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996 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 239 ratingsTalking Biotech is a weekly podcast that uncovers the stories, ideas and research of people at the frontier of biology and engineering.
Each episode explores how science and technology will transform agriculture, protect the environment, and feed 10 billion people by 2050.
Interviews are led by Dr. Kevin Folta, a professor of molecular biology and genomics.
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Episodes
Joe Landolina: Stopping Bleeding with Algal-Based Polymers
April 09, 2022 00:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBA significant number of fatalities are due to blood loss following accidents, injuries or medical procedures. While many methods can stop catastrophic bleeds, they take time and are not always successful. This episode explores the process of inducing bleeding cessation with Joe Landolina of Cresilon. The company has devised a polymer from algae that is applied topically, and immediately stops the bleed. The science behind this innovation and potential applications are discussed. ...
Stopping Bleeding with Algal-Based Polymers
April 09, 2022 00:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBA significant number of fatalities are due to blood loss following accidents, injuries or medical procedures. While many methods can stop catastrophic bleeds, they take time and are not always successful. This episode explores the process of inducing bleeding cessation with Joe Landolina of Cresilon. The company has devised a polymer from algae that is applied topically, and immediately stops the bleed. The science behind this innovation and potential applications are discussed. ...
Dr. Felicia Wu: Fungal Toxins in Food
April 02, 2022 00:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBMycotoxins are carcinogenic compounds that arise from specific fungal infections in various crop plants, with corn and peanut being key examples. In the industrialized world, governments monitor relevant crops carefully, and install strict thresholds for presence of these dangerous compounds. But what about Developing World? Today's podcast interviews Dr. Felicia Wu, Professor at Michigan State University. Dr. Wu has analyzed the risk associated with mycotoxins, and has studied ho...
Fungal Toxins in Food
April 02, 2022 00:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBMycotoxins are carcinogenic compounds that arise from specific fungal infections in various crop plants, with corn and peanut being key examples. In the industrialized world, governments monitor relevant crops carefully, and install strict thresholds for presence of these dangerous compounds. But what about Developing World? Today's podcast interviews Dr. Felicia Wu, Professor at Michigan State University. Dr. Wu has analyzed the risk associated with mycotoxins, and has studied ho...
Plastics and Fuels from Camelina
March 26, 2022 00:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBCamelina (Camelina sativa) is an oilseed brassica that grows fast and produces many seeds. It grows in marginal soil and great resistance to disease and environmental stress. That said, it is an ideal plant to use as a factory to produce a variety of metabolites that may be used in applications such as fuels and plastics, as well as a sources of healthy food oils and animal nutrition products. Their resilience as a crop and rapid growth means that they may offer farmers an off-sea...
Dr. Olly Peoples: Plastics and Fuels from Camelina
March 26, 2022 00:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBCamelina (Camelina sativa) is an oilseed brassica that grows fast and produces many seeds. It grows in marginal soil and great resistance to disease and environmental stress. That said, it is an ideal plant to use as a factory to produce a variety of metabolites that may be used in applications such as fuels and plastics, as well as a sources of healthy food oils and animal nutrition products. Their resilience as a crop and rapid growth means that they may offer farmers an off-sea...
Endogenous Retroviruses and Disease, Dr. Arvinda Nath
March 19, 2022 05:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBUpon sequencing the human genome, scientists were surprised to find that it is composed of about 8% viral sequence. These fossils are relics of ancient primate infections where retroviruses incorporated into the chromosome and became part of the human lineage. While these viral elements have contributed positively to speciation and development of specific human traits, they also have the capacity to become pathogenic. Dr. Advinda Nath is the Clinical Director of the National Institu...
Dr. Arvinda Nath: Endogenous Retroviruses and Disease
March 19, 2022 05:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBUpon sequencing the human genome, scientists were surprised to find that it is composed of about 8% viral sequence. These fossils are relics of ancient primate infections where retroviruses incorporated into the chromosome and became part of the human lineage. While these viral elements have contributed positively to speciation and development of specific human traits, they also have the capacity to become pathogenic. Dr. Advinda Nath is the Clinical Director of the National Institu...
Melanie Trecek-King: Evaluating Scientific Claims
March 12, 2022 05:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBWe are bombarded with information, but do we know what sources to trust and how to evaluate specific claims? Melanie Tercek-King joins the podcast to discuss some fundamentals of critical thinking, and implement her tool kit to evaluate which claims have merit, and which might be best disregarded.
Evaluating Scientific Claims - Melanie Trecek-King
March 12, 2022 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBWe are bombarded with information, but do we know what sources to trust and how to evaluate specific claims? Melanie Tercek-King joins the podcast to discuss some fundamentals of critical thinking, and implement her tool kit to evaluate which claims have merit, and which might be best disregarded.
