How are genetic traits handed down through generations? How did you inherit your grandfather's red hair whilst your parents are both black-haired? Even Charles Darwin himself never really understood the causes behind this. This album traces the development of our understanding of the laws of inheritance. The tracks on this album, drawn from an Open University programme first broadcast in 1998, explore the discoveries of scientists such as the botanist Mendel, and the chemist Friedrich Miescher who first identified DNA, and see how they come together with Darwin's theory of evolution to form the concepts which lie at the heart of modern genetics. Contributors include Richard Dawkins, Colin Tudge, John Maynard Smith, Steven Rose and Steve Jones.

This album explores the science of waves. Five video tracks feature two pair trawling fishermen from the Cornish village of Looe. Their lives and livelihoods depend on gadgets like radio, GPS and radar. This album explores the physics behind this technology, gives a simple introduction to wavelengths and looks back to the discovery of electromagnetism and the invention of radio. To demonstrate just how vital waves are, the two captains turn off their modern communication tools and try traditional methods of keeping in touch. In addition, two bonus video tracks explore Newton's laws of motion and Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which give us our most basic insight into space and time. This material forms part of the course S207 The physical world.

What is the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the nature of its relationship with the UK Government? What impact does it have on UK law?
With British membership of the European Union at the heart of the political agenda, the role of its Court of Human Rights and its influence on UK law has inevitably come under scrutiny. The coalition Government has pledged to withdraw the UK from the European convention of human rights, and to give Parliament the right to veto ECHR rulings. In these 4 films we hear from people who have taken cases to the Strasbourg court. We look at how cases are referred, what laws are used, what the process is like and what impact its judgments have had in the UK - in such high profile examples as Diane Pretty’s ‘Right to Die’ case.

How are our laws made? What is it like to be a criminal defence lawyer during a murder trial? What are the challenges faced by family lawyers or immigration law advisers? What if you have credit card debt or are faced with an eviction notice and can't afford a lawyer? This collection gives us an insight into the daily lives of those in the legal profession.

(NB The legislative process audio podcast contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0.)