Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

The foundation of many modern consumer products begins with petroleum. Fossil fuels contain the building blocks of higher-complexity polymers, and are used in the creation of everything from high performance plastics in medical devices to your computer screen. But using petroleum use is not sustainable and has impacts in climate and pollution. What if the same molecular polymer backbones could be produced using biological organisms? Dr. Scott Franklin from Checkerspot explains how microalgae are being used to manufacture the fundamental building blocks of high performance polymers in a system that creates zero waste. These chemical backbones are used to create high-performance polymers that are fashioned into sporting goods for consumers interested in sustainability.

Injury to organs frequently results in impaired function due to the formation of scar tissue. Heart attacks and chronic high blood pressure can induce the formation of pathogenic fibroblasts, cells that lose their original function, yet maintain some structural element of the injured tissue. The formation of fibrogenic tissue affects a significant portion of the population, and contributes to decline associated with many diseases, such as congestive heart failure or liver cirrhosis. A new technology uses targeted lipid nanoparticles to reprogram T-cells to attack pathogenic fibroblasts.

Prion disorders are rare neurological diseases where a protein within the nervous system converts to a pathological form. The change in conformation affects other proteins, recruiting them to the misshapen, deleterious type. Chronic wasting disease is a neurological disease of deer, caused by prion conversion. In this episode Dr. Sandra Pritzkow from University of Texas Health - Houston describes prion related disease, and specifically the atypical transmission elements of chronic wasting disease.

Specific chemistries are used to protect crops from insects, weeds, fungi and other microbes. Legacy issues with some older pesticides led to restrictions or bans on their use. Unfortunately, suspicion remains around contemporary solutions, even though today's chemistries are highly specific, with low toxicity to non-target organisms, including humans. Use of crop protection compounds is critical to all agriculture, including organic production. However, activist groups continue to manufacture fear, uncertainty and doubt to override what we really know about the detection of these compounds in food and the relative toxicity at levels found. Dr. Liza Dunn is an emergency medical doctor and toxicologist. For the last several years she has been working with the Bayer Corporation, and has been a leading important conversations about pesticides, residues, and their potential for impacts on human health. Follow her at @DrLizaMD

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression occurs via many mechanisms. One method is the methylation of regulatory sequences that control the expression of specific genes. Methylation is the addition of a small methyl group to specific bases of the DNA helix. Addition of a methyl group can change how the DNA blueprint is accessed and expressed. Today's guest is Prof. Asaf Hellman. His group has found relationships between the methylation state of DNA and expression of genes associated with diabetes and cancers. Understanding these patterns may help inform predisposition to disease, as well as eventually causal factors and drug targets.

Recent reports criticized the lack of reproducibility in scientific publications, and this has profound effects on the public's trust in research results. Today's interview is with Tim Errington, Director of Research at the Center for Open Science. The Center for Open Science has devised a series of strategies and tools that can help improve reproducibility, as well as offer collateral benefits to scientists.

Proteins define the structure and function of cells. The human genome encodes tens of thousands of proteins, yet we know surprisingly little about most of their functions. The Human Protein Atlas uses labor-intensive methods to identify the tissue localization of a significant catalog of human proteins. The reasoning is that if we know where a protein is expressed, we can begin to infer roles in cellular processes. The Human Protein Atlas is an open source resource of over 15 million images that define where different proteins are located. This week's podcast discusses the Atlas with Dr. Mathias Uhlen of the University of Stockholm. We speak about the origins of the database, how the work is done, and potential applications of this incredible resource.

Many diseases do not have cures, yet from deleterious mutations in the genome. Many of these are rare disorders that do not benefit from extensive research or drug development. Current therapies mask symptoms more than solve the basis of the disorder. Dietrich Stephan of NewBase describes a novel custom drug design platform that shows amazing potential in animal models. A small oligonucelotide with a specific backbone can bind to its complementary sequence in DNA or RNA, derailing RNA polymerase, or dissociating other regulatory proteins. The design is highly specific and shows great promise against a myriad of disorders, including Myotonic Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease, and various cancers. This episode features a deep dive into molecular biology, so please do not hesitate to ask questions, it is interesting technology.

