Meet Your Cousin, The Worm

Welcome to Tell Me Something You Don't Know, where we explore curiosities without credentials. We're your factually adjacent hosts, Maddie and Sarah. Every week we exchange random topics with just enough research to keep things interesting and slightly accurate. So lower your bars and let's learn something you never knew you wanted to know. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Tell Me Something You Don't Know, where we explore curiosities without credentials.

SPEAKER_00 0:05

We're your factually adjacent hosts, Maddie. And Sarah.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Every week we exchange random topics with just enough research to keep things interesting and slightly accurate.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

So lower your bars and let's learn something you never knew you wanted to know. How's it going? How is Boston? Oh man, it was so good.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

I loved it. I'm such a, like as I've said before, I'm the perfect candidate to join a cult. Literally in the airport, I'm buying like my Boston hat that has an American flag. I'm like, should I buy a Boston Red Sox hat? Should I buy all three of my children Boston Bruins hats? Like I'm basically just like, I love Boston. So it was so much fun. And it was a work trip. So obviously I had to work, but a huge part of the goal is to make homarry. Yes, like build relationships with the teams that I support and all that fun stuff. And I didn't realize I'm so far removed from the World Cup. And I remember you were posting things. Well, first of all, you started talking about it in a chat. And I'm like, what are you? What do you even mean? Like, what is happening? And then I made fun of you for being at a bar watching the World Cup. I'm like, who do you think that you are? Not someone who likes soccer. And then when I got to Boston, we went out for post-work drinks. And people, I had also posted something on my Instagram being like, oh, going to Boston. Very, again, very like I said, if I'm like even remotely interested in something, I'm like, let's do this full bore. And um, someone was like, Oh, you have to find like the Scots, the Scotsmen, and like all of the Scottish people in kilts. And I'm like, Yeah, I guess Boston is like pretty Scottish. Uh like from an immigrant standpoint, that's like all a good chunk of immigration came from Scotland. So, but I don't think they wear kilts anymore. Like I had no idea. And then we went to a bar and I was like, oh, this is one of the cities that's hosting the World Cup. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

So that's funny. It's funny you didn't to be honest, yeah. Like I don't really watch sports except for basketball. So I'm but I love the buzz. I love the buzz. The buzz is so fun. I also just know about it because like our company does like security risk management stuff. So I just know about all the cities because I had to do some marketing on like all the stadiums that like need extra security and stuff. So I just know where like some of the hosting cities are.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

Well, it's Mexico, America, and Canada, but yeah, but I didn't realize how I just don't know anything about these sorts of things. And it's so funny because I don't know whether it's just because it's in Canada and America, probably. But I feel like I did not know that it was this large. Like I didn't know you needed multiple countries and multiple cities to host it, first of all. That is not something that I like. I this is how dumb I am is that I was like, wait, sorry, it's being hosted in Toronto and Vancouver. Like that's weird. And then Matt's like, well, yeah, and like multiple cities in the states and multiple cities in Mexico. And like, oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

This is quite the operation. I think a lot of my friends are just going from like, they'll just go to a bar and like watch whatever game is on. And then, like, also I have friends in Toronto that are from different countries. So, like, we'll go cheer on Canada, but then also we were cheering on England, and then also we're cheering on, you know, yeah, like Scotland, other Sweden, Australia. Yeah, like there's it is cool that it's truly like it's a true World Cup situation.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

I get it. Like, I get the hype. I'm like, it's fun that everybody comes together over a shared common interest, which I think we probably could do more of. And why it's such a buzzy fun feeling is that you like walking around the streets of Boston, everyone is just in a phenomenal mood. Scotland wasn't even playing, like they play this weekend, and honestly, like prayer prayers up to the heavens for Boston because they had um, I was talking to some of my coworkers and they're like, Yeah, we've been seeing uh photos of like local bars that are just have run out of beer, and it's not even Scotland that's playing. Like they're just they've infiltrated the city like a week before and they're just everywhere. And now the go-to is like sending uh posting pictures of all of their beer kegs being like, We're ready for you, Scotland. Like, let's go.

SPEAKER_00 5:00

So it's it's just so fun. It is, it is a lot of fun. Yeah, it's it's awesome. Yeah, the energy is so good, and in Toronto it's a lot of fun. If you're in a hosting city, it's so much fun too because depending on who's playing, like every those like people who are either from there or like have family or like what just support that team.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

Yeah, yeah, like they like I have like if Romania was playing, is Romania playing? We would be like, we would identify Romanian for sure.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

You're just like you're like, I want to be a part of this, and then like there's like tiny parades just happening all the time throughout the week.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

It's so cute, people are just so happy. Yeah, it's a good time. It is a good time. We need like world cups of everything so that everybody can like world cup of crochet, you know what I mean? Yeah, like every all different kinds and cultures of crocheters together in a room. Yes, that's let's find more common ground of common interests that are non-threatening. Yeah, I agree. I bet we would come together as a society a lot more.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

A lot more. It would be nice, would sure be nice. Yeah, also I've we've got we've received some good feedback on uh the episode with mom, which is fine.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Oh my gosh, you guys. I it was so funny. I was and I was also like, Thank good mom's like, oh, and then Sarah can answer these questions. I'm like, Sarah will not be answering those questions.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

