Bill Nye is back in his lab with NAF and Biogen—breaking down the science of Friedreich Ataxia in a new video series. WATCH NOW

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THE SCIENCE GUY: BACK IN THE LAB FOR FA

Greetings! Class is back in session. Bill Nye is heading into the lab to explore the science behind Friedreich ataxia (FA), a rare neuromuscular disease that affects more than 5000 people in the United States. Watch the new series now and find more information about FA below or by signing up .

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00:01

BILL NYE: Greetings, Bill Nye here. As you can see I’m walking and talking. But not everyone can do this so easily. They have “ataxia.”

00:10

BILL NYE: And today, we’re going to talk about a particularly troublesome form of ataxia called Friedreich ataxia. Let’s head in.

00:23

BILL NYE: After its discovery in 1863 by Nikolaus Friedreich, researchers have carried his name forward, trying to make sense of it all.

00:32

BILL NYE: Their scientific curiosity led to scientific discovery. Speaking of curiosity, what was that password? Um. Hah.

00:46

BILL NYE: Hehe. It’s pie. Get it? Like, pi?

00:50

THE VOICE: Hmm, lemon meringue.

00:52

BILL NYE: 3.14159265 and some other digits.

00:58

Pull up to the lab,
It’s been a minute
‘The Science Guy’ is back
With a special mission

01:04

Friedreich ataxia?
It’s a rare disease
If you think that’s you
Let’s get up to speed

01:08

Back in the lab, back in the lab,
Back in the lab with Bill Nye
Hi Bill, hi Bill, hi!

01:17

BILL NYE: Ataxia has always been close to my heart. Actually, uh, my brain. A version of ataxia runs in my family. And these days, there’s a whole field of research on another type, called “Friedreich” ataxia. Let’s check in with a fellow researcher.

01:45

CHRISTIAN: Oh, hi Bill!

01:47

BILL NYE: Hi, Christian! How’s it going?

01:49

CHRISTIAN: Good. Lately, I’ve been studying a mitochondrial protein called frataxin.

01:53

BILL NYE: Those mitochondria. What powerhouses… (beat) Okay, thanks Christian!

02:02

CHRISTIAN: …You’re welcome.

02:05

BILL NYE: Here’s the thing: not having proteins working properly can be serious biz.

02:13

BILL NYE: You see these guys? These are nucleotides: Guanine and Adenine! They make up the GAA triplet that contributes to frataxin production.

02:23

BILL NYE: We’re gonna need to look closer. Much closer.

02:30

2D BILL NYE (V.O.): Friedreich ataxia is caused by a mutation in the gene that creates frataxin. A DNA sequence called the GAA triplet repeats way more than it should, impacting frataxin production. Frataxin helps create energy, and without it, it can lead to all kinds of trouble. You may notice symptoms like frequent falls, clumsiness, tiredness, and slurred speech.

02:59

2D BILL NYE (V.O.): We’re going to need more bow ties.

03:02

BILL NYE: Sometimes ataxias can be mistaken for other conditions, or misunderstood completely.

03:08

BILL NYE: Thankfully, these days, we can know if someone has Friedreich ataxia by doing a specific genetic test.

03:20

CHRISTIAN (V.O.): The Friedreich ataxia mutation can be passed down through generations.

03:26

CHRISTIAN (V.O.): It needs to come from both your mom and dad.

03:30

CHRISTIAN (V.O.): And even if they don’t ever have symptoms, they can still carry the affected gene.

03:37

CHRISTIAN (V.O.): Thanks a lot guys!

03:47

BILL NYE: So, if you’re experiencing symptoms of Friedreich ataxia, like falling down a lot, struggling with your speech, or just feeling clumsy: Ask your doctor about a genetic test. Because the curiosity cab is ready for its next stop.

04:03

BILL NYE: And don’t wait! Time is crucial! Hi Bill!

04:07

THE VOICE: Bye Bill.

04:13

BILL NYE: Oh! Ah! Still fresh! Still hilarious!

04:18

BILL NYE: And today, we’re going to talk about a particularly troublesome form of ataxia called ha ha. Let’s reset.

04:26

BILL NYE: Christian! Yeah it’s Bill! I’m at the end of the lab bench.

04:31

CHRISTIAN: Actually…wait.

04:38

BILL NYE: Runs in my family!

04:39

BILL NYE: Friedreich ataxia. Ha ha! I meant, I meant to do that.

04:45

BILL NYE: And then we cut. Pretty soon we’re gonna say cut.

What is Friedreich ataxia?

Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a unique, progressive type of ataxia. Ataxia refers to neurological signs including poor muscle control and clumsy movements. Some forms of ataxia, like FA, can be passed down through families in their genes. FA was discovered back in 1863 by a German pathologist named Nikolaus Friedreich.

FA is known for its typical early onset and progressive nature, meaning it gets worse over time. Most of the time, people with FA begin to experience symptoms around or before puberty, but did you know that some people with FA start experiencing symptoms in their 30s or even later?

DNA and Genetic Mutations

FA is caused by a mutation in the frataxin (FXN) gene. Our DNA is made up of 4 building blocks.

In the section of DNA that holds the FXN gene, there is a portion where the building blocks are “stacked” in a G-A-A pattern called a GAA triplet.

For people with FA, a genetic mutation can cause the GAA triplet to repeat way more than it’s supposed to in the FXN gene. While not always the case, a greater number of GAA repeats may indicate earlier disease onset and how severe or progressive the symptoms will be. Not all people with a frataxin gene mutation (the FA mutation) will have the disease.

Symptoms to look out for

The initial symptoms of FA include:

unsteadiness while walking (which doctors refer to as gait ataxia)
poor coordination

Other common symptoms are:

loss of reflexes in the lower limbs
numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)
slurred speech (dysarthria)
fatigue

Because FA symptoms are often similar to other conditions, it is commonly misdiagnosed as:

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
multiple sclerosis (MS)
cerebral palsy

Interested in learning more about FA?
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Interested in learning more about FA?
Sign up to receive emails.

How is FA diagnosed?

Let's test those genes!

In 1996, researchers discovered that FA was caused by mutations in the frataxin gene. This was a big step forward for diagnosis and led to deeper research into potential treatments. These days, a genetic test that looks at the GAA triplet repeats in your DNA can provide a faster and more accurate diagnosis of FA.

Explore additional information on genetic testing below.

Family trees

FA is hereditary, which means the frataxin gene mutation is passed down through generations. It’s so rare because both parents need to have the genetic mutation in order to transfer it to their child. Since the mutation is passed down through parents, FA typically affects one or more siblings. It’s also possible to have FA without symptoms of the disease even being present in your family. If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s important to consider genetic testing to confirm your diagnosis.

Curious to learn more?

Sign up for emails about FA below and stay tuned for the next episode!

Receive emails about FA

Brought to you by NAF and Biogen

The Science Guy: Back in the Lab for FA is brought to you by a joint effort from the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) and Biogen, two leaders in the Friedreich ataxia space.

Bill and Christian

Meet two science guys with close ties to ataxia. Bill Nye has a long-standing relationship with NAF and has family members with a type of ataxia called Spinocerebellar ataxia type-27B (SCA27B). Bill is dedicated to helping others by spreading knowledge about ataxia. Christian M is a PhD student who has Friedreich ataxia. He studies molecular biology in hopes of one day finding a cure for his disease.

©2025 Biogen. All rights reserved. FA-US-0280 09/25

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