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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
The Ag Innovation Ecosystem
December 05, 2020 05:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBDespite its essential role in the economy and food security, agriculture has lagged behind with respect to adoption of new technology. This has happened for many reasons, partially from technology companies not realizing the opportunities in agriculture, and partially from high costs, and agriculture’s adherence to current practices. Dr. Adrian Percy has been a leader in agricultural reserach innovation and venture capital. We discuss the opportunities in agriculture and the limitat...
What is an mRNA Vaccine?
November 28, 2020 10:12 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBmRNA vaccines have recently been in the news as an exciting potential preventative of SARS-CoV2. The technology seems new, but has roots in the 1990’s and a long history of maturation, plagued by technical barriers and skepticism. However, the efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials is promising, and suggests that mRNA-based strategies may have a prominent role as vaccines and therapeutics against some of our most insidious diseases. Resources for this podcast: Hilleman 1994 – ...
268 – What is an mRNA Vaccine?
November 28, 2020 10:12 - 40 minutes - 48.7 MBTweet mRNA vaccines have recently been in the news as an exciting potential preventative of SARS-CoV2. The technology seems new, but has roots in the 1990’s and a long history of maturation, plagued by technical barriers and skepticism. However, the efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials is promising, and suggests that mRNA-based strategies may have a prominent role as vaccines and therapeutics against some of our most insidious diseases. Resources for this podcast: Hilleman 1994 – a...
Genetic Engineering in Animal Agriculture
November 21, 2020 10:29 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBTechnology is driving innovation on the farm, and there have been significant efforts in improving livestock. Whether it was to produce a novel therapeutic or to solve a critical disease in animals, genetic engineering techniques have been used to target significant animal and human problems. There are many more successful innovations than commercial successes, as the regulatory climate is highly unfavorable to animal recombinant DNA technology. Dr. Mark Westhusin from Texas A&M Un...
267 – Genetic Engineering in Animal Agriculture
November 21, 2020 10:29 - 36 minutes - 29 MBTweet Technology is driving innovation on the farm, and there have been significant efforts in improving livestock. Whether it was to produce a novel therapeutic or to solve a critical disease in animals, genetic engineering techniques have been used to target significant animal and human problems. There are many more successful innovations than commercial successes, as the regulatory climate is highly unfavorable to animal recombinant DNA technology. Dr. Mark Westhusin from Texas A&M U...
Gene Writing: New Tech to Correct Disease
November 14, 2020 16:19 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBGene editing is a relatively new technology that has revolutionary applications in agriculture and medicine. The drawback to the technology is that it typically can only be used to disrupt a deleterious gene underlying a specific trait. Gene writing exploits a natural process in cells that allows researchers to install genes of interest, allowing replacement of damaged sequences that lead to negative health outcomes. Dr. Geoff von Maltzahn of Tessera describes what the new techno...
266 – Gene Writing: New Tech to Correct Disease
November 14, 2020 16:19 - 44 minutes - 35.9 MBTweet Gene editing is a relatively new technology that has revolutionary applications in agriculture and medicine. The drawback to the technology is that it typically can only be used to disrupt a deleterious gene underlying a specific trait. Gene writing exploits a natural process in cells that allows researchers to install genes of interest, allowing replacement of damaged sequences that lead to negative health outcomes. Dr. Geoff von Maltzahn of Tessera describes what the new technol...
Onion Domestication and Improvement
November 07, 2020 05:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBThe onion has tremendous value in culinary applications all over the world. Where did it come from? What are the major breeding efforts and the important traits. Today’s podcast discusses the onion’s origin and future directions with Dr. Michael Havey, USDA-ARS/University of Wisconsin onion breeder. He speaks of the onion’s interesting background, its surprising genome, and traits that will define the onion of the future. A very interesting discussion of an important world food...
265 – Onion Domestication and Improvement
November 07, 2020 05:00 - 40 minutes - 34.1 MBTweet The onion has tremendous value in culinary applications all over the world. Where did it come from? What are the major breeding efforts and the important traits. Today’s podcast discusses the onion’s origin and future directions with Dr. Michael Havey, USDA-ARS/University of Wisconsin onion breeder. He speaks of the onion’s interesting background, its surprising genome, and traits that will define the onion of the future. A very interesting discussion of an important world food ...
What are Pumpkins?
October 31, 2020 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBOn Halloween it is hard to remember that the pumpkins used for decoration are actually an important food for indigenous people of the Americas. There are multiple species of pumpkins that originated in North and South America, and primarily used for food. Dr. Harry Paris is a retired Senior Researcher and fruit breeder from the Volcani Center in Israel. We discuss the origins of pumpkins, how they moved in the New World, as well as the diversity and uses for this important fruit....