I know. I was like, Mom, these are so deep, man. But like, yeah, you know what? It's we're gonna run with it. But everybody was like, No, I loved how personable your mom made it. Like, she wasn't just dropping facts. She's like, here's something I think about a lot, and here's some things that I learned.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

And I'm like, This is the hilarious part. She's like, Oh, mine's not the same format because it doesn't have have facts. I'm like, she was using words like uh frontal magdala or whatever it is.

unknown 7:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Like do la oblongata, and like and and also referencing doctors. I'm like, those are those are facts and the exact form. If anything, it had more facts than anything that we did. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 7:16

She's like, Yeah, but I'm not sharing dates. I'm like, it doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

It's we're not it's we don't know numbers, it took us like five episodes and one dedicated episode to even understand when World War One was.

SPEAKER_00 7:29

Yes, yes, and she's like so nervous, and I'm just like, you don't need to be nervous. I get it though, because it's a hundred percent. Yeah, you uh absolutely understand her um feelings 101%, yeah, 99% plus one more percent. Okay, but it's cute, it is cute, it is cute, and I think it'll be fun too that she'll like now that she knows it and has done it and is like I'm well she was she was absolutely game immediately. There was no hesitation, which I appreciate. But if I ever can't do it, you guys could do one together.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Um well, I can't be trapped into answering deep questions like probably has to use dad or dad.

SPEAKER_00 8:12

Well, she'll know not to do it with you, or you'll just be like, no, I'm not answering this.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

I will not humor you. I will not yes and you. I will no. Move on, please.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

You so true. Anyway, okay, so today I guess I'm gonna go first. Uh discussed. Sarah and I both had like uh uh based on the topics we chose. Obviously, we don't know what the other person chose, but uh she asked me if she thought maybe it would be a mind meld day. And at first I was like, I mean, I don't know if it's it feels any more than any other time, but then I was like, actually, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

I'm I'm just excited to first of all, I'm excited for you to go first because I get to sit back and relax. And then second of all, I just am excited to hear your topic because we I like missed it this week. I was like, I'm excited that we're back in action.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

I know we have been this next week will be 15 weeks, which I must say is I didn't think that we would stick with it this long. I totally thought that it would be like uh, if anything, like a 10-part series and be like, that was fun. Bye. Yeah, you see him never again. So here we here we go. No, I've had a couple friends be like, you're not releasing them quick enough. I'm like, it's once a week. It's not gonna be, I am it's not gonna be more than that, I can promise.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

I love okay, actually. So I was at um, we were at a pool party over like last week or something. And one of my friends' sisters, who I see often. So I honestly am like, she's my friend too. But she she's like, yeah, I listened to it like one time, and now every time I turn my car on, like you guys start playing, and I don't know how to stop it. So I'm like, I'm so sorry that we've infiltrated your like it's not like a oh, I'm so happy that it's the first thing that's played. She's like, I can't understand how to stop it from turning on immediately. Every single time I turn my car on. I'm like, this is the best product. Perfect. It's like, do you remember when um iTunes, I don't know if it's when it first started. I think it was like when iTunes first started with iPads and U2, the band U2, based, I think part of their like marketing shtick was that they got um U2 songs for free. So they were on everybody's um iPads. No, iPods. Is it iPods? Oh my gosh, this is a hundred years ago, it feels like. Um yeah, and it was it, I feel like it had a reverse effect. People were like, oh yay, free U2 songs. They were like, get off of my, I don't want to listen to this song anymore. Like, get out of here. We're trying to market on all levels, whether it's to irritate, whether it's to motivate, whether it's to educate, you know.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

Yeah, exactly. Well, let's dive in. So today I'm going to be talking to you about genetics.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Okay, absolutely not. We are not mind melded, which makes me happy because I'm excited to, I'm excited about my topics. We all know that I like have high confidence in myself. Oh, it's good. It's important. But I'm excited almost that it's not a mind meld because I think you're gonna be really pleased. Not necessarily with this one. I think the uh next one you're gonna be really pleased with. Anyways, I genetics. Tell me more.

SPEAKER_00 11:33

Tell me more. Okay, well, the reason I did think it might be a mind meld is it is because I was thinking like we just had mom on the podcast. Um, and then obviously we have kind like there's a couple things that we haven't talked about genetics, but there's just like some things that like slightly touched on it. And I was just like maybe Romanian roots. Yeah, and like maybe this is exactly where they're gonna come back around. Before I start, I wanted to talk about why because I I am also now kind of like inspired by mom's format. And I'm like, what is something that I think about a lot, but like can't really speak to too much, really. And genetics is one of them. I don't know about you, but like I think about genetics from a very like black and white perspective. Like I don't I don't know if I think about the blurred line in which it's like a genetic element or or like environment-based.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Like like personality versus ideas.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yes, exactly. And like like, yes, and then getting into the like deeper unknowns of like our our intellect and like you know what makes us think the way we we think and like what our soul and where that's located.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

Like genetics to me are so taken off hard left turn into like the two.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Yeah, because when you learn about genetics, you're like oh, okay, because like as I was perfect, I as I was looking stuff up, I was like, oh, so it's like not I just constantly think like, yep, this is part of who I am because it was probably part of somebody somewhere down down the line. So yeah, no, totally yeah, yeah. Okay, so let me ask you this question because I I maybe for some people they're like, well, yeah, okay, let me ask a question. When you think about genetic makeup, do you believe most of your qualities are connected to your genes?

