Heather Radke

an ancient proto-mammal and changed its DNA so that eventually, many generations later, the eggshell transformed from a hard shell that exists outside the body to a sort of permeable layer that exists inside the body, which then becomes the placenta. And this was a huge advantage because it made it possible for the blood of the mother to actually feed the fetus.

So it could get tons more nutrients. It wasn't limited to just like whatever yolk was inside the egg from the beginning.

So it could get tons more nutrients. It wasn't limited to just like whatever yolk was inside the egg from the beginning.

So it could get tons more nutrients. It wasn't limited to just like whatever yolk was inside the egg from the beginning.

Geneticist Melissa Wilson again. That's mind-blowing. Because it made it possible to actually make a baby with a big, giant brain, like a human being or a dolphin. And that was great. But it also had this downside.

Geneticist Melissa Wilson again. That's mind-blowing. Because it made it possible to actually make a baby with a big, giant brain, like a human being or a dolphin. And that was great. But it also had this downside.

Geneticist Melissa Wilson again. That's mind-blowing. Because it made it possible to actually make a baby with a big, giant brain, like a human being or a dolphin. And that was great. But it also had this downside.

Okay, and this is how we've ended up four weeks into what's basically a war between the mother and the placenta, with the placenta trying to suck blood out of the mother, and the mother basically trying to box it out. And this fight...

Okay, and this is how we've ended up four weeks into what's basically a war between the mother and the placenta, with the placenta trying to suck blood out of the mother, and the mother basically trying to box it out. And this fight...

Okay, and this is how we've ended up four weeks into what's basically a war between the mother and the placenta, with the placenta trying to suck blood out of the mother, and the mother basically trying to box it out. And this fight...

And the uterus just says, nope, get out.

And the uterus just says, nope, get out.

And the uterus just says, nope, get out.

As the mother's blood starts rushing into the placenta, the fetus just starts growing and growing. It's the size of a grapefruit by week 15, a pineapple by 24, a watermelon by 36.

As the mother's blood starts rushing into the placenta, the fetus just starts growing and growing. It's the size of a grapefruit by week 15, a pineapple by 24, a watermelon by 36.

As the mother's blood starts rushing into the placenta, the fetus just starts growing and growing. It's the size of a grapefruit by week 15, a pineapple by 24, a watermelon by 36.

So the placenta starts releasing more and more of this hormone.

So the placenta starts releasing more and more of this hormone.

So the placenta starts releasing more and more of this hormone.

Which sort of hijacks the mother's digestive system.