing sociality? In this episode, Dr Irene Godoy (Bielefeld University) tells us about her research on sociality in capuchin monkeys.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00558-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Genetic, maternal, and environmental influences on sociality in a pedigreed primate population”</a>

Sociality in mammals

Can the sleep and activity patterns of fruit flies help us better understand human metabolic disorders? It’s a big question, and one that we are going to touch upon today, as we hear from Dr Pedro Vale, Katy Monteith (University of Edinburgh), and Lucy Anderson. This episode also touches upon the undergraduate research experience, first publications, and the benefits of peer-review.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00554-w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variation in mitochondrial DNA affects locomotor activity and sleep in Drosophila melanogaster</a>”

Activity, sleep, and mitochondrial variation  

On the 20th July, The Genetics Society held a fantastic Garden Party to celebrate the 200th birthday of Gregor Mendel: a man regarded by many as the "father of modern genetics". In this episode we showcase a talk given on the day by Prof. Alison Woollard (University of Oxford)&nbsp;titled: ‘Mendel to Modern Genetics’.&nbsp;You can find a recording of the full event on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP8hB4ijAEc&amp;t=3426s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Genetics Society’s YouTube Channel</a>.&nbsp;You can also find the Heredity Special Issue - Mendel 200th birthday, <a href="https://www.nature.com/hdy/volumes/129/issues/1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Mendel to Modern Genetics

The XY sex-determination system of therian mammals has persisted for over 160 million years: but why? In this episode Aurora Ruiz-Herrera (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and Paul Waters (University of New South Wales) discuss the evolution of sex chromosomes and role of meiosis.&nbsp;This episode explores the recent Heredity paper: <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00532-2 " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Fragile, unfaithful and persistent Ys—on how meiosis can shape sex chromosome evolution”</a>

Meiosis and the evolution of sex chromosomes

The Heredity podcast

An official journal of the Genetics Society, Heredity publishes high-quality articles describing original research and theoretical insights in all areas of genetics.  Research papers are complimented by News &amp; Commentary articles and reviews, keeping researchers and students abreast of hot topics in the field.

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Asian oriole museomics

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The best student-led papers in Heredity, Vol. 3

Life in the cold

The cradle of cat domestication