We are bombarded by claims, and have access to the most information in human history, instantly. How do we sort it out? What is real and what's not? Who do we trust? These are major questions today, and affect everything from public health to the foundations of democracy in the USA. From the news to the internet to the dinner table we are immersed in suspect information. How do we recognize and address conspiratorial thinking? What mistakes do we make when analyzing a problem? How can we recognize disinformation? Jon Guy has written a new book, Think Straight, that that addresses these questions perfectly, by providing a tool kit for dissection of information and claims. He covers a broad section of topics in what might be the most complete work on the subject of critical thinking and skepticism. Pre-Order on Amazon Here

Mosquitoes are the world's most dangerous animals, vectoring dozens of diseases. One of the major disease vectors is Ades aegypti, an invasive insect with an ever-expanding range. Municipalities have turned to insecticides for control, which can impact beneficial insects. Sterile insect techniques, performed by mutagenizing mosquitoes to sterility, can work well in controlling insect populations. Over the last decade, Oxitec has advanced technologies that use a molecular techniques to repress development of mosquitoes in subsequent populations. Release of their genetically engineered males leads to decreasing populations of resident mosquitoes. In this week's podcast we discuss the risks, benefits, and overall strategy, along with the company's public communications efforts, with the goal of increasing deployment of this technology when it can complement pubic health initiatives.

Heart attack and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. Current treatments are aimed at prevention-- using various medications to control the health of the circulatory system. This week's podcast speaks with Dr. Oki O'Connor, Co-CEO of Underdog Pharmaceuticals. Dr. O'Connor discusses the cellular basis of atherosclerosis, and how modified cholesterol play a central role in its development. We then discuss the ability of a cyclical carbohydrate called cyclodextrin to sequester cholesterol, and how this company has used computer modeling to modify cyclodextrins to limit and potentially reverse cardiovascular disease. There are also potential ramifications in Alzheimer's Disease prevention and treatment.

Apples are a beloved fruit, with over 8000 varieties available worldwide. The apples in the grocery store represent just a tiny section of apple genetic potential, a few flavors that ship well and can be stored for a long period of time. But today in the genomics era new tools seek to speed the breeding of apples to create new varieties, flavors, and disease resistance packages. The goal is to help farmers and consumers produce the next generation of superior apple varieties. With Dr. Awais Khan, apple breeder from Cornell University.

The process of animal development is a complex coordination of different genes through time. At least that's what we thought. Dr. Michael Levin from Tufts University is forcing us to rethink these processes, with impacts in medicine, cancers, correction of developmental defects and limb regeneration. ,

Gene editing with CRISPR/Cas, TALEN or other tools allows scientists to make directed and precise changes in DNA. The technologies promise to transform agriculture and medicine. But the application of these technologies hinges on consumer sentiment. Dr. Brandon Mc Fadden is an agricultural economist that specializes in understanding what makes consumers tick. We have a conversation about gene editing, public sentiment, and how it varies between agriculture and medicine.

A 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.

Mycotoxins 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 how various technologies mitigate their effects. This is a shocking revelation about world food security, and a hopeful glance into methods of surveillance and new technology to improve global human health.

Camelina (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-season cover crop that can add to soil health and produce important products. This week's interview is an interview with Yield10's CEO Dr. Olly Peoples. Yield10 is advancing the genetics of camelina to produce a variety of useful key polymers, nutrition products and food for animals, inside a cover crop that can expand profitable options for farmers. Visit Yield 10's Camelina website here.

Upon 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 Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. He joins Talking Biotech to share his experiences, knowledge and predictions in this exciting, emerging area of research.

We 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.

In 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.

Ticks 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 technology, and potential applications.

Dr. 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!