246 – What are Pumpkins?
October 31, 2020 05:00 - 43 minutes - 38.5 MBTweet On Halloween it is hard to remember that the pumpkins used for decoration are actually an important food for indigenous people of the Americas. There are multiple species of pumpkins that originated in North and South America, and primarily used for food. Dr. Harry Paris is a retired Senior Researcher and fruit breeder from the Volcani Center in Israel. We discuss the origins of pumpkins, how they moved in the New World, as well as the diversity and uses for this important fruit. ...
The Ethics of Gene Editing
October 24, 2020 05:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBGene editing moved quickly from the lab to application, so fast that the public is unsure how to think about it. We can cure disease, but are we playing with the natural order of things? These are questions that philosophers and ethicists wrestle with every day. in this week’s podcast we discuss the recent events in germline gene editing and how it is perceived by the public and by scientists. Follow Dr. Gyngell’s group: @Berg_MCRI # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by...
263 – The Ethics of Gene Editing
October 24, 2020 05:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBTweet Gene editing moved quickly from the lab to application, so fast that the public is unsure how to think about it. We can cure disease, but are we playing with the natural order of things? These are questions that philosophers and ethicists wrestle with every day. in this week’s podcast we discuss the recent events in germline gene editing and how it is perceived by the public and by scientists. Follow Dr. Gyngell’s group: @Berg_MCRI
New Technology Same GMOs : My Commentary
October 17, 2020 09:49 - 1 hour - 109 MBThis week two scientists pioneering gene editing won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Days later, a group of perennial naysayers gathered to denounce the technology. Gene editing is a revolutionary technology that already has had amazing effects on medicine and some applications in agriculture. The potential is limitless. But this new technology can install precise changes in genes, emulating natural mutations. They also cannot be detected, at least discernably from naturally-occur...
262 – New Technology Same GMOs : My Commentary
October 17, 2020 09:49 - 1 hour - 137 MBTweet This week two scientists pioneering gene editing won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Days later, a group of perennial naysayers gathered to denounce the technology. Gene editing is a revolutionary technology that already has had amazing effects on medicine and some applications in agriculture. The potential is limitless. But this new technology can install precise changes in genes, emulating natural mutations. They also cannot be detected, at least discernably from naturally-occ...
Vaccines Against Digestive Cancers
October 10, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBDigestive cancers are among the most common and deadly cancers in the world, comprising metastases of the colon, esophagus, stomach and rectum. These all share some cellular commonalities, namely the presentation of a molecular signature that can now be a target for engineered therapies. Dr. Adam Snook has been studying the fingerprints of gastric cancers and developing gene therapy approaches that target cancer cells. He discusses the technology, and describes how it works, an...
261 – Vaccines Against Digestive Cancers
October 10, 2020 05:00 - 33 minutes - 33.6 MBTweet Digestive cancers are among the most common and deadly cancers in the world, comprising metastases of the colon, esophagus, stomach and rectum. These all share some cellular commonalities, namely the presentation of a molecular signature that can now be a target for engineered therapies. Dr. Adam Snook has been studying the fingerprints of gastric cancers and developing gene therapy approaches that target cancer cells. He discusses the technology, and describes how it works, and ...
Communicating Ag in an Attention Economy
October 03, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBDr. Cami Ryan has examined the social factors that underlie decisions. Today these human tendencies are critical to understand, as everyone is bombarded by information through social media. How do issues like misinformation and disinformation erode the trust of scientific authorities? How do scientists and farmers, the experts, grab a piece of the pie in the new attention economy? Time is a commodity in short supply, and Dr. Ryan provides insight into how we can maximize our tim...
260 – Communicating Ag in an Attention Economy
October 03, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 54.7 MBTweet Dr. Cami Ryan has examined the social factors that underlie decisions. Today these human tendencies are critical to understand, as everyone is bombarded by information through social media. How do issues like misinformation and disinformation erode the trust of scientific authorities? How do scientists and farmers, the experts, grab a piece of the pie in the new attention economy? Time is a commodity in short supply, and Dr. Ryan provides insight into how we can maximize our time...
259 – Drug Targets for HIV
September 26, 2020 15:30 - 38 minutes - 34.5 MBTweet The human immunodeficiency virus remains prevalent in the population, yet it as silently moved out of the public’s consciousness, overshadowed by COVID19 and drug cocktails that can control its progression. Over the last three decades great progress has been made in understanding the virus and how it interacts with cells. This, plus the identification of genetic determinants of resistance to HIV have presented researchers with new drug targets. These may represent future therapies...
