It's a mix of biology both real and synthetic this week, podders.
One of the UK's leading cardiac surgeons Francis Wells joins us in the pod. Later this week, Francis and his team at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge will be performing open-heart surgery but, unlike every other time they've done it, this time a live satellite link will allow an audience of over 200 people in London to ask the doctors questions, and get an unprecedented view of the the most vital organ in the human body. Sincerely, we mean it when we wish Francis a steady hand.
Also in the show, Prof Brian Spratt, chair of molecular microbiology at Imperial College, tells us more about the world's first genome transplant, and the benefits - and ethics - of synthetic biology. Craig Venter's behind the groundbreaking research - but do you think the 'Bad Boy of Science' really is that bad?
Plus, we look at cat DNA, black holes, and more news from the field of stem cell research. Oh, and giant penguins.