Resetting the Table with Dr. Robert Paarlberg
March 05, 2022 22:07 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBIn his new book Dr. Robert Paarlberg describes the current state of the food system, focusing on issues like industrial farming, organic farming, restaurants, biotechnology, and how technology will impact farming in the future. In today's podcast we discuss some of the critical points of the book and what food and farming may look like in the future.
Dr. Robert Paarlberg: Resetting the Table
March 05, 2022 22:07 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn his new book Dr. Robert Paarlberg describes the current state of the food system, focusing on issues like industrial farming, organic farming, restaurants, biotechnology, and how technology will impact farming in the future. In today's podcast we discuss some of the critical points of the book and what food and farming may look like in the future.
Dr. Monika Gulia-Nuss: Biotech and Tick Vectored Disease
February 26, 2022 19:08 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBTicks are significant disease vectors, with an emerging scope of pathologies associated with tick bites. New technologies have accelerated the ability to genetically engineer ticks, creating new opportunities to understand gene function in ticks, as well as potentially use gene editing to control numbers or affect disease vectoring. Dr. Monika Gulia-Nuss (University of Nevada, Reno) and Dr. Jason Rasgon (Penn State University) describe tick disease transmission, new transformation t...
Biotech and Tick Vectored Disease
February 26, 2022 19:08 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBTicks are significant disease vectors, with an emerging scope of pathologies associated with tick bites. New technologies have accelerated the ability to genetically engineer ticks, creating new opportunities to understand gene function in ticks, as well as potentially use gene editing to control numbers or affect disease vectoring. Dr. Monika Gulia-Nuss (University of Nevada, Reno) and Dr. Jason Rasgon (Penn State University) describe tick disease transmission, new transformation t...
Plant Viruses / X Files Science
February 19, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBDr. Anne Simon is an expert in plant viruses. She describes some of the current threats to plant biology, and discusses ways that viruses may be used to work for us, rather than against us. She also discusses her time as a technical advisor to The X Files series, and how that experience helped her to share science. Follow Dr. Simon on Twitter here!
Dr. Anne Simon: Plant Viruses / X Files Science
February 19, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBDr. Anne Simon is an expert in plant viruses. She describes some of the current threats to plant biology, and discusses ways that viruses may be used to work for us, rather than against us. She also discusses her time as a technical advisor to The X Files series, and how that experience helped her to share science. Follow Dr. Simon on Twitter here!
333 - Plant Viruses / X Files Science
February 19, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 69.7 MBDr. Anne Simon is an expert in plant viruses. She describes some of the current threats to plant biology, and discusses ways that viruses may be used to work for us, rather than against us. She also discusses her time as a technical advisor to The X Files series, and how that experience helped her to share science. Follow Dr. Simon on Twitter here!
Jesus Martin-Garcia: New Therapies for HERV-Based Disease
February 13, 2022 17:51 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBHuman Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) comprise 8% of the human genome and are relics of ancient infections, some dating back to pre-human primates. These resident viral elements can be awakened by viral infections, and have been shown to be tightly associated with diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). New data suggest a role for HERVs in the neurological symptoms of long COVID. Today's podcast features a conversation with Jesus Martin-Garci...
New Therapies for HERV-Based Disease
February 13, 2022 17:51 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBHuman Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) comprise 8% of the human genome and are relics of ancient infections, some dating back to pre-human primates. These resident viral elements can be awakened by viral infections, and have been shown to be tightly associated with diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). New data suggest a role for HERVs in the neurological symptoms of long COVID. Today's podcast features a conversation with Jesus Martin-Garci...
Talking Biotech Podcast Changes and Future
February 13, 2022 17:37 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBAs we enter our eighth year, the podcast is partnering with Colabra, experts in laboratory IT that will help and accelerate your R&D. You won't see changes in content, but you'll see improvements in website, podcast quality, transcripts and other improvements for the listener. I'm grateful for such substantial listenership and the opportunity to have this forum for my passion of sharing science. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings y...
330 - Avocado Genetics and Improvement
February 05, 2022 20:55 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBAvocado consumption is rapidly increasing, and global production booming. However, the diversity of fruit choices is typically constrained to Hass. There is tremendous diversity in avocado, featuring a range of flavors, oil content and seasonal availability. In this week’s podcast we speak with Eric Focht who has been running the breeding program at University of California in Riverside. We discuss the genetic origins, the breeding priorities, and next steps in the genetic improvem...