Drug Targets for HIV
September 26, 2020 15:30 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBThe human immunodeficiency virus remains prevalent in the population, yet it as silently moved out of the public’s consciousness, overshadowed by COVID19 and drug cocktails that can control its progression. Over the last three decades great progress has been made in understanding the virus and how it interacts with cells. This, plus the identification of genetic determinants of resistance to HIV have presented researchers with new drug targets. These may represent future therapi...
258 – Rapid Detection of Bloodborne Pathogens
September 19, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBTweet Sepsis is an infection of the blood. It can be critical and life threatening, and can complicate other co-morbidities. One of the main problems is that a number of bacterial and fungal pathogens can cause a septic state, so physicians are tasked with rapid identification of specific pathogens to render the most appropriate method of care. Unfortunately this usually involves broad treatments with multiple antibiotics and antifungals, as tests to identify discrete pathogens can take ...
Rapid Detection of Bloodborne Pathogens
September 19, 2020 05:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBSepsis is an infection of the blood. It can be critical and life threatening, and can complicate other co-morbidities. One of the main problems is that a number of bacterial and fungal pathogens can cause a septic state, so physicians are tasked with rapid identification of specific pathogens to render the most appropriate method of care. Unfortunately this usually involves broad treatments with multiple antibiotics and antifungals, as tests to identify discrete pathogens can take...
Plants Engineered to Remove Indoor Air Toxins
September 12, 2020 18:36 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBIndoor air contains a variety of harmful compounds. We invite many of these compounds into our homes in electronics, and others occur spontaneously from our water supply, and as homes become more energy efficient and dependent on air conditioning, these chemicals concentrate in our homes. Dr. Stuart Strand of the University of Washington explains what they are and their relative risk. He also describes a solution– plants genetically engineered to scrub these molecules from the in...
257 – Plants Engineered to Remove Indoor Air Toxins
September 12, 2020 18:36 - 49 minutes - 44.8 MBTweet Indoor air contains a variety of harmful compounds. We invite many of these compounds into our homes in electronics, and others occur spontaneously from our water supply, and as homes become more energy efficient and dependent on air conditioning, these chemicals concentrate in our homes. Dr. Stuart Strand of the University of Washington explains what they are and their relative risk. He also describes a solution– plants genetically engineered to scrub these molecules from the ...
Communicating COVID19; Careful with Cancellation
September 06, 2020 13:09 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBThis week’s guest is the host! It was important to discuss communication tips during a pandemic, especially around popular myths and news stories involving COVID19. Kevin Folta provides counterarguments to today’s most prevalent claims around hydroxychloroquine, disease incidence, and the flu shot. It also marks five years since the New York Times story that portrayed Folta as a corporate patsy. While many aspects of his research and communications efforts thrive today, this del...
256 – Communicating COVID19; Careful with Cancellation
September 06, 2020 13:09 - 53 minutes - 69.5 MBTweet This week’s guest is the host! It was important to discuss communication tips during a pandemic, especially around popular myths and news stories involving COVID19. Kevin Folta provides counterarguments to today’s most prevalent claims around hydroxychloroquine, disease incidence, and the flu shot. It also marks five years since the New York Times story that portrayed Folta as a corporate patsy. While many aspects of his research and communications efforts thrive today, this deli...
255 – GE Mosquito Release in Florida
August 29, 2020 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBTweet Florida is the canary in the coalmine for mosquito-transmitted disease in the USA. The Florida Keys are especially vulnerable. Traffic through this sensitive string of islands allows infected insects to be rapidly vectored to other areas of the keys, as well as to the mainland. Over the last decade there have been notable incidents of Zika, Chikunguna, Denge and other mosquito-borne diseases. Over the same time a self-limiting mosquito technology has been developed by Oxitec. The ...
GE Mosquito Release in Florida
August 29, 2020 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBFlorida is the canary in the coalmine for mosquito-transmitted disease in the USA. The Florida Keys are especially vulnerable. Traffic through this sensitive string of islands allows infected insects to be rapidly vectored to other areas of the keys, as well as to the mainland. Over the last decade there have been notable incidents of Zika, Chikunguna, Denge and other mosquito-borne diseases. Over the same time a self-limiting mosquito technology has been developed by Oxitec. The...
254 – Penguin Genomics and Adaptation
August 22, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 23.3 MBTweet Penguins are charismatic, flightless, diving birds. While typically associated only with Antarctica, their center of origin, radiation and speciation has been widely debated. Dr. Juliana Vianna is part of an Antarctica Genomics Group at the Catholic University of Chile. Her team has analyzed the genomes of penguins and compared it against other data, including the fossil record. They have provided new information to inform our understanding of the evolution and distribution of thi...
