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Professor Dame Kay Davies

Kirsty Young's castaway is geneticist Professor Dame Kay Davies.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the scientist Professor Kay Davies. She has dedicated much of her life to finding a cure for the severest form of muscular dystrophy. Before she was 40, she had helped to develop the antenatal test which is now used around the world, then she isolated the gene sequence which could be instrumental in treating the condition. After years spent working on that, human trials for a possible treatment are about to begin.

It's quite something for a woman who doesn't have an O-level in biology. Although, even as a child she did possess that critical quality crucial to scientific pioneers: "I loved solving problems," she says, "I was very tenacious and would sit in my room until I had finished the problem. I am a sticker."

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Piano Sonata in B Flat by Franz Schubert
Book: Untold Stories by Alan Bennett
Luxury: A piano.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Feb 2009 09:00

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Franz Schubert

      Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D960

      Soloist: Alfred Brendel

      • Schubert: Sonata D.960.
      • Philips.
  • Aled Jones

    Yr Ehedydd (The Skylark)

    • Ave Maria.
    • Sain.
  • The Beatles

    Let It Be

    • Let It Be.
    • Parlophone.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Dove sono (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Soloist: Soile Isokoski, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Peter Schreier, Marita Viitasalo

    • Mozart Arias: Soile Isokoski.
    • Ondine.
  • The Immposters

    Everybody Be There

  • Eric Clapton

    Tears in Heaven

    • Eric Clapton Unplugged.
    • Duck.
  • 10cc

    The Wall Street Shuffle

    • 10CC鈥檚 Greatest Hits 1972-1978.
    • Mercury.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    La donna 猫 mobile (from Rigoletto)

    Soloist: Luciano Pavarotti

    • The Ultimate Collection.
    • Decca.
  • Book Choice

    • Untold Stories - Alan Bennett

  • Luxury Choice

    • A piano

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Kay Davies

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Feb 2009 11:15
  • Fri 20 Feb 2009 09:00

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