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Handy third thumb
Health Check
Jul 6, 2022

Claudia Hammond is at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London looking at the latest medical research. Claudia speaks to Professor Tamar Makin and designer Dani Clode to find out whether a third thumb might be handy. Dr Simon Gubbins explains how to use genetic technology to head off the world’s next pandemic before it happens. And Claudia hears from Dr Georgina Girt why llamas are special. They’re certainly cute with their pointy ears and their long eyelashes, but they can also develop tiny antibodies that could protect humans against numerous different diseases. Plus senior lecturer, Chloe James on the super powers of bacteriophages and how they work as puppet masters.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Erika Wright

(Picture: Health Check presenter Claudia Hammond tries on The Third Thumb at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Photo credit: BBC.)

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Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Jonathan Blackwell


26min 28sec

Handy third thumb

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