Edith Heard on unravelling the mystery of X-chromosome inactivation
Epigeneticist Edith Heard, director of the Francis Crick Institute, discusses her work unravelling the mysteries of how X chromosomes are switched on and off.
Imagine looking at a map of a city you thought you knew inside-out, only to discover a collection of tightly knit neighbourhoods that nobody had ever realised existed... Edith Heard has achieved something rather similar with DNA.
Edith is a leading expert in epigenetics: put simply, the science around how our bodies can turn particular genes on or off without actually altering our DNA. She’s spent her career studying the mechanisms that make us who we are and transforming our understanding of how X chromosomes are expressed; notably, how female cells turn off the spare X chromosome.
Talking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Edith discusses her journey from a shy and introverted youngster to the cutting edge of European science - including her latest role as Director of London’s prestigious Francis Crick Institute.
Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced by Lucy Taylor
A BBC Studios production
On radio
Broadcasts
- Next Tuesday09:00BBC Radio 4
- Next Wednesday21:00BBC Radio 4
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Podcast
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The Life Scientific
Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work.