Human 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-Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of GeNeuro. New therapies target the rogue proteins arising from these ancient viruses, and show promise in treating, if not reversing, disease progression. Follow GeNeuro on TwitterGeNeuro Website http://www.geneuro.com/YouTube Videos of their technology# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

As 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.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Avocado 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 improvement of the crop.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The 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-GMO activists, and he became the figurehead of a conversation about technology, patents, farmers’ rights, and seed sovereignty. This week’s podcast analyzes the film Percy vs. Goliath, a film that attempts to tell Schmeiser’s story. But what was accurate and what was fictionalized in the film? I spoke with Trish Jordan, who at the time was a communications lead at the Monsanto Corporation and followed the story very closely. She had a front-row seat for the legal proceedings and provides her analysis of the film’s veracity.Follow Trish on Twitter: @AggieCoolChick IMDB page for Percy vs. Goliath# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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. The videos provide and educational and informative look at what happens on the farm, the technology, the hardships, the successes. In this episode we discuss his entry into public engagement, his motivations, and how being a celebrity farmer has affected his operation. Watch Millennial Farmer on YouTube Follow Zack on Twitter Millennial Farmer Website# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 degradation. Dr. John Houston is the CEO of Arvinas, and he describes the company’s progress in this exciting area of research and development. We discuss the technology, the progress, and the Arvinas pipeline. This alternative approach to controlling cellular processes holds great promise in the treatment of a number of human diseases.www.Arvinas.com # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 a new regulatory control of the gene that confers resistance to Chestnut Blight. We discuss the background of the project, where the project stands, and the regulatory environment of repatriating a forest with engineered trees.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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. Cameron English is a journalist, the Director of Biosciences with the American Council for Science and Health. This week he wrote two stories this week, discussing these articles. In this episode of Talking Biotech Podcast we discuss the two articles, the decline of Scientific American, and how this new rhetoric is anti-biotech’s most recent salvo to stop technology from positively affecting the lives of the food insecure in the Developing World.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 enjoyed a long career as an expert at understanding how wine flavor is derived. In this episode we discuss how the metabolism of microbes and grapes contribute to wine flavors, as well as the future of biotechnology in shaping wine flavors. With co-host Emily Haile.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 resource that allows researchers to study the real-time evolution of glioblastoma cells, and understand how to eventually find their vulnerabilities. In the second half, Dr. Thomas Graham shares the story of Cindy’s illness, and the research and scholarship funds that have been established in her honor.Please consider donating at cindysgift.com Twitter: @Cindy_GBM_Fund@sheilasinghlab# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 where we are, and how we’ll move forward with more sensitivity to a diverse and equitable workplace.Biohaven Pharmaceuticals on Twitter: @BiohavenPharma# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 fertilization strategies, and the ability to produce crops in space is a realistic limiter of long-term human colonization of space. Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul has studied plant biology in space and in extreme earth environments to learn about how plants adapt to these challenges, and even how humans might have to adapt to care for them. Twitter: @UF_Space_Plants Dr. Paul in other media: * UF Space Plants Lab: https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/spaceplantslab/ * TEDxUF speaker, April 6th, 2019 – “Humans are explorers––go boldly” * Women in Science Instagram story for Friday, Feb. 9th, 2018, ahead of the UN’s Women and Girls in Science Day. : https://twitter.com/ISS_Research/status/962796712241672192 * NPR Science Friday. For premier of “The Martian”; how real space plant biology is getting us closer to the goal of other planets https://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/plants-in-space/# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 tiredness should not be ignored, as it is a signal that there is some DNA damage to be corrected, and may play a role in long-term brain health.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