SPEAKER_01 13:35

I think like honestly, I only think of it as like a physical, I would say physically. Okay. Physical. So like my nose, my eyeballs, my right, like, but but also I don't think of it as like health as an example. I kind of feel like my nose structure, yes. The fact that I have allergies, not necessarily.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Okay, okay, okay. Okay, so great. So you're the way you're thinking about it then, I think is like is how it is. When I think about things, often I'm just like, I mean, I understand obviously there's like a societal element and an environment element and stuff, but I guess like I I am constantly thinking, like, oh, I wonder like where that comes from. Anyways, your health, personality, and looks are based on many things, including your genes. It's not like your environment lifestyle and a bit of chance also make up the difference. Um, however, and this stat is mind-blowing to me. No, no, I'm not ready. I'm not ready. Go ahead. Despite all the genetic differences between human beings that account for differences in how we look, behave, or act susceptible to disease, humans are 99.9% identical in their genetic makeup. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

And then aren't we also, isn't it like 66% banana?

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Yeah, okay. Yeah, but like there, yes, or 40. I think it's like 40. It is a, it's a, but it's wild given what what a you know, what a banana is. But then when you are doing like research on genetics, for sure, some of the fun facts are like what we're close to, and there are some super weird ones. There's an article called Meet Your Cousin the Worm. No. So yes. There's lots of that.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

I didn't get get into those things because I oh man, this like unpacks so much too, because it's like, okay, well, then then this is like a gateway drug into evolution.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

It is. Well, like it is. I mean, it's we're talking about the makeup of everything that we know.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

So like 99.9. So 0.01% is what differentiates me from like someone correct on a remote island in Tahiti.

SPEAKER_00 16:00

Yes. So 0.1% to 0.5% diff is the difference accounting for all biochemical individuality. Whoa. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

So we are not that special, is what you're saying.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Yeah, well, most definitely, absolutely correct. But this is why I think it's an interesting thing to think about because it is, because then you do become like aware of how much environments, yeah, yeah. And then also Socioeconomic. Totally. Totally, all those things. But I think what gives me comfort in like learning about this stuff, I was gonna save it for the end, but let me leave it here and then and then resurface it at the end, is that there's so much more in our control than I thought. Versus like it's out of my it's genetic. It was handed down, I'm dealing with it, it's part of who I am because like that's you know, so that's so true.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Yeah. And then I wonder, do you know? So sorry, do you know uh this is such a this is a question that I am not expecting you to have the answer to, and not because of your capabilities, but just it feels like a very difficult question.

SPEAKER_02 17:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Um, do you know how much of like that 99.9? Well, I guess how what's the percentage of what we understand about genetics? Like if we you know what I mean? Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. We also can't pinpoint exactly like there's markers of heart disease, but like you can't absolutely pinpoint, oh, well, you will get cancer versus you, or like you know what I mean? Like we don't fully get it.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

Totally. I will unpack a little bit of that in this conversation. Got it, got it. Yeah, but to to answer it and also you're spot on and thinking, like, I don't know that anybody can answer it. It's it is like a it's a never-ending like topic that's being researched.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

So yeah, and like these are the things so sorry again, I will absolutely let you. I'm also trying to be like more cautious of interrupting you and letting you speak because I well the I know, but like the lat uh two episodes ago, I I was like, oh yeah, we really me, mom and dad really do not it is an ongoing joke in our family that we're like interrupt you, which is quite possibly the saddest thing. I think of like, I think of like William actually reminds me one of my sons reminds me a lot of you because he takes a longer time to just like talk, like to sit, because he's like, I would like to formulate my full thought and get it all the way out and get so frustrated with us because my brain moves so fast, and not saying that yours slow, but it's like I have I have it's not that actually, it's that I don't have patience, which is much worse. Like that's not a smart, that's not a smart quality, that's a dumb quality. So like I'm I'm like, I already know what you're gonna say. So like let me just we'll we'll get there quicker.

SPEAKER_00 19:02

Yeah, yeah. No, it's so uh it's so fair. It's absolutely fine.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

And now I forgot what my original point was. Oh sheesh. Okay, you um fly, baby bird, fly.

unknown 19:16

Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Okay, I'm gonna go, but do feel like you can cut in because I think if you're not cutting in, you're not gonna remember your questions. And that is very true. So we have approximately 25,000 genes. Um and these can be found in every single cell. So a lot, obviously. One of the things that I think about a lot, or like one of the things that I question is how far back generation generationally speaking, can I like retrieve or or my child, so on and so forth, uh have a gene from like, you know, like how long ago?

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Like how much of a mutt am I? Yeah, yeah. Like, when you I was looking, okay, I'll okay. So two things. One, I'm realizing that I don't actually know anything about genes. Cause when I'm thinking about genes, I'm thinking about DNA. Like I'm thinking about the twisty, like on Jurassic part.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

Yes. Is that what that is? That is, that is, yes. So DNA is the actual chemical molecule that stores all your genetic information. So like the twisty ladder that you're imaginating. Imaginating. Woo! Uh imagining is the is a DNA strand. It's just the and then that like is basically like the carrier of the genes.

