Core biology: microbiology and genetics
No biological sciences have more promise for the future of mankind than genetics and microbiology. Microbiology, which includes genetics, is the story of understanding how the cell works. All life is cellular life ... All animal and plant tissue is ...
Novelty Seekers: Negative Consequences
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about the potential for negative consequences among those who are genetically inclined to seek thrills. Some of these consequences can include tak...
Nature vs. Nurture (Part One)
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, takes a fresh look at the nature vs. nurture controversy. Dr. Hamer contends that personality consists of two different components: temperament and char...
Novelty Seekers
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about efforts to learn more about the role genetics plays in the personality trait that motivates novelty seeking (sometimes known as sensation se...
Nature vs. Nurture (Part Two)
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about studies that suggest the combination of a genetic predisposition towards violence, coupled with a bad home environment, is a toxic mixture t...
Harm Avoidance (Part Two)
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, expands on his discussion of harm avoidance, which he explains refers to a group of personality traits that includes depression, anxiety, feeling bad ab...
Mental Retardation and Genetics
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about the role genetics plays in many forms of mental retardation. In the case of PKU, a type of retardation that's caused by an enzyme deficiency...
Genetics and Aging
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about the link between genetics and aging. Dr. Hamer focuses on some of the more serious problems associated with age, in particular, Alzheimer's ...
Sexual Orientation and Genetics (Part Two)
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, expands on his discussion of sexual orientation and genetics. Dr. Hamer explains that work with identical twins has provided evidence that, at least in ...
Obesity and Genetics
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about the role of genetics in obesity. Dr. Hamer explains that, while the direct cause of obesity is eating too much, the tendency to overeat is, ...