Talking Biotech Podcast #46 was a lot of fun. My co-host is the effervescent Kiona Elliott, a wonderful undergraduate student in my lab that not only is studying science, but she’s also studying how to communicate with public audiences. The main guest is Dr. Ashley Winslow, Director of Neurogenetics at the Orphan Disease Center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. We discuss the results from her recent paper in Nature Genetics that used voluntary public information from 23 and me to...
Aug 13, 2016•49 min•Ep. 46
Talking Biotech #45 discusses the viral threats to coffee. We’re joined by Dr. Michael Goodin, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology from the University of Kentucky. Coffee viruses are important threats to sustainable production. They are spread by insects, so insect control is a critical aspect of their spread. Dr. Goodin talks about the unusual molecular aspects of the virus, plus the reasons he enjoys researching coffee, as it is a high-value crop that helps farmers in the developing world, ...
Aug 06, 2016•56 min•Ep. 45
Talking Biotech Podcast #44 continues Kavin Senapathy’s interview with Dr. Ronald Herring. Dr. Herring is a Professor of Government and International Professor of Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. Dr. Herring is a social scientist that has carefully studied the situation in India. This is the second part of the interview discussing the myths and facts surrounding Indian farmer suicides, a popular narrative in anti-genetic-engineering circles. Professor Herring provides fir...
Jul 30, 2016•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 44
In discussion of genetically engineered crops there is frequent reference to farmer suicides in India. Claims are made that Indian farmers build massive debt for cotton seeds, they become beholden to Monsanto for the money, and then kill themselves. This story is repeated ad nauseum by Vandana Shiva and others that exploit the untimely deaths of farmers for political gain, and to foment anger against biotechnology. Today’s podcast features Dr. Ronald Herring. Dr. Herring is a Professor of Govern...
Jul 23, 2016•46 min•Ep. 43
The Seralini Rats make an appearance a the NAS Report Summary. A report on Genetically Engineered Crops was commissioned by the National Academies of Science, and a committee was convened to review the current literature. The committee also considered testimony of experts, including self-described experts. A wide range of opinions were considered. This week’s podcast summarizes the findings of the committee, along with specific questions to Dr. Neal Stewart, a member of the NAS committee. The po...
Jul 16, 2016•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 42
If there was anyone that could be dubbed a science wizard, it might be Dr. Jude Grosser. Dr. Grosser has made a career of edgy innovation, creating new solutions that define the forefront of genetic improvements in citrus. He has mastered unconventional techniques that produce new variants of trees (both their scions and rootstocks) that bring improved production quality to Florida’s fresh fruit and orange juice industries. Currently he is a key strategist in the fight to save Florida citrus, wh...
Jun 18, 2016•51 min•Ep. 41
Dr. Steve Strauss is a Distinguished Professor of Forestry at Oregon State University. He has been at the forefront of forest biology and genetic engineering of trees, contributing greatly to the understanding of fundamental tree biology, as well as the development of techniques and tools to perform genetic engineering in tree species. We discuss the many opportunities in tree breeding, as well as the limitations and other challenges. Please follow Dr. Strauss on Twitter: @shstrauss # COLABRA Ta...
Jun 11, 2016•40 min•Ep. 40
It is so wonderful to share the time with Prof. Danny Chamovitz. He’s an accomplished researcher, a successful Dean, and leader in Israel’s agricultural research enterprise. He discusses his book, What a Plant Knows and describes plants as beings in tune with their environments, planning to adapt to change on demand. He’ll change your perspective on plants for ever. He also talks about his lab’s research and the climate toward biotech in Israel. We’ll also take a look at Miles Greb’s comic, Afte...
Jun 04, 2016•50 min•Ep. 39
Chipotle proudly serves it. The Vermont GMO labeling rules exempt it. Still 95% of cheese is manufactured from enzymes created through recombinant DNA technology. These GMO-derived enzymes are tremendously beneficial to the process. Young cow stomachs are not needed and the prices are lower because the enzymes are abundant. Levi Gadye is a graduate student in neuroscience and science writer. He recently wrote an article on cheese enzymes in Gizmodo, and joined us in talking about cheese. Kavin S...
May 28, 2016•49 min•Ep. 38
The African Swine Fever Virus is a devastating pathogen that leads to fatal disease in domesticated swine. Scientists at the Roslin Institute led by Prof. Bruce Whitelaw have made an important advance for domestic pig health and welfare. Wild African pigs like warthogs do not get the disease. Researchers at Roslin have studied the genes associated with viral infection, and found what is likely a critical difference between the wild and domestic pigs. Using new gene editing technology, the change...
