What causes morning sickness during pregnancy?
Summary
Luke O'Neill, a Trinity College professor, joins Pat Kenny from New York to discuss a major breakthrough in understanding morning sickness. They explain that the fetus produces a protein called GDF15 to protect against toxins, causing nausea in mothers. O'Neill details how this discovery is leading to treatments for severe hyperemesis gravidarum and cancer-related side effects like chemotherapy nausea and muscle wasting. The conversation also touches on the growing role of AI in accelerating drug discovery and medical diagnostics.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Professor Luke O'Neill and the GDF15 breakthrough
Morning sickness timeline: onset and duration
Impact on work and the myth of 'morning' sickness
Hyperemesis gravidarum: severe cases and hospitalization
Notable cases: Kate Middleton and Charlotte Brontë
Home remedies: diet, ginger, and Vitamin B6
The cause: Fetus produces GDF15 protein
Evolutionary purpose: Protecting against dietary poisons
Genetics: Why 3% of women suffer severe symptoms
New treatment: Clinical trials to dial down GDF15
Chemotherapy applications: Reducing nausea and cachexia
AI in biomedical research and drug discovery
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