SPEAKER_01 20:35

Okay, which again reminds me of Jurassic Park because they like take out little like building blocks within the DNA strand and then put them back, and then like all hell breaks loose. So okay, yes. And so please, please note that I am referencing my education on this matter from Jurassic Park as opposed to actual high school, which I'm sure I learned it there as well in biology.

SPEAKER_00 20:57

This is why movies have such a great impact on our lives. Yeah, yeah. Um, and also that's why Jurassic Park is absolutely incredible because whoever was like, I want dinosaurs to exist in this storyline in present day, we're gonna have a frozen mosquito with dinosaur blood still in its system.

SPEAKER_01 21:15

That's how we're gonna do it. And honestly, nothing makes more sense to me. Like, you cannot in my brain, I'm like, it's basically a choice that we don't have dinosaurs because there's no way that that doesn't work. You know what I mean? It makes so much sense to me that there it it's a choice, which I I'm thankful for. So thank you. Because you know, the MK ultras of the world are clearly making a choice to not have dinosaurs, and I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

Okay, so it is possible, but super unlikely that because when I was wondering this question, I specifically said 10th generation just randomly, which would bring us to the year 1770.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Whoa.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

So, like our answer. Ancestors from then on either side. We're not gonna, it's super unlikely, obviously, that we're gonna get like the nose or the ears or like the hair color from that person from the year 1770 to now, we would have 1,024 ancestors. So because genetic material has and mixes every generation, there's a very high chance that you would inherit zero DNA from those ancestors. Yeah. So you inherit about 50% of your DNA from your parents, 25% from your grandparents, 12.5 from great grandparents, and so on. So it just gets 10%. That's a fun stat. Yeah. Yeah, it is, it is. And so 10th generation would be literally 0.1%.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Well, that's the that's but but 0.1% is much higher than the percentage that differentiates us. So like prospectively, that's quite a bit. It's true that would be enough to differentiate us from each other.

SPEAKER_00 22:59

Yes, it's true. Yeah, so I find that interesting too, just because uh I think you look a lot like our parents. I don't know necessarily. There's like things, and I think the older I get, I think I I do, but like I don't. And yeah, I feel I feel like I just look different. So I'm like, well, like what how how far back could I be like, are my genes like getting mixed up? And then also like just friends of mine where I'm like, you look nothing like your parents, like, where in the hell did your genes come from? Anyways, just interesting. But again, that's me thinking about it like black and white. I'm like, it doesn't make sense scientifically, like the math is not adding up, like what you're like so.

SPEAKER_01 23:38

Yeah, like the literal physical attributes that are like there's no unless you got like punched in the face or something like that, there's no like external factors that would adjust what that looks like.

SPEAKER_00 23:51

Yes, exactly. So let's talk then a little bit about like what does make us different, scientifically speaking. So there's a recessive inheritance. So every person carries two versions of a gene. A dominant trait only requires one copy to show, whereas a recessive trait, such as like blue eyes or attached earlobes, which I thought was interesting because that's something I always notice. I'm like, Really? Yeah. You notice that above it. On other people, yeah. I'm just like, oh, your earlobes are attached.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

Wait, pardon me.

SPEAKER_00 24:23

Why did you never notice this?

SPEAKER_01 24:25

Madison, I have literally never thought once about other people's earlobes.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

So what is genetically different in you that doesn't have you noticing these things? I think I just don't I'm so self-centered. Well, no, I I I just can't I can't believe you've never you've never noticed that. Not anybody ever. Okay, well, the first person you see where you're like, oh, that's a yours is not attached, in case you're now wondering.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

I I just checked and I love that you know that. So do who in your who do I know that does have attached ones?

SPEAKER_00 25:00

A couple of my friends in Calgary that you would know. I don't think anybody in our family does on either side that I can think of. Are yours? No, no. Okay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Let's not body shame. Let's not body shame. But I was wondering if it you were looking at it because you look differently and then have attached ones, and then that's why you're ultra aware and searching. You're like, are you my family?

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Are you my oh my god, I'm really coming across as this no. Fly, baby bird, find your home. Go find your mama bird. Yeah, it it's it's but I'm curious. You're gonna have to text me the moment you're like, I've seen an attack. Oh, I'm going to. I'm gonna take a photo of someone. I'm gonna be really intrusive. I'm gonna be so intrusive about it. Okay, great.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

I don't think Matt does, but check there first. I'm gonna, I'm gonna check all my children. My so Sullivan has attached toes, like he has webbed toes.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

Yeah, which I feel like we have the same toe. We have the same attached toe. Yeah, we have had this discussion. It's the second toe. It's the second one. My brain's a sieve. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

I see. And then Sam has a massive toe, like big toe, which is from Matt. So it's like funny.

SPEAKER_00 26:24

You just there are certain things that you're like, that's clearly just straight up like replicated. It's very fascinating. Yeah. But, anyways, yeah, so like blue eyes and attached earlobes are things that require two copies. So if both parents carry a hidden recessive gene, they can pass both to their child, resulting in a trait that neither parent physically displays. So that so those are recessive inheritance genes, because I think about that sometimes where brown eyes are dominant, but like sometimes like we have cousins on our mom's side. Both parents have brown eyes, but the in the it's the twins, and they have blue eyes. So you're like, where how is that possible?