Eric Focht: Avocado Genetics and Improvement
February 05, 2022 20:55 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBAvocado consumption is rapidly increasing, and global production booming. However, the diversity of fruit choices is typically constrained to Hass. There is tremendous diversity in avocado, featuring a range of flavors, oil content and seasonal availability. In this week’s podcast we speak with Eric Focht who has been running the breeding program at University of California in Riverside. We discuss the genetic origins, the breeding priorities, and next steps in the genetic improvem...
Avocado Genetics and Improvement
February 05, 2022 20:55 - 1 hour - 60 MBAvocado consumption is rapidly increasing, and global production booming. However, the diversity of fruit choices is typically constrained to Hass. There is tremendous diversity in avocado, featuring a range of flavors, oil content and seasonal availability. In this week’s podcast we speak with Eric Focht who has been running the breeding program at University of California in Riverside. We discuss the genetic origins, the breeding priorities, and next steps in the genetic improvem...
Hollywood and the Percy Schmeiser Story
January 29, 2022 05:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBThe story of Percy Schmeiser is a well known tale of big biotech against the little farmer from rural Saskatchewan. Schmeiser grew canola, and his outstanding harvests were due to herbicide tolerant seeds that he grew himself from materials obtained from means other than purchase. This violation of patent rights became the fodder of activist organizations, and a test of how a large company would respond to an unlicensed use of their technology. Schmeiser became the darling of anti-G...
329 – Hollywood and the Percy Schmeiser Story
January 29, 2022 05:00 - 51 minutes - 47.8 MBThe story of Percy Schmeiser is a well known tale of big biotech against the little farmer from rural Saskatchewan. Schmeiser grew canola, and his outstanding harvests were due to herbicide tolerant seeds that he grew himself from materials obtained from means other than purchase. This violation of patent rights became the fodder of activist organizations, and a test of how a large company would respond to an unlicensed use of their technology. Schmeiser became the darling of anti-G...
Trish Jordan: Hollywood and the Percy Schmeiser Story
January 29, 2022 05:00 - 52 minutes - 48 MBThe story of Percy Schmeiser is a well known tale of big biotech against the little farmer from rural Saskatchewan. Schmeiser grew canola, and his outstanding harvests were due to herbicide tolerant seeds that he grew himself from materials obtained from means other than purchase. This violation of patent rights became the fodder of activist organizations, and a test of how a large company would respond to an unlicensed use of their technology. Schmeiser became the darling of anti-G...
328 – The Importance of Telling Ag’s Story
January 22, 2022 05:00 - 48 minutes - 46.3 MBTweet One of the criticisms of farmers is that they fail to engage the public to show what they do. It is understandable, their days are busy, competition is stiff, and farming selects for folks that shun the spotlight. Still it is critical to meet the public where they are, and that is exactly what Zack Johnson does. Zack is best known as Millennial Famer on YouTube. He posts video accounts of his daily work, but also interesting events that happen on his farm and around his area. T...
Zack Johnson: The Importance of Telling Ag’s Story
January 22, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBOne of the criticisms of farmers is that they fail to engage the public to show what they do. It is understandable, their days are busy, competition is stiff, and farming selects for folks that shun the spotlight. Still it is critical to meet the public where they are, and that is exactly what Zack Johnson does. Zack is best known as Millennial Famer on YouTube. He posts video accounts of his daily work, but also interesting events that happen on his farm and around his area. The ...
The Importance of Telling Ag’s Story
January 22, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBOne of the criticisms of farmers is that they fail to engage the public to show what they do. It is understandable, their days are busy, competition is stiff, and farming selects for folks that shun the spotlight. Still it is critical to meet the public where they are, and that is exactly what Zack Johnson does. Zack is best known as Millennial Famer on YouTube. He posts video accounts of his daily work, but also interesting events that happen on his farm and around his area. The ...
327 – Attacking Disease by Targeting Proteins
January 15, 2022 00:09 - 41 minutes - 34 MBTweet Many diseases are rooted in the incorrect accumulation of proteins that regulate key cellular processes. Dozens of proteins control processes like cell division and cell death, and aberrant accumulation of these regulatory molecules can have profound health impacts. The Arvinas company has developed a means to specifically target specific proteins for degradation, exploiting a system called ubiqitination. Ubiqutin is a small molecular tag that sentences tagged proteins for de...
Dr. John Houston: Attacking Disease by Targeting Proteins
January 15, 2022 00:09 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBMany diseases are rooted in the incorrect accumulation of proteins that regulate key cellular processes. Dozens of proteins control processes like cell division and cell death, and aberrant accumulation of these regulatory molecules can have profound health impacts. The Arvinas company has developed a means to specifically target specific proteins for degradation, exploiting a system called ubiqitination. Ubiqutin is a small molecular tag that sentences tagged proteins for degrada...
