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PODCAST

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Talking 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.

science life sciences

All Episodes

7:18

Temporary Hiatus, Changes Coming!

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/11/27

After 8.5 years of weekly podcasts I'm going to take a 5 week break and plan new episodes for 2024. I'm going through a medical glitch that has me unable to do my normal work. On top of this we're going to switch to an audio plus video format to find a wider audience. So check back in 2024 for the next episode. Have a great rest of 2023, thank you for listening, and looking forward to better times.

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35:46

A Novel RNAi Approach to Crop Protection - Todd Hauser

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/11/18

Even under the best conditions, crops need our assistance to survive the numerous threats that limit production. Classically, synthetic and natural compounds have been used to control insects, fungi and weeds, sometimes with negative collateral effects or fostering resistance of genetically tolerant genotypes. Todd Hauser from Trillium Ag describes his company's novel RNAi approach. RNAi can be used to target specific insect species, and his company's design and particle-based technology

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42:07

Drugs from the Rainforest - Lisa Conte

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/11/11

There is tremendous variation in the plant kingdom, as plants have adapted to many ecological niches with discrete challenges. Part of adaptation is production of novel secondary metabolites, compounds not required for central metabolism that serve a role in the plant, such as defense or attraction of pollinators. The rainforest is replete with unusual plants and their resident metabolites. Indigenous peoples have identified therapeutic qualities of specific plants. How can this knowledge

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49:16

Proposed Gene Editing Changes in the EU -Dr. Emma Kovak

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/11/04

Gene editing is a powerful and specific technique that allows customized changes to DNA. Because there are no additional sequences transferred, and alternations match what could happen naturally over time, the technology is considered less invasive and less prone to regulatory oversight. That's true in the USA, Canada, China and other nations. However, the European Court of Justice determined that these techniques should be regulated in a manner identical to transgenics, where the EU has

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53:47

"On Disinformation" Critical Conversations in the...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/10/28

Information has been weaponized, and the ability to create false information to achieve an ideological goal has never been more easy. Political polarization, science denial, and a shining, effective conduit of dissemination (the internet) allows anyone with an agenda to recruit the like minded, and produce compelling media to reinforce bankrupt ideas. Where did information warfare originate, what are its effects, and how do we fix it? This week's podcast discusses the book, On

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38:18

Therapeutics Controlling Protein Turnover - Dr....

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/10/21

While DNA captures most of the fanfare, proteins are the catalytic and structural superstars of the cell. However, they can also become problematic. Cells have intricate mechanisms to remove damaged or mis-expressed proteins that could be deleterious to cellular function. This process is mediated by a process called ubiquitination, mediated by a special class of proteins called E3 ligases. Ubiquitin is the tag that's added that signals that a protein should be moved to the biochemical

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49:34

Biohacking, DIY Biotech- Opportunities and Ethics...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/10/14

Recombinant DNA technologies once confined to the laboratory are now available to just about anyone. Is this a good thing or an extreme risk? David Ishee is self-described biohacker, dog breeder and mad scientist, and merges these passions in cutting edge DIY projects and educational tools. We discuss the opportunities and risks in DIY molecular biology, biohacking and democratization of modern genetic plant, animal and microbial genetic tools.

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40:59

Rapid Detection of Dangerous Pathogens - Dr. Brad...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/10/07

We're surrounded by microbes, many that are the basis of disease. Others have evolved resistance to our best antibiotics. Others may be weaponized for bioterrorism. Because microbial threats can evolve rapidly and grow quickly, early detection of a microbial threat is essential. Dr. Brad Perkins of Karius describes the threats of microbes, his company's novel approach to fast and easy test that can detect evidence of thousands of putative pathogens in a small blood sample, essentially

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32:15

The Pawpaw: History and Genetic Improvement - Adam...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/09/30

The Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the largest native North American fruit, and grows wild throughout most temperate forests of the eastern United States and Canada, from southern Ontario to the Florida border. Several breeding efforts have sought to improve this tree crop, seeking mostly to improve fruit quality, especially post-harvest. The fruits feature a tropical flavor, a flesh that has been described as everything from marshmallow to banana, in a custard-like texture. Despite its

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42:51

In The News: Citrus Greening Disease Update;...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/09/24

In today's episode I cover two topics with Cameron English, science journalist and podcast host. We discuss the current status of citrus greening disease in the USA, a disease that has ravaged the Florida juice industry. We also discuss the copious disinformation around seed oils, which many internet sources claim to be dangerous.