SPEAKER_01 27:03

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, has bright, bright blue eyes, and both her and her partner have brown eyes.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Yeah, so fascinating to me.

SPEAKER_01 27:12

I was just so jealous.

SPEAKER_00 27:14

Yeah, lucked out because you would definitely just be like, for sure, my child. I would just be like, My child's having brown eyes. And so, and then if they didn't, I'd be like, This is crazy. Okay, so polygenic traits. Okay, just I've never heard of this word, okay? Okay, yep. So most physical traits like hair texture, height, and skin color, are controlled by multiple genes interacting together. A child inherits a unique brand new combination of these genes from both sides of the family, which can result in an entirely new blend of characteristics. So that's what a polygenetic trait is, which is interesting too, because then again, so like for me, when I think of things that I have that you like, you guys don't have, which I mean, not that there's like tons, but but I'm just like, where did I get that from? But it's not even necessarily that you got it from like your great grandparent down the line, or like combination. Yeah, it's like it just is like teeth mixing. Yes, yes. But then if you think about that, you're like this 0.1 to 0.5% that makes us different compared to the 99.9% where we're just identical is significant, yeah. It's wild.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Uh so it's like, is that 99.9% like you have a heart, you have a liver?

SPEAKER_00 28:25

Yeah, all those things, totally. That's exactly what it's a biochemical, like it's like elements bones. Everyone has bones. Yes, exactly. Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Yeah. And we all have a nose. It's just within that 0.1.5%, it's like they're what makes it a bit different. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Um, spontaneous genetic mutations. So this is also just way crazy to me. Occasionally, a tiny spontaneous change occurs in the DNA during the formation of an egg or sperm or early in embryonic development. So this can result in a brand new trait or condition that did not previously exist in the family.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Like a sixth finger.

SPEAKER_00 29:06

Yeah. And then epigenetics. So these, so this is it's a big part of like what makes us us. So environmental factors such as diet stress and toxin exposure can chemically modify your DNA. So these changes do not alter the underlying genetic code, but they dictate whether certain genes are turned on or off. Oh, yes, which I have another mind-blowing element to this. But, anyways, these variations can cause traits to express themselves differently across generations.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

Oh, so gosh. So this is how I would become a bubble boy. Like, you know what I mean? Like I would become because I'm just like, oh man, like I use hairspray, and what is what gene is that turning on and off? You know what I mean? Oh, it's true. But see, I see many things.

SPEAKER_00 29:50

My thought, my first thought when I was reading about epigenetics was the complete opposite. I was like, send me, send me into it all. Like, what am I gonna be? Like, make me a frickin' cocktail of all these different things. Like, I want to be the product of like anything and everything that happens to me. Anyways, the whoa.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

As a control freak, that really does not jibe with my personality.

SPEAKER_00 30:12

Yeah, but I'm the complete opposite of a control freak. You are so okay, and then a like a few just random fun facts before I continue. So twins. Okay, so identical twins occur by random chance when a single fertilized egg splits into two. That's the so identical twins are are just like by chance. I thought that in both instances it was genetic, but it's not. So fraternal twins run in families, which makes sense because we've always been told that. Um, and our and our nana on our dad's side is fraternal, is a fraternal twin. Yes, so they're uh caused by a genetic trait that triggers the release of multiple eggs. And then I got to thinking like certain things that I've just wondered like, are these genetic? So obviously this is a huge question, and there isn't really like one way to answer it, but is the way that we think genetic? So studies indicate that intelligence and cognitive abilities have a significant genetic component. However, it is influenced by thousands of genes, each making only a tiny contribution rather than a single like intelligence gene, quote unquote. So genetics provide a baseline or a framework, but the environment determines how those genes are expressed. So factors like education, home environment, and nutrition are critical in shaping how the brain develops. Then I was like, okay, well, is type A or type B are those genetic? So being a type A or type B personality is not purely genetic. It results from a complex mix of genetics, 30% to 60%, um, and then environment. So while your DNA can predispose you to certain temperaments, your upbringing, lifestyle, and daily experiences play a massive role as well. There is video footage of me asking you this question back in the day when I was into the whole YouTube video thing.

SPEAKER_01 31:51

Yeah, I still remember this.

SPEAKER_00 31:53

Yes, sneezing. Yes. So while the physical act of sneezing is an involuntary reflux for everybody, of course. The specific way you sneeze, including including how many times you sneeze and what triggers it, is strongly influenced by your genetics.

SPEAKER_01 32:08

Really? How random that you asked that specific that specific question. That's so funny. I foreshadow about it.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

Yeah, totally. I I because it's I think sneezing is hilarious. And sometimes when people sneeze like five times in a row and we're like not we're not outside, it's not. I'm just like, why are you snip? Why are you sneezing like that? Like I never sneeze like that. So what's that?

