Leo Schalkwyk
Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Essex, known for epigenomics and psychiatric genetics research.
1
APPEARANCES
1
PODCASTS
Sep 28, 2026
Chris CoatesHOST
So Leo, could you start for us and just tell us to begin with what is epigenetics?
Leo SchalkwykGUEST
There are obviously many different kinds of cells, your skin and muscle and blood cells and so on.
Leo SchalkwykGUEST
And all of those cell types have the same DNA, but they have completely different developmental fates.
Leo SchalkwykGUEST
So there has to be a way that cells remember what their assigned type is as the person develops from an embryo.
Leo SchalkwykGUEST
And they also have to remember what environment they're adapting to in the life of the individual.
Chris CoatesHOST
So having set the scene, can you talk me through what was the aim of this research? What are you looking for?