Attacking Disease by Targeting Proteins
January 15, 2022 00:09 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBMany diseases are rooted in the incorrect accumulation of proteins that regulate key cellular processes. Dozens of proteins control processes like cell division and cell death, and aberrant accumulation of these regulatory molecules can have profound health impacts. The Arvinas company has developed a means to specifically target specific proteins for degradation, exploiting a system called ubiqitination. Ubiqutin is a small molecular tag that sentences tagged proteins for degrada...
326 – Update on Transgenic (“GMO”) Chestnut
January 08, 2022 05:00 - 38 minutes - 33.3 MBTweet The American Chestnut used to dominate Appalachian forests, but declined after a fungal disease was introduced to North America in the early 1900’s. Scientists have sought to restore the ecology and utility of this tree species by adding resistance through genetic engineering. For the backstory listen to Episode 9 (2015) of this podcast series. This week’s interview is with graduate student Erik Carlson. Erik recently published a paper in Molecular Plant Pathology that describes ...
Update on Transgenic (“GMO”) Chestnut
January 08, 2022 05:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBThe American Chestnut used to dominate Appalachian forests, but declined after a fungal disease was introduced to North America in the early 1900’s. Scientists have sought to restore the ecology and utility of this tree species by adding resistance through genetic engineering. For the backstory listen to Episode 9 (2015) of this podcast series. This week’s interview is with graduate student Erik Carlson. Erik recently published a paper in Molecular Plant Pathology that describes...
Erik Carlson: Update on Transgenic (“GMO”) Chestnut
January 08, 2022 05:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBThe American Chestnut used to dominate Appalachian forests, but declined after a fungal disease was introduced to North America in the early 1900’s. Scientists have sought to restore the ecology and utility of this tree species by adding resistance through genetic engineering. For the backstory listen to Episode 9 (2015) of this podcast series. This week’s interview is with graduate student Erik Carlson. Erik recently published a paper in Molecular Plant Pathology that describes...
325 – Is Biotechnology Just New Colonialism?
January 01, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 51.8 MBTweet Two unusually parallel articles emerged this week, both claiming that modern ag technology (as they say, “GMO”) is just another arm of colonial control of the Developing World. Both wordy, yet visible articles stoked remarkably common themes, without evidence, just opinion. Sadly, one of these was published in Scientific American, a popular magazine that continues to decline due to its injection of ideology in its opinion pieces that run counter to the scientific consensus. Came...
325- Is Biotechnology Just New Colonialism?
January 01, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 51.8 MBTwo unusually parallel articles emerged this week, both claiming that modern ag technology (as they say, “GMO”) is just another arm of colonial control of the Developing World. Both wordy, yet visible articles stoked remarkably [...] The post 325- Is Biotechnology Just New Colonialism? first appeared on Talking Biotech Podcast.
Is Biotechnology Just New Colonialism?
January 01, 2022 05:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBTwo unusually parallel articles emerged this week, both claiming that modern ag technology (as they say, “GMO”) is just another arm of colonial control of the Developing World. Both wordy, yet visible articles stoked remarkably common themes, without evidence, just opinion. Sadly, one of these was published in Scientific American, a popular magazine that continues to decline due to its injection of ideology in its opinion pieces that run counter to the scientific consensus. Camero...
Cameron English: Is Biotechnology Just New Colonialism?
January 01, 2022 05:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBTwo unusually parallel articles emerged this week, both claiming that modern ag technology (as they say, “GMO”) is just another arm of colonial control of the Developing World. Both wordy, yet visible articles stoked remarkably common themes, without evidence, just opinion. Sadly, one of these was published in Scientific American, a popular magazine that continues to decline due to its injection of ideology in its opinion pieces that run counter to the scientific consensus. Camero...
324 – Wine Flavor: Merging Grape and Yeast Genomes
December 25, 2021 13:16 - 48 minutes - 45.2 MBTweet Wine is a fermented beverage that has been enjoyed for millennia. While many may feel that the grapes used produce the flavors in the wine, a substantial contribution comes from the yeast and specialized bacteria that performs feats of biochemistry on the components lent by the grape itself. It is the merging of microbial and grape metabolism that provides each bottle with its distinct qualities. In this episode we speak with Dr. Sakkie Pretorius from Macquarie University. He has e...
