Would you ever think that calling up a natural history museum and asking for their 'crusties' would be a legitimate scientific request? Well, it is, and that's what Dr. Molly McDonough does. She studies mammals and their DNA, sometimes pulling out the genetic code from animals that have been dead for more than a hundred years.

For those of you (like me) who have ever scratched your head thinking 'what the heck is DNA anyway?,' Molly gives a GREAT explanation in this episode!

Molly stands in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History gerbil collection, surrounded by specimens in drawers. photo c/o Molly McDonough ---

Where are you in the world? Give us a listen! Record 30-45 seconds of your environment and email it to us at exploreastory(at)fieldmuseum(dot)org, with the subject line: "OK to share- EAS." Please include your name & location in the recording! By sending us the file you're giving us permission to use it at the end of a future episode or another Brain Scoop-related project, so thank you in advance.

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ExploreAStory is written and hosted by Emily Graslie, produced by Sheheryar Ahsan and Brandon Brungard, with music by Jason Weidner, and made with support from the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.