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What Inspires Carl Zimmer to Write Books · Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Heredity & Me

You've probably heard someone say, "She takes after her father." But what does that really mean? How do we inherit certain traits and characteristics? Writer Carl Zimmer joins us to answer your calls about what heredity means, how it plays out, and whether you should consider taking a DNA test. His book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh, is now available in…

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Bill Nye

Notes

What Inspires Carl Zimmer to Write Books at 3:20

He likes to explore things we know a little about, but don’t think about. Carl Zimmer likes to write books about things that he can to investigate. Full answer
What Inspired Carl Zimmer's Book on Heredity? at 4:24

When he was considering the topic of heredity, he thought about what’s normally talked about with heredity. Full answer
How Do Genes Mess Up Some Things With Heredity at 8:16

It’s because we tend to think that genes and things like laughter are the same, but they’re not. Full answer
How Are Nature and Nurture Connected at 9:10

Overall, no one knows what these genes do or how they connect, but the heredity connection is evident. They all weave together and influence each other. Full answer
Why Does Carl Zimmer Say Redheads Have Pale Skin? at 16:41

On Science Rules with Bill Nye, in Heredity & Me, Carl Zimmer explains that the variants that make hair lighter also make the pigment in the skin lighter… Full answer
What Are Epigenetics at 17:20

In addition to inheriting genes, you inherit the molecules around the genes that control whether they’re turned on or off. Full answer
Did I Inherit My Artistic Abilities From My Parents at 20:10

Unfortunately, science cannot answer this for someone individually. Science can look at averages from lots of people. Full answer
How Do We Know Height Plays a Part in Heredity at 26:12

According to Zimmer, scientists are still struggling with this curiosity. Full answer
Why Does Carl Zimmer Say People Got Taller? at 27:24

Carl Zimmer tells Bill Nye and Corey Powell, on Science Rules in the episode Heredity & Me, that the gain in height since earlier centuries is not a genetic… Full answer
Do Personality Traits Change at 28:29

Yes, there are lots of things in life that can influence a person’s personality. Full answer
Why Do People Go on Family Feud at 35:07

According to Bill Nye, there’s a belief or presumption that there’s a connection between family members that they would share. Full answer
What Happens When You Make a Carbon Copy at 36:52

When you make a carbon copy, the copy is actually imperfect. Full answer
Does Carl Zimmer Say Handedness Is Inherited? at 40:03

Carl Zimmer tells Science Rules with Bill Nye that being left-handed or right-handed seems to be inherited, but that scientists cannot find the genes that… Full answer
Is IQ Inheritable at 40:12

It is partly inheritable because it's about 50-70%. Full answer
Can You See a Gene Under a Microscope at 41:03

No, you can't. Full answer
Is It a Good Idea to Buy Genetic Test Kits at 41:09

Zimmer states that yes, it is good to buy the kits, but only if the person is willing to put in the work to understand the results. Full answer
Is It True That Baldness Genes Come From Our Mother’s Father at 42:35

There are lots of genes that are involved in hair, so it doesn’t necessarily rely on that speculation anymore. Full answer
Is It True That Twins Skip a Generation at 43:23

No, this is false. Full answer

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