SPEAKER_01 32:32

Yeah, I mean, you hear of like my like Matt will be like, oh, my dad sneezed like at least five times in a row. At least. And I'm like, really? That's crazy. I sneeze so many times in a row, but again, only when I have allergies.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

Yeah, fair. Another one is the time of so morning person, night owl. Oh the time of day when you're most alert and productive is driven by your internal clock, circadian rhythm. But like so, most people's run on a 24-hour schedule, but it can run faster or slower, making you either a morning person or a night owl. Specific genes seem to play a role in your circadian rhythm speed and how closely it matches the 24-hour day. Changes in those genes can cause disorders that make you fall asleep and wake up odd hours. Okay, ancient viruses. So this is very interesting to me. So ancient viruses live in your genome. Around 8% of human DNA is made up of ancient viral fragments, fragments that infected our ancestors millions of years ago. Whoa! Yep. So about 8% of the human genome comes from viruses that infected our ancestors. Once thought to be useless, they were literally called uh sleeper cells. They were called, no, but they were called like oh my god, I forget the word. I'll find it in a second. But they were once thought to be useless. So some of these sequences are now known though to help switch genes on and off. What? The new study, which identifies specific sequences that show regulatory potential, adds to growing evidence that these long overlooked sequences may play important roles and deserve closer scrutiny. I want to know what that word is. It's like something junk. It's literally called junk DNA. No. Yeah. Because they were like, this is junk. And now it's like, no, it's not.

SPEAKER_01 34:24

So no, it's not. Let's not be so mean to those genomes.

SPEAKER_00 34:28

Yes. So then I was like, okay, I need to know more about this turning on and off. Like, is that in our control? How do we what what is what do we mean turning on and off? Turning genes on and off, which is also known as gene regulation, means controlling whether gene's instructions are used to build proteins. So an analogy I found is think of your DNA as a massive identical cookbook found in every cell of your body. Turning a gene off means the cell bookmarks a page or grays out a recipe so it is not red. And then obviously the opposite of that, turning one on would be the cell opening a specific page and following the recipe to big a dish. So the answer is yes, we can control turning genes on and off through natural epigenetics and advanced gene editing technologies. We can control gene expression, turning certain traits on or off, or adjusting how much protein a gene produces. Well, I was just gonna say, I was like, now we're moving more into like a sci-fi movie. Like we had Jurassic Park, yeah, this is cloning. So again, lifestyle and epigenetics. So if you recall, epigenetics is the study of how your behavior and environment can cause changes that affect how your genes work.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

So like if you meditated every single day, that would probably affect your genes and uh like what stress does to your genetic makeup.

SPEAKER_00 35:48

Totally. So that's natural control. So what I said earlier at the beginning, that is I like this this epigenetic element because I'm like, that is nice to know that regardless of what's been given to me, not that not that anything's inherently literally bad, but just just it's just nice to know that like I am in control of ultimately like what's going on. Yeah, like you can be like, okay, yeah, yeah. But then genetic engineering and epigenetic editing is artificial control. So this is obviously something that I think we'll see large strides in the cosmetology? Yeah, exactly. Health and beauty. Oh, I just feel that's gonna become well, we do know now that there is a way to make sure that your child has certain elements. So that would be yeah, exactly. So that would be an example, but I figured anything beyond that could honestly be another topic and like some stuff.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

So it makes me uncomfortable. I know. What if you are able then to affect illness and stuff like that, and then just everyone lives forever?

SPEAKER_00 36:54

Right. Which I again I don't think it's not great, that's not good. We're not supposed to, man. We gotta go, we gotta let things refresh, we gotta see some new minds come into yeah, absolutely. It's not it's an ecosystem. Totally. Another example of the artificial modification of that would be Did you ever read the book Um My Sister's Keeper? Nope. Nope. Cool, right. Did you ever see the movie My Sister's Keeper?

SPEAKER_01 37:20

No, but that's like the one where they basically had another child to save their first child's life, right?

SPEAKER_00 37:27

Yeah. So they had another child because they needed to have specific things like blood types, bone marrow, different things to like to so literally to just have. And it's so it's based on, I don't know how much of it, how much of it is true. I'm sure some of it was amplified for the movie, but there are plenty of real stories where ultimately people chose to have another child, and that child went through countless surgeries just to serve another child. So tough that's wild. Yeah. Tough toofstoof. Yeah, that's uh yeah. So that, my friend, is where we stop. Yeah, genetics. There's so much more, I'm sure. But those were some things that answered some of my long-term questions. What a scratch the surface thing. Yeah, totally. Lots more. Right.

SPEAKER_01 38:18

Well, that was amazing. I feel like I both have more questions and also feel satisfied with the amount of answers that I received, which is perfect spot. That's the pocket we want to live in. Yep, great. So I feel like it is not overly shocking, but we are going to travel to Boston today with my story. Okay. So here are a few things that you might know already about Boston. It's one of the oldest cities in the United States. It's like one of the oldest metropolitans. Um, and you can feel that obviously when you're there. It's home to the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party. I don't know what the Boston Tea Party is, but I think it was a fight of some kind.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

It's the perfect name for a fight.

SPEAKER_01 39:11

Something government-y, I think. I don't know. Um, Fenway Park is there, Harvard University is there. And there, so there's like a lot of big recognizable things I would say about Boston. But in 1919, part of the city was hit by a specific kind of flood. And it wasn't due to weather, it wasn't water, it wasn't anything that you would typically think of when you think of a flood. It was a flood of molasses.