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 genetic material into T-cells from an afflicted patient that can now work against the disease in question. The approach uses gene editing, adding genetic material to T cells that allows them to recognize specific antigens, such as those associated with ovarian cancer.Follow on Twittter: @ArsenalBio# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Olives have a prominent role in the production of aromatic healthy culinary oils and brined olives for the table. Olive oil production occurs worldwide on old-growth orchards that are subject to a number of modern production challenges. Disease, pests, climate change and other issues threaten sustainable production. Today’s guest is Prof. Lorenzo Leon, an olive breeder from IFAPA in Cordoba, Spain. He has taken on the mantle of creating the next generation of superior olive cultivars. We discuss the challenges of olive breeding, the protracted timeline, and the fact that his crosses today may result in something in the field decades down the road. We discuss modern genetic tools and their implementation. The discussion is a great appreciation of plant breeders, their important job, and the challenges they face.Follow Dr. Leon on Twitter: @OliveBreeding# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Thirty million Americans depend on daily doses of insulin to stay alive. This small protein hormone is responsible for the regulation of blood sugar, and plays a key role in all aspects of physiology, as well as long-term effects on health. Despite its importance, the vast majority of insulin is produced off shore, leaving it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that could be hazardous for many Americans. Domestic production is hindered by a variety of barriers, from production to regulatory. Cameron Owen is the CEO and Co-Founder of rBIO, and they are using a specially designed E. coli bacterium that focuses strictly on insulin production. This streamlining of the process around bacteria that commit the majority of resources into insulin production leads to minimizing side reactions and higher yields of the desired product. Making the production process more efficient means that this critical hormone may be produced at a lower price and without fear of supply chain production.Follow rBIO on twitter at @rBio_pharma# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

How can analysis of DNA isolated from old, preserved organisms, bones, or tissues tell us about life today? Dr. Beth Shapio is a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz and an HHMI Investigator. She has studied the genomic information from ancient preserved sources to describe events and adaptations that underlie species evolution. In this episode we discuss the technology behind isolating ancient DNA, its utility in resolving evolutionary lineages, and understanding traits in populations and their relationships to their environment. We conclude with a discussion of gene editing ethics and application to conservation biology.Follow Dr. Shapiro on Twitter at @BonesAndBugs# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

New strategies in gene therapy are integrating multiple modern techniques to take on contemporary challenging diseases, such as solid-tumor cancers. Dr. Eric Ostertag of Poseida Therapeutics describes their transposon-based gene therapies that deliver useful gene replacements through biodegradable, tissue-targeted nanoparticles. This contrasts against the older gene therapy technologies that relied on viral delivery. In addition, Poseida offers new approaches in CAR-T cell therapies, genetic adjustment of native immune cells to target cancers. These One-time treatments appear to be promising in treating a variety of cancers using innovative strategies.Posieda Therapeutics Website # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Genetic counselors play a critical role from pre-natal guidance to lifelong expertise in managing genetically-based disorders. With the tools of rapid sequencing and computational biology, the genetic counselor has new tools to predict genetic disorders and advise symptom management. Today’s guest is Pilar Magoulas, a Certified Genetic Counselor from Texas Children’s Hospital. She has won awards for her expertise in genetic counseling. We discuss the traditional roles of genetic counselors, how new technology aids in her work, and what the future holds for those interested in this growing career area.Baylor School of Medicine Genetic Counseling Program# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Drug pipelines are thick with novel compounds that may have an effect on our most insidious diseases. However, most either fail early trials or are withdrawn because companies don’t see the return on investment of driving them forward. These shelved compounds still may have important roles in treating orphan diseases. The Children’s Tumor Foundation identifies these compounds lost to corporate expectations and re-analyzes them for therapeutic potential for other indications. Dr. Annette Bakker describes the process, the potential and the promise of compounds already identified in this partnership with pharmaceutical companies– testing their throwaways for new applications.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The classical assumption was that the modern dinosaur lineage led directly to today’s reptiles. However, a growing suite of evidence has shown that modern birds more closely emulate prehistoric creatures. Today’s guests are Profs Alexander Vargas (University of Chile) and Joao Bothelo (Catholic University of Chile). Their work on comparative anatomy in embryos has unveiled additional similarities between birds and dinosaurs, and pharmacological and molecular evidence has shown that chicken embryos can be affected to present subtle dinosaur-like traits. Their work provides additional evidence that modern birds are actually modern avian dinosaurs. Here’s a link to the EU Commission’s public comment website. # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

