Topic: Recombination

Fraser Cain and Pamela L. Gay explore what cosmology can establish about the universe’s earliest history and where knowledge remains limited. The discussion covers inflation, the separation of forces, the emergence of particles and nuclei, and density fluctuations that seed later structure. Recombination and the cosmic microwave background lead into the dark ages, the first stars and reionization, with observations including JWST helping test models of the early universe. Pamela Gay is a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. This Astronomy Cast episode was published on 14 Septem

Stephen Quake examines antibody repertoires as populations shaped by diversification and selection. Recombination, junctional changes and mutation create many potential antibodies, but their realised diversity and similarity between individuals remain important questions. High-throughput sequencing in humans and model organisms is used to study these patterns and evolutionary convergence.