This episode of Tumble, a science podcast for kids, investigates why capybaras are the largest rodents. The hosts interview biologist Santiago Herrera Alvarez, who explains his research using capybara DNA to identify genetic mutations responsible for their increased cell production and, consequently, larger size. Alvarez describes his fieldwork, which involved collaborating with Colombian cowboys to collect capybara samples. The podcast highlights how comparing capybara DNA to that of smaller rodents revealed specific genetic changes leading to their exceptional growth. Listeners learn about the scientific process of studying evolution through DNA analysis and the surprising role of mutations in shaping animal characteristics.