Penguin Genomics and Adaptation
August 22, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBPenguins are charismatic, flightless, diving birds. While typically associated only with Antarctica, their center of origin, radiation and speciation has been widely debated. Dr. Juliana Vianna is part of an Antarctica Genomics Group at the Catholic University of Chile. Her team has analyzed the genomes of penguins and compared it against other data, including the fossil record. They have provided new information to inform our understanding of the evolution and distribution of th...
253 – The Race to the COVID19 mRNA Vaccine
August 15, 2020 04:15 - 41 minutes - 45.8 MBTweet Most experts agree that the COVID19 pandemic will not end until a vaccine is available. But traditionally, vaccines take a decade to develop and test. The crisis has ignited efforts from over 130 companies, all racing to develop vaccines to render the population immune to the virus. One exciting new development is the mRNA vaccine, a case where humans are injected with the genetic material of the virus, that ignites an immune response. The advantage of these vaccines is that they ...
The Race to the COVID19 mRNA Vaccine
August 15, 2020 04:15 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBMost experts agree that the COVID19 pandemic will not end until a vaccine is available. But traditionally, vaccines take a decade to develop and test. The crisis has ignited efforts from over 130 companies, all racing to develop vaccines to render the population immune to the virus. One exciting new development is the mRNA vaccine, a case where humans are injected with the genetic material of the virus, that ignites an immune response. The advantage of these vaccines is that they...
252 – Prions: Infectious Proteins
August 08, 2020 00:00 - 42 minutes - 40.8 MBTweet A number of strange, devastating and lethal diseases are caused by prions. The most famous of these disorders in animals is Bovine Spongiform Encelapathy, or “Mad Cow Disease”. Unlike other infectious agents like viruses, bacteria or fungi, prion-based diseases are caused by a misfolding of proteins resident in the body. Essentially, this is your own chemistry turning against itself. In this week’s podcast I speak with Dr. Cassandra Terry from London Metropolitan University. She ...
Prions: Infectious Proteins
August 08, 2020 00:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBA number of strange, devastating and lethal diseases are caused by prions. The most famous of these disorders in animals is Bovine Spongiform Encelapathy, or “Mad Cow Disease”. Unlike other infectious agents like viruses, bacteria or fungi, prion-based diseases are caused by a misfolding of proteins resident in the body. Essentially, this is your own chemistry turning against itself. In this week’s podcast I speak with Dr. Cassandra Terry from London Metropolitan University. She...
251 – The Bull that (probably) Sires Mostly Bulls
August 01, 2020 10:42 - 38 minutes - 38.2 MBTweet Male cattle (bulls) convert feed calories to weight gain more efficiently than females (cows). If more bulls could be put into beef production, the process would be even more sustainable. Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and her research team attempted a clever trick to skew the ratio of males to females in cattle offspring. Sex determination in mammals is driven mostly by a single gene on the Y chromosome. So what if this gene was duplicated elsewhere in the genome? Using CRISPR gene edit...
The Bull that (probably) Sires Mostly Bulls
August 01, 2020 10:42 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBMale cattle (bulls) convert feed calories to weight gain more efficiently than females (cows). If more bulls could be put into beef production, the process would be even more sustainable. Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and her research team attempted a clever trick to skew the ratio of males to females in cattle offspring. Sex determination in mammals is driven mostly by a single gene on the Y chromosome. So what if this gene was duplicated elsewhere in the genome? Using CRISPR gene ed...
250 – The Unfortunate Casualties of an Anti-Biotech Attack
July 25, 2020 12:34 - 40 minutes - 36.3 MBTweet In 2001 the Earth Liberation Front bombed the office of Dr. Toby Bradshaw at the University of Washington. The damage was massive, especially toward non-targeted labs. This is a great story of how misguided activism can have damaging collateral effects, and work against the efforts of scientists that are performing great work for people and a planet.
The Unfortunate Casualties of an Anti-Biotech Attack
July 25, 2020 12:34 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBIn 2001 the Earth Liberation Front bombed the office of Dr. Toby Bradshaw at the University of Washington. The damage was massive, especially toward non-targeted labs. This is a great story of how misguided activism can have damaging collateral effects, and work against the efforts of scientists that are performing great work for people and a planet. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in...