We must be dedicated to fighting back against false information in food and medicine. Jeffery Smith is a personality with no scientific training that has used disinformation to taint an important public discussion on biotechnology for over 25 years. One of the ways he does this is to hijack legitimate scientific venues, making them think he conveys actual information. He then uses their media to push his false information that ultimately affects the public trust in food, farming and medicine. Last week Smith was a guest on the Finding Genius Podcast, a podcast that features some excellent discussions with actual researchers. Smith and others like him have targeted science podcasts to promote their non-scientific ideas, using established scientific conduits to promulgate false claims. The point of this podcast is: 1. Illuminate how Smith propagates false information with uncited generalities, misrepresentation of actual science and innuendo. 2. Demonstrate how he (and folks like him) exploit credulous podcast/media hosts to gain an audience that may be unfamiliar with their misrepresentation of science and to promote their books/websites/documentaries. 3. To show how a reasonable podcast can fall prey to those that push false claims for agenda, politics and profits.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

In this week of technical failures and personal challenges, this week’s podcast investigates the merits of civil conversation. In an angry online environment, can we use the tools of trust building, listening, and empathy to build trust and have greater influence? I discuss my current circumstances and the status of the social media discussion of vaccine hesitancy and genetic engineering. Can we influence the acceptance of good technology with a soft touch? Can we win more hearts and minds with kindness than with data? This is a very important episode I hope you’ll find illuminating.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

There is no such thing as bad food, it is just bad diets, so says Craig Good. Various life events caused him to rethink his relationship with food, and a keen skepticism led him to carefully evaluate the mistakes we make, the myths we accept, and the potential reasons we have an epidemic of diet-related illness and an internet packed with fad diets. The punchline is common sense, but comes after a discussion of food facts, psychology, and a prescription for healthy eating.Follow Craig on Twitter (good follow) Relax and Enjoy Your Food Website Relax and Enjoy Your Food Trailer # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

How does misinformation about genetically engineered crops (GMOs) start and how do we correct it? These are questions asked by Prof. Robert Bird of the University of Connecticut. Prof. Bird discusses how an errant article can become the basis of misinformation spread, and how communicators can help push back against misinformation. Sign up for the online class here. # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The herbicide glyphosate has been used for decades, with increased use paralleling the adoption of genetically engineered crops. The compound has a strong safety record and international regulatory consensus stating no unique health risks when used as directed. However, claims of cancer risk have increased in social media and websites, despite only cursory and/or circumstantial evidence of any actual causality. Juries have supported class-action lawsuits with substantial payouts based on cancer claims.The claims hold no weight if there is no exposure, and anti-glyphosate groups know this. Over the past decade there have been regular reports of finding glyphosate in beer, wine, hair, cereal, crackers and dozens of other products– with the implication that its presence is a cancer risk. However, there are two problems. First, most were performed with methods that could not be used for legitimate detection, and second, levels detected were extremely low, well below any levels that would constitute a health risk.A recent published peer-reviewed scholarly review by a team from an expert team from Bayer CropSciences compiled all of the claims, peer-reviewed and otherwise, and analyzed their methods. The synthesis is that many reports use methods that may not be extended to the specific analysis, they report insufficient results, or have legitimate detection with low amounts found that do not constitute a health risk. Here is a link to the review# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Today’s podcast features two interviews about COVID19. The first is an interview with Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried. Commissioner Fried has been an outspoken critic of the state’s handling of the pandemic, she pulls no punches about the errors in policy, and discusses her efforts and vision for a COVID-free future. In the second half Brady Holmer discusses long COVID. As the pandemic continues unfortunate patterns are emerging with regard to chronic cognitive, pulmonary, cardiac and other effects of the SARS-CoV2 infection. These two interviews will help you evaluate the realistic risks of the pandemic and share important public health information with others.On Twitter:Commissioner Nikki Fried : @nikkifried and Brady Holmer : @bradyholmer # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Many cancers are much more curable if detected early. However, the current suite of detection methods are slow, expensive and can’t detect a problem until it is advanced. Dr. Steven Quake of the Chan-Zukerberg Biohub is working with a group to perfect the liquid biopsy. Using just a patient’s blood, the test strive to identify cell-free RNA and /or DNA that often is shed into the bloodstream from solid tumors. Detection of such molecules may help diagnosticians identify cellular transformation events before symptoms ever are experienced. The relatively inexpensive and non-invasive test will likely be a central part of every annual physical, as it can detect problems long before they become problematic.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.