May 21, 2016•42 min•Ep. 37
“Citrus” is a term applied to a variety of popular and nutritious fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. Citrus breeders are tasked with improving the varieties, which takes decades. Still, great progress has been made in fruit improvement. However, over the last twenty years a disease called Huanglongbing, or “HLB” (also known as “citrus greening”) has emerged in the USA and threatens the citrus industry. Today the focus is how to grow improved citrus varieties that can surviv...
May 14, 2016•48 min•Ep. 36
This week the Talking Biotech Podcast shares an intriguing discussion with Dr. Jayson Lusk. Dr. Lusk is an agricultural and food economist at Oklahoma State University. He has analyzed many facets of consumer choices, consumer behaviors, and the potential costs of policy change in agriculture. More importantly, he is a sought after speaker and author, sharing his expertise and experiences in many industry and public forums. He is a prolific author, and his books The Food Police and Unaturally De...
May 07, 2016•59 min•Ep. 35
Strawberry is a popular fruit with tremendous commercial value, and while everyone loves a good strawberry, are they actually getting better? This week’s podcast talks to Dr. Jim Hancock, strawberry breeder from Michigan State University. Dr. Hancock explains strawberry’s wild history, from cultivation by indigenous people in Chile, to colonists moving them around the world, to spies taking them home to the king. Modern challenges and solutions to sustainable production are discussed. In the sec...
Apr 29, 2016•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 34
Could the lowly dandelion solve a crisis? If Key Gene CEO Dr. Arjen van Tunen and associates are correct, this yard pest may be the basis of sustainable and highly profitable rubber production. A growing middle class worldwide has produced a need for high-quality rubber, mostly for tires. Rubber tree (the genus Havea) plantations in Southeast Asia are threatened by climate change, disease, and sustainable harvesting is costly and labor intensive. However, the dandelion produces latex, just not i...
Apr 23, 2016•44 min•Ep. 33
Dietary reactions to wheat are on the rise, and science is grasping for answers. One approach to work around the genetic basis of the reaction, and that is well understood. With that information, scientists like Dr. Chris Miller at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center are searching for innovative solutions. Current concepts seek to breed modern wheat with other historical varieties featuring low reactivity. Future methods suggest that genetic engineering and gene editing might be especially effect...
Apr 16, 2016•48 min•Ep. 32
When we think of the plants that are important to us, we might think right past the magical shrub that gives us coffee berries. Coffee underpins major economies in the world, has an interesting history, and its sustainable production is threatened. We’re joined by Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research. Hanna describes what coffee is, its natural history, species in the wild, and breeding efforts to improve coffee. We also discuss the major challenges that stand to harm coffee production ...
Apr 08, 2016•57 min•Ep. 31
Recent unpublished reports are popping up on the internet that suggest that the herbicide glyphosate is showing up at dangerous levels in a variety of places. These range from breast milk, to beer, to wine, to potato chips. There are a number of laboratories and kit manufacturers that are excited to provide a means for such analysis. In the hands of the untrained, such kits and data are nothing more than in invitation for misinterpretation or misuse. In this week’s podcast we talk to two experts...
Apr 03, 2016•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 30
Dr. Leena Tripathi is a leader in banana biotechnology, working at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya. She has been publishing prolifically on a number of solutions for banana disease resistance using genetic engineering. In this episode of Talking Biotech she discusses the disease threats to banana production in Africa, and the solutions she has identified. She also touches on the social climate, farm structure, and attitudes toward the technology. You’ll hear many thoughts that will surprise you! Twitter ...
Mar 26, 2016•42 min•Ep. 29
If you tell a stranger that something called “delta endotoxin” is as close as it gets to a miracle, they’d likely respond in one of two ways. They’d either want you to seek counseling, or find out if they can get it injected into their faces. Humans have love-hate relationships with toxic compounds, and delta endotoxin, or “Bt toxin” is no exception. This natural protein is toxic to a specific suite of pests, namely caterpillars that consume ag crops. It has been understood for decades and is wi...
Mar 19, 2016•54 min•Ep. 28
Cherries are a perennial favorite fruit. However, they are a tree, so their genetic improvement is slow. Episode 27 features Dr. Amy Iezzoni, as she discusses cherry genetic origins and efforts to improve cherry through traditional breeding. In part two, your questions are answered, namely questions about reports of glyphosate in urine, breastmilk and Germans. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in o...
