Hand Transplant, DNA and a Backwards Heart - Janna Levin

“I found myself navigating this precipice between discovery on the one side, and obscurity on the other side.”

Photo by Sarah Stacke

Hand Transplant, DNA and a Backwards Heart

An astrophysicist discovers wild parallels in her research and romantic life; a surgeon details his involvement in one of the world's first-ever hand transplants; and a geneticist is called to testify in a murder case and lays the groundwork for DNA fingerprinting as forensic evidence.

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Stories in this Episode

15:58
Life on a Möbius Strip

by Janna Levin

A young astrophysicist finds wild parallels in her research and personal life. This story was produced in collaboration with the World Science Festival.

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14:04
The Perfect Human Hand

by Kodi Azari

A surgeon details his involvement in one of the world's first-ever hand transplants. This story was produced in collaboration with the World Science Festival.

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13:29
Why I Teach

by Eric S. Lander

Two defense attorneys ask for help from an unlikely source - a scientist. This story was produced in collaboration with the World Science Festival.

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Extras From This Episode

Janna Levin

Jana Levin Edit1

Janna’s husband, Warren, with their son. Photo courtesy Janna Levin.

The music video for Warren Malone’s song “Whole Life Blues”, featuring their son.

You can listen to more of Warren’s songs on Spotify. The song that Janna references in her story, “A Thousand Tiny Pieces” by Sean Hayes is available on iTunes.

Kodi Azari

Kodi Azariedit

Kodi arm-wrestles his hand transplant patient. Photo courtesy Kodi Azari.

Eric S. Lander

The music in this story