SPEAKER_00 39:55

Okay. Yep. That's right. That's right. I'm ready to do it more.

SPEAKER_01 40:00

Could have talked about like historic mobsters, could have talked about immigration, lots of different aspects.

SPEAKER_00 40:10

This might be becoming your MO. This might be like your signature style.

SPEAKER_01 40:15

Is basically being like, here's a well-known thing. Now I'm gonna tell you a lesser well-known thing about it. Pretty much. So we first of all need to understand uh before we kind of move any further how much of a flood this was, how much of a like how much molasses we're talking about. So there was a tank, and I'm gonna tell you more about it, but it contained roughly 2.3 million gallons of molasses. So that's about 8.7 million liters. So if we're thinking about like a liter of water, I feel like people have a relative idea of what that is like. 8.7 million liters. An Olympic swimming pool holds about 2.5 million liters. So the tank held the equivalent of roughly three and a half Olympic swimming pools filled entirely with molasses. That's isn't that nuts?

SPEAKER_00 41:12

Okay, that is nuts. And I have to tell you the very first thought that comes to my mind when I'm thinking about this, like visualizing it. I'm like, how urgent could have this been, though?

SPEAKER_01 41:21

I'm going to tell you. It's a very good question, and I love that you asked it. Perfect. So we will circle back to that. But first, another question you might have is why on earth did Boston have that much molasses?

SPEAKER_00 41:38

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 41:40

What are you doing? So molasses wasn't just something people baked with, which is like what I think of. I think of like baking. I think of dad with his scones having molasses and biscuits. It was a major industrial product. So it was used to make rum, which obviously is huge. It we it was used to make industrial alcohol as well. And during and immediately after World War One, which we know this took place in 1919. So that is post-World War One, because we're all educated on World War One now. Industrial alcohol was especially valuable because it could be used in manufacturing and munitions production. So obviously incredibly important during World War One. So Boston's waterfront was a major shipping hub. So storing huge quantities of molasses made business sense. So now I'm going to tell you about the tank. So the tank belonged to the Purity Distilling Company owned by United States Industrial Alcohol. And it was enormous. So it was about 50 feet tall. Obviously, it had to be to hold that much molasses. It was about 50 feet tall, about 90 feet wide, and it was essentially the size of a building.

unknown 42:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

And in the beginning, people noticed, like, you know, a couple problems. The tank did leak. And like a lot residents reported molasses dripping from seams. Children would reportedly collect the leaking molasses in cans, which like is an adorable 1919 story, you know, like you just can picture it. And workers heard strange groaning noises from the steel. So this is like, these are the stories that teach us about like see something, say something. Yeah. Steel above board. Raise a hand, be like, you know what? Those groaning noises lead me to believe that something catastrophic could happen. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:36

Seriously.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

So the structure visibly was like flexed. Like it it didn't look sturdy. And instead of fixing the leaks properly, the company reportedly painted the tank brown so they could be less noticeable. Just really not the best choices. Instead of being like, oh, we should probably look into this. like you know it would be too much work to like what if we discover we need a whole new tank I can't be about that problem let's go ahead and paint it brown honestly oh gosh crazy I've done that with like I've done that with like you know like a like a nail hole in the wall and I go just paint over that fine well that's fine we'll just like cover it up certainly not in this kind of situation a building sized tank of molasses yeah some executive was like paint it brown dude let's move on like it's not we aren't worried about this this is we need to get production up you tell me about a different problem like I solved it so now it's January 15th 1919 it's an unusually warm winter day so it's even winter let's just keep that in mind but it is unusually warm okay temperatures rose quickly after a stretch of colder weather and the tank had recently received a fresh shipment of molasses so there's like fresh molasses in there okay uh pressure inside was increasing due to like the weather and just changes in viscosity um from receiving new shipment of molasses and some historians believe fermentation may also have produced gas inside the tank adding even more pressure so shortly after noon everyone's had their siesta and witnesses hear a sound some describe it as a low rumble others compared it to a machine gun fire which feels like a very different sound in comparison to a low rumble as rivets began snapping loose. Oh my god the steel walls failed the tank tore apart and suddenly 2.3 million gallons of molasses were free oh my god so as you had mentioned it's kind of like well how dangerous could this be for goodness sakes it's slow moving molasses so like we are reminded that it's an unusually warm day but it because it's molasses most of us picture something that's like slowly dripping out of a bottle right not something capable of destroying buildings but when millions of gallons are released at the exact same time physics get weird so the molasses surged through Boston's north end as a wave so it it's not like a it's probably not what you're picturing. You're like and neither was it me like I'm picturing a slow moving you know like it's like like I can walk and outpace it's slow moving it's not like water or anything like that. Yeah so it comes out as a wave and it's estimated between 15 to 25 feet high.

SPEAKER_00 46:59

Holy shit is crazy.

SPEAKER_01 47:05

I know and so this huge wave some people estimate that it reached speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.

SPEAKER_00 47:14

Oh my okay so it's complete it's absolutely like the opposite of what I yeah it's a problem low to the ground real real slow low to the ground is exactly how I was trying to describe it and doing a terrible job.