Mar 12, 2016•42 min•Ep. 27
The story of how genetic engineering saved the Hawaiian papaya industry gets lost in the discussion of agronomic crop uses of the technology. This story is important because this is not just a story of technology. It is the story of people. Joni Kamiya tells the story of growing up on her family’s farm and the changes that came with the virus and how the genetically engineered saved production of this traditional crop for their family. Follow Joni on Twitter at @HIFarmersDtr, and her blog at haw...
Mar 05, 2016•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 26
In today’s Talking Biotech Podcast the first guest is Keira Havens. She’s the CEO of Revolution Bio, a company turned non-profit that is interested in using the power of plants to introduce the public to the power of genetic engineering. They have found good public support for genetically engineered flowers, and hope that this technology is a gateway to a broader understanding of the technology. In part two, Dr. Natalia Peres talks about the EWG’s Dirty Dozen, especially as the concept applies t...
Feb 26, 2016•48 min•Ep. 25
Improving plants with biotechnology is not just genetic engineering, it is using tools of molecular biology and genomics to guide traditional breeding strategies. In this episode Dr. Harry Klee from the University of Florida discusses how the Plant Innovation Center utilizes such strategies to breed tomatoes with superior flavors. In part two, University of Manitoba student Chelsea Boonstra discusses how a classroom assignment turned into a social media sensation, and became the public face of h...
Feb 20, 2016•41 min•Ep. 24
Several weeks ago there was a request for Talking Biotech Podcast to interview Prof Graeme Martin . Prof Martin has a long career in animal reproductive biology, and in recent times has had more focus on how to test new strategies in supporting livestock, crops and the nation’s resident biodiversity. His “Clean, Green and Ethical” approach to animal production dovetails with novel strategies to sustainably raise crops in no-till systems as part of the Future Farm 2050 Project . The discussion de...
Oct 31, 2015•37 min•Ep. 23
Biotech innovation in cassava is necessary to speeding genetic improvement of this food staple. Together with breeding efforts, the new resources derived define new crops that primarily serve the developing world. Yet the Western world knows so little about cassava. This episode of Talking Biotech is part two of the series on cassava genetic improvement. Dr. Barbara Schaal speaks about its genetic origins, migration and domestication. Dr. Nigel Taylor describes the extensive work ongoing at the ...
Oct 24, 2015•40 min•Ep. 22
Cassava (Manihot esculentum) is a critical world food crop, the third most consumed staple outside of rice and maize. It is even more critical because it is a vigorous plant that grows well in challenging areas. The crop feeds close to 800,000 people worldwide, mostly in Africa, South America and Asia. Production is challenged by a number of biotic and abiotic factors. Viral diseases move quickly through growing regions, vectored by whiteflies. The starchy tuber also lacks key nutrients. This Ta...
Oct 17, 2015•45 min•Ep. 21
This eThis episode of Talking Biotech invites you to be the investigator and data collector. The internet is littered with images that claim animals will not eat GMO corn, which is curious because 80% of it goes to animal feed. We have arranged to test that hypothesis through Biology Fortified . If you visit this URL you can make a donation and receive a kit that you can use to generate data for this effort. The podcast discusses the experiment and the acquisition of 2000 lbs of corn to do it! T...
Oct 10, 2015•50 min•Ep. 20
Today chemophobia rules supreme. From fast-food establishments to farming critics, everyone seems to be an expert, except the experts! Talking Biotech #19 features The SciBabe, Yvette d’Entremont (@TheSciBabe). She has experience in the chemical industries and a background in applied toxicology. This is a light-hearted discussion of “toxic”, what it means, and what we really need to worry about. In the second part, Kevin Folta answers your questions, covering Dr. Don Huber, IARC and glyphosate, ...
Oct 03, 2015•1 hr•Ep. 19
The topic of “pesticides” is the new frontier in the opposition to agricultural biotechnology. Opponents of the technology blame new genetic improvement methods for perceived increases in chemical controls for plant, animal and fungal pests. However, scientists argue that our pest control strategies are increasingly focused, less toxic, and work better. This episode features an interview with Dr. Steve Savage. He is a life-long expert in chemical control of insects and weeds, and has practical e...
Sep 26, 2015•56 min•Ep. 18
This week we’re joined by Richard Levine, communications director for the Entomological Society of America. We discuss bees, butterflies, insecticides and some of the current issues in crop protection from an entomological perspective. We then turn to the idea of promoting artwork using a science podcast, and the important effort to get Dr. Barbara McClintock on the ten dollar bill, replacing some guy. We discuss the barriers to her participation in science, and describe why she would be such a ...
Sep 19, 2015•48 min•Ep. 17