Wine Flavor: Merging Grape and Yeast Genomes
December 25, 2021 13:16 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBWine is a fermented beverage that has been enjoyed for millennia. While many may feel that the grapes used produce the flavors in the wine, a substantial contribution comes from the yeast and specialized bacteria that performs feats of biochemistry on the components lent by the grape itself. It is the merging of microbial and grape metabolism that provides each bottle with its distinct qualities. In this episode we speak with Dr. Sakkie Pretorius from Macquarie University. He has ...
323 – Cindy’s Gift to End Glioblastoma
December 18, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBTweet At the early age of 47 Cindy Lee Graham lost her battle with glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is an insidious cancer of the brain and central nervous system that slowly robs its victims of critical faculties, with a very low survival rate. This tragic loss is punctuated with an amazing gift of kindness, as Cindy and her husband Dr. Thomas Graham coordinated with pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Sheila Singh to donate Cindy’s brain to cancer research. This unique gift provides an amazing resou...
Cindy’s Gift to End Glioblastoma
December 18, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBAt the early age of 47 Cindy Lee Graham lost her battle with glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is an insidious cancer of the brain and central nervous system that slowly robs its victims of critical faculties, with a very low survival rate. This tragic loss is punctuated with an amazing gift of kindness, as Cindy and her husband Dr. Thomas Graham coordinated with pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Sheila Singh to donate Cindy’s brain to cancer research. This unique gift provides an amazing resourc...
322 – Gender Equity in the Pharmaceutical Industry
December 11, 2021 05:00 - 32 minutes - 32.5 MBTweet The executive ranks of the pharmaceutical industry are populated with a clear over representation of older males. How did we get here, and how is the leadership in industry changing to seek qualified, yet diverse executives? This week the Talking Biotech Podcast features Kimberly Gentile, Senior Vice President of Clinical Research at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. She shares her experiences as a woman in the upper echelons of the pharmaceutical industry, and describes how we got to wher...
Gender Equity in the Pharmaceutical Industry
December 11, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThe executive ranks of the pharmaceutical industry are populated with a clear over representation of older males. How did we get here, and how is the leadership in industry changing to seek qualified, yet diverse executives? This week the Talking Biotech Podcast features Kimberly Gentile, Senior Vice President of Clinical Research at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. She shares her experiences as a woman in the upper echelons of the pharmaceutical industry, and describes how we got to whe...
321 – The Challenges of Growing Plants in Space
December 04, 2021 00:39 - 34 minutes - 32 MBTweet Sustained space travel and colonization will depend on the ability to grow food in extra-terrestrial environments. The fact that plants evolved on earth with cues from gravity, photoperiod, barometric pressure and other signals means that plants growing on space stations or other planets will face unique stresses, never previously encountered. Add to this the challenges of watering plants in microgravity, a dependence on artificial lighting, and limited access to crop protection and ...
The Challenges of Growing Plants in Space
December 04, 2021 00:39 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBSustained space travel and colonization will depend on the ability to grow food in extra-terrestrial environments. The fact that plants evolved on earth with cues from gravity, photoperiod, barometric pressure and other signals means that plants growing on space stations or other planets will face unique stresses, never previously encountered. Add to this the challenges of watering plants in microgravity, a dependence on artificial lighting, and limited access to crop protection and...
Tiredness: Time for DNA Repair!
November 27, 2021 14:27 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBWe all know the feeling of tiredness, but what causes the urge to sleep? Prof. Lior Appelbaum discusses the link between sleepiness and DNA damage, as sensed through the accumulation of a protein known as PARP1. PARP1 is well known for its roles in DNA repair. Prof. Appelbaum’s team has examined PARP1 accumulation in animal models and shown strong evidence that the desire to sleep is triggered by DNA damage, and the desire to sleep involves action by PARP1. The conclusion is that...
320 – Tiredness: Time for DNA Repair!
November 27, 2021 14:27 - 35 minutes - 37.5 MBTweet We all know the feeling of tiredness, but what causes the urge to sleep? Prof. Lior Appelbaum discusses the link between sleepiness and DNA damage, as sensed through the accumulation of a protein known as PARP1. PARP1 is well known for its roles in DNA repair. Prof. Appelbaum’s team has examined PARP1 accumulation in animal models and shown strong evidence that the desire to sleep is triggered by DNA damage, and the desire to sleep involves action by PARP1. The conclusion is that ...
319 – Reprogramming T-Cells for Immunotherapies
November 20, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.1 MBTweet T Cells are the body’snatural defenders against pathogens. In the past they have been reprogrammed to recognize specific surface antigens of cancer cells to attack and destroy them. The approach has worked well against a variety of cancers. The limitation is that they addition of genetic material is limited by transfer techniques. This episode of the Talking Biotech Podcast discusses the new approach with Dr. Ken Drazan of Arsenal Bio. They have devised a strategy to place gene...