Episode 2: Xenogenesis - Dawn: I. Womb - Chapter 3

Posted on Saturday, Apr 25, 2020
XenoThesis - a podcast by two scientists trying to apply Science to the Science-Fiction. Here, Richard and Michael discuss the book 1 “Dawn” of Xenogenesis series by Olivia E. Butler.

Show Notes

Richard and Michael discuss the new revelations about the Jdahya’s species in chapter 3, leading to a conversation about how do we know the sequence of our genome nowadays.

Timestamps

00:00:36 – Intro
00:01:00 – Introduction to the previous predictions
00:02:40 – Clarification on few things said in Episode 1
00:04:00 – Discussion about biology and its complexity. How do scientist prepare to do research
00:07:30 – Introduction to the chapter 3
00:10:00 – Discussion about cancer and immune system [1 – 5]
00:13:20 – Naked Mole Rats – Superman from animal kingdom – a being that does not get cancer [6, 7]
00:14:00 – Big animals also don’t get cancer? Peto’s Paradox [8].
00:16:00 – Don’t rely on cancer killing a cancer…
00:17:50 – Discussion about Lilith’s attitude to Ooloi – the 3rd gender in the alien species
00:20:40 – Discussion on the ominous ways of ooloi do to understand humans – human trials [9 – 12]
00:24:30 – Thalidomide [13]
00:26:36 – Continuation on introduction to the chapter 3
00:31:06 – Discussion about Lilith’s reaction to the Oankali
00:34:00 – Exposure therapy – discussion how Oankali are trying to get Lilith get used to them [14, 15]
00:35:01 – Discussion on the relationship between human doctor and Jdahya.
00:35:56 – Was Jdahya’s form changed to resemble human form?
00:37:22 – Uncanny Valley [16]
00:38:06 – Oankali finding human genetic structure disturbing – discussion on why?
00:38:30 – Continuation on introduction to the chapter 3 – finale
00:39:30 – Discussion on the ooloi ability to sense genome
00:43:35 – What is DNA [17]
00:49:50 – Genomic sequencing explained [18 – 20]
00:53:39 – How would the Oankali perceive the genomic sequence?
01:00:50 – Oankali – The Traders – what could that mean?
01:03:12 – Discussion on the experience of traveling and learning about different cultures
01:05:47 – The cost of genome sequencing nowadays
01:07:05 – What is research and how much can you know? [22]
01:10:39 – Confidence vs experience/knowledge [23]
01:15:00 – We will try our best to give the best sources (or at least some basics)
01:18:38 – PREDICTIONS TO CHAPTER 4 (AND MAYBE CHAPTER 5)
01:21:12 - Outro\

References

Immune system and cancer:

Animals and cancer:

Human trials in history:

Exposure therapy:

Uncanny Valley:

Genome:

What is research:


Intro: L’Etoile danse (Pt. 1) by Meydän

Outro: Long Way Home by Spinning Ratio

Hosts

Richard J. Acton

Richard J. Acton

A Human - for now.

Michael Glinka

Michael Glinka

A Human