Flossing, Zika and asexual evolution

Thursday, 11 February 2016 - 8:30am to 9:00am
Flossing foto by Walter Siegmund, via Wikimedia Commons

Flossing teeth: we all do it—or think we should do it—but is it scientific? Numerous scientific studies say flossing your teeth won't prevent tooth decay, and mouthwash may be just as good or better.

Asexual organisms (that got your attention) are subject to the Meselson effect, in which genes on separate chromosomes evolve separately. And this could eventually cause Trypanosoma brucei gambiense—the parasite that causes African sleeping sickness—to go extinct.

Speaking of diseases to worry about, we talk to virologist Ian Mackay about the mosquito-borne global health emergency, the Zika virus. Is it time to panic? Eh...

Claire, Chris & Stu
Thursday 8:30am to 9:00am
Entertaining news and discussion about research that has impact on society and providing a wide range of science and technology news. Distributed nationally on the Community Radio Network.

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Chris Lassig, Stuart Burns and Claire Farrugia and others.

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