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59:31

Dogmatism Meets Unpopular Evidence: the Case of...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/09/17

The connection between tobacco smoke, cancer and heart disease has been well established since the 1800's, with irrefutable medical evidence presented since the 1950s. There is no question that smoking has significant public health impacts. The effects of second hand smoke were examined in various studies and also claimed negative effects. But these reports has some significant limitations, and larger studies later showed no significant risk. One of the authors, cancer epidemiologist Dr

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49:04

A Non-Profit Biotech Model; Therapies for Rare...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/09/09

This episode has two parts. The first part discusses how Odylia Therapeutics is addressing rare disease, using a novel non-profit model. The second half address two rare genetic eye diseases and the approaches being designed to address them. Dr. Ashley Winslow, CEO/CSO of Odylia, describes how a non-profit is well suited to address these rare diseases, using strategies that leverage capacities in rare disease patient communities coupled to their expertise in drug discovery.

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37:42

Understanding Your Genetics with 23andMe - Dr. Joyce...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/09/02

The more information you know about your genetics the better, right? This is the idea behind companies like 23andMe, which offer platforms to understand your potential genetic predisposition toward a specific disease. The concept thrives on massive collection of public genetic data, coupled to extensive questionnaires that en masse, generate statistical associations between different genetic variants and various disorders, diseases, behaviors or drug sensitivities. These powerful tools are

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56:57

Biotechnology in the Crime Lab - Brian Hoey

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/08/26

DNA has been an invaluable tool to make certain matches between a suspect and a crime. Since its early use in the 1980s, we have seen an explosion in DNA sequence availability, allowing forensic scientists to identify hypervariable regions of the genome that can assist in confirming a person's identity. However, there are many ethical issues surrounding its implementation, such as use of public and private databases (like 23 and Me) to identify a suspect. The discussion covers a breadth of

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31:50

The Shill Accusation and How to Respond - Dr. Chris...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/08/19

If you've ever publicly communicated enthusiasm for a new product or technology, you inevitably have been accused to being a shill for the company that produced it. It is a normal part of human psychology to assume there is an undisclosed motivation for someone's excitement, and it is based on legitimate concerns about how conflicts of interest can shape one's perceptions of associated science. We discuss the topic with Dr. Chris MacDonald from Toronto Metropolitan University.

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45:42

Sustainable Chemistry through Synthetic Biology - Dr....

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/08/12

Many consumer products contain chemistries that originate from an unsustainable source. Dr. Chance Elliott VP of R&D at Amyris describes how his company is using synthetic biology to engineer yeast to produce these same compounds from sustainable substrates. We also discuss the current business climate, how companies change with new technology, as well as how to prepare for a future for jobs in this rapidly evolving space.

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57:22

A Look at the Color of Future Medical Care - Dr....

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/08/05

The company Color has taken innovative approaches to varied aspects of public health. From at-home kits that can assess cancer risk, to efforts to curb COVID19, to finding attractive ways to make health care more accessible, Color has launched an array of programs that seek to improve public health. Dr. Alicia Zhou is the Chief Science Officer of Color. We discuss Color's efforts in cancer and disease detection, it's inroads into personalized, precision medicine, and a look at how

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38:53

Breaking Barriers in Protein Therapeutics - Dr. Dan...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/07/29

This is one hot tech discussion! Protein therapeutics have great potential, but significant limitations to their utility. Dr. Dan Mandell of GRO Biosciences explains how they are using a non-standard library of amino acids to increase protein presentation. Along with glycosylation and other modifications, the proteins are more therapeutically active, as such changes can improve issues like stability and visibility to the immune system. The technologies are being used to design therapeutic

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47:40

Innovations in High Throughput Proteomics - Dr. Parag...

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/07/22

While many global genomics analyzes gene variants or RNA expression products, the levels of proteins are usually the most informative. At the same time, quantifying proteins is relatively difficult, especially when trying to obtain a snapshot of the proteome from a single cell or tissue. Dr. Parag Mallick of Stanford University and Nautilus Biotechnology describes the utility of high-throughput proteomics, and how the technology incorporates a novel detection method and machine learning to

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43:51

The Amazing Potential of Cell Transplants - Brian Culley

Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta ·

2023/07/15

Many diseases or disorders originate with a loss of cellular function. Cell death or damage is at the root of many problems associated with aging or injury. But what if the cells lost could simply be replaced to restore function? Brian Culley, CEO of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, discusses how his company has identified ways to generate specific cell types that can functionally replace lost cells in various contexts, restoring function. We discus applications in macular degeneration, hearing

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481 results

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