SPEAKER_01 47:28

Like I picture it as a leak that's coming out it's low to the ground it's slow moving it's sort of like oh my gosh this is crazy but like let me stop and take a selfie like is is the vibe that I I would have thought. So that's roughly the speed limit on many city streets. People had almost no time to react buildings were crushed vehicles were pushed aside support beams snapped people were knocked off their feet horses were swept away and here's the part that makes the story so strange while it was moving the molasses behaved much more like liquid. So like just the way in which it was released from the tank exploded from the tank the heat the way it's moving all together in one big mass but as it slowed and cooled it became dramatically thicker. So like initially very quick fast and then it started to like slow down. So some people who survived the initial impact often found themselves trapped so unable to stand, unable to move and unable to escape. So while it was like liquidy and you're like oh God I got to get out of here as it as like time passed you were like I cannot get out of here like I am actually stuck. So rescuers later described trying to pull victims from what was essentially a giant sea of sticky concrete oh my gosh I mean okay yeah I mean like at first I'm like this is defying all logic but like I guess this does it does kind of make sense. Cause eventually it would like interact with the outside like it was in this relatively contained obviously not perfectly contained tank where it's like in a relatively steady state you would again think and then all of a sudden it gets released it starts interacting with like it is still winter too so as it kind of like spreads out I just can't I'm just picturing this wave the wave is like the craziest part for me. Yeah so the aftermath so the disaster actually kills 21 people oh my god yes roughly 150 others were injured there were police officers firefighters sailors residents everyone who could help joined the rescue effort and the cleanup was brutal molasses coated streets buildings homes vehicles absolutely everything salt water was brought in to help wash it away but even then the cleanup took weeks and according to local stories Boston smelt faintly of molasses for years afterwards isn't that so funny that is hilarious I mean sad but also like if your dad died I mean like you know molasses molasses in a river of sugar is ultimately so scary because it would you would suffocate so it would be right thick and not it's like it's like drowning's scary older brother basically yeah that's true yeah yikes so the investigation so the company initially suggested sabotage they were like nothing to see here probably somebody came over and like ripped open this giant tank what do you mean accountability no absolutely not and this was shortly after world war one and fears of anarchists and bombings were common so they leveraged the public sphere as many powerful people do to try and gaslight them into thinking that it could absolutely not be them.

SPEAKER_00 51:08

Right.

SPEAKER_01 51:08

It was a convenient explanation but investigators found something much more ordinary and that was just negligence. So the tank had been poorly designed poorly built inadequately tested warning sides had been ignored and people had complained leaks had been reported and the structure had literally announced its problems to anyone willing to listen on its own. So it really was the company's fault. So the great molasses flood as it is referenced is remembered because it is bizarre but it also becomes important for another reason. The lawsuits that followed became one of America's first major corporate accountability cases. So it was so blatantly like okay guys well like we can't I mean we get you're bringing in some cashish into the economy but like we can't be letting you kill people with molasses. No it's just no oh my gosh so the legal battle lasted years and eventually the company was found responsible obviously and the fact that it would even take years is just is just an indication of how the power dynamic between massive corporations and like just people living their lives is just I mean exhibited even still today. So yeah the case helped shape expectations around engineering standards, inspections, safety practices, and expert testimony. So in many ways it helped establish the idea that companies could not simply ignore warning signs and walk away from the consequences which they still can today but this laid the groundwork. Right. Yeah that so that is the great molasses flood of Boston that is incredible. I just never would have imagined that being a substance that would take you don't first of all I don't think of molasses in large quantities in any scenario. Absolutely which is silly because like in mass production situations of course there would be totally I guess but that's right but I would not have thought of it's just the stuff that you don't think about you know absolutely it really is that's what year was it again? 1919 one year after world war one got it ended.

SPEAKER_00 53:25

Wow might this poor city is just like holy smokes I thought we saw it all with this world war but no here's the great molasses flood of 1919 that's a good one did you think when you were thinking of a mind meld or no you didn't think with this one you you have another topic that you thought or did you think that mind meld on I was sort of like oh if you were because similarly to when you went to Australia I was like oh one sec Madison he's in here Matt sorry can you come grab him?

SPEAKER_01 54:02

Hey what my hat that's your hat yeah that bow that one yeah oh there's no hat do you like the hat okay love you buddy close her out get out of here you um I don't even remember what we were talking about now just the molasses floods of Boston oh yes thinking you were you thinking of oh yes okay so then I was sort of like well yeah when you went to Australia I was like oh I'm gonna look into some like Australia facts and like piggyback off of your trip. So I was like oh maybe she'll think of some Boston stuff. And then I was kind of like it feels like if you were to start researching weird things about Boston that aren't like you know typical stuff it feels like this one might come up because it is so obscure.

SPEAKER_00 54:51

Yeah that's true. That's true. You're so right that that would have absolutely been the like domino effect.

SPEAKER_01 54:56

But yeah yeah yeah and then my next topic that we will be recording in quick succession I feel like has potential but now that I know that you chose this recent topic I think it won't. All right well thanks for listening. Yep thanks for listening we'll talk to you guys well no we're gonna talk to each other you guys are gonna listen next week this is the most awkward sign off. Bye bye