249 – Circadian Clocks
July 18, 2020 05:00 - 56 minutes - 43.1 MBTweet Most organisms on earth evolved under constant intervals of light and darkness. The regular intervals led to the evolution of internal clocks that are trained by the light/dark patterns, and condition responses from gene expression to higher physiology and morphology. Dr. Eva Farre of Michigan State University has a notable career in circadian rhythm research in plants. Today she joins the podcast to discuss the value of an internal oscillator to fitness, trait presentation and dome...
Circadian Clocks
July 18, 2020 05:00 - 56 minutes - 43.1 MBTweet Most organisms on earth evolved under constant intervals of light and darkness. The regular intervals led to the evolution of internal clocks that are trained by the light/dark patterns, and condition responses from gene expression to higher physiology and morphology. Dr. Eva Farre of Michigan State University has a notable career in circadian rhythm research in plants. Today she joins the podcast to discuss the value of an internal oscillator to fitness, trait presentation a...
Circadian Clocks
July 18, 2020 05:00 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBMost organisms on earth evolved under constant intervals of light and darkness. The regular intervals led to the evolution of internal clocks that are trained by the light/dark patterns, and condition responses from gene expression to higher physiology and morphology. Dr. Eva Farre of Michigan State University has a notable career in circadian rhythm research in plants. Today she joins the podcast to discuss the value of an internal oscillator to fitness, trait presentation and dom...
248 – DNA Demystified
July 11, 2020 05:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBTweet Dr. Alan McHughen has been a leader in biotechnology education for decades, and has served in public academic research as well as an advisor to the State Department in the Obama Administration. He has assembled a book about DNA, the basics of DNA biology and some of the modern applications from ancestry to biotechnological solutions. We have a discussion about the content of DNA Demystified. Order DNA Demystified from Amazon here.
DNA Demystified
July 11, 2020 05:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBTweet Dr. Alan McHughen has been a leader in biotechnology education for decades, and has served in public academic research as well as an advisor to the State Department in the Obama Administration. He has assembled a book about DNA, the basics of DNA biology and some of the modern applications from ancestry to biotechnological solutions. We have a discussion about the content of DNA Demystified. Order DNA Demystified from Amazon here.
DNA Demystified
July 11, 2020 05:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBDr. Alan McHughen has been a leader in biotechnology education for decades, and has served in public academic research as well as an advisor to the State Department in the Obama Administration. He has assembled a book about DNA, the basics of DNA biology and some of the modern applications from ancestry to biotechnological solutions. We have a discussion about the content of DNA Demystified. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your ...
A Science-Based Glyphosate Documentary
July 04, 2020 10:22 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBTweet The documentary space is littered with videos that misrepresent science, especially around agriculture. Dr. Hidde Boersma is a trained scientist that has taken up the mantle of making high-quality documentary films and other media to tell the real story, without the hyperbole and fear found in most video efforts. The plan now is to tell the story of the activist and attorney assault on glyphosate. Glyphosate is perhaps one of the safest agricultural chemicals, used without i...
A Science-Based Glyphosate Documentary
July 04, 2020 10:22 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBThe documentary space is littered with videos that misrepresent science, especially around agriculture. Dr. Hidde Boersma is a trained scientist that has taken up the mantle of making high-quality documentary films and other media to tell the real story, without the hyperbole and fear found in most video efforts. The plan now is to tell the story of the activist and attorney assault on glyphosate. Glyphosate is perhaps one of the safest agricultural chemicals, used without inciden...
247 – A Science-Based Glyphosate Documentary
July 04, 2020 10:22 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBTweet The documentary space is littered with videos that misrepresent science, especially around agriculture. Dr. Hidde Boersma is a trained scientist that has taken up the mantle of making high-quality documentary films and other media to tell the real story, without the hyperbole and fear found in most video efforts. The plan now is to tell the story of the activist and attorney assault on glyphosate. Glyphosate is perhaps one of the safest agricultural chemicals, used without incident...
Gene Editing in Species Conservation
June 27, 2020 05:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBAnalysis of populations of animals can be problematic, especially when individuals of different species share similar visual characteristics. Dr. Melinda Baerwald has developed a field-friendly way to identify individual species with great sensitivity and specificity, without a complicated DNA prep or temperature cycling equipment. The application of the SHERLOCK method was used to monitor populations of endangered species in Northern California. She describes the application of th...
Gene Editing in Species Conservation
June 27, 2020 05:00 - 47 minutes - 44.1 MBTweet Analysis of populations of animals can be problematic, especially when individuals of different species share similar visual characteristics. Dr. Melinda Baerwald has developed a field-friendly way to identify individual species with great sensitivity and specificity, without a complicated DNA prep or temperature cycling equipment. The application of the SHERLOCK method was used to monitor populations of endangered species in Northern California. She describes the application...