New Year, New Episodes! This first episode of 2021 discusses GalSafe Pigs which were recently approved by the FDA for human consumption and biomedical use. The following are the papers I discuss in the episode:1. Targeted disruption of the α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in cloned pigs2. Production of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pigs

Words About Biology

Episode 17 – GalSafe Pigs

I’m finally back with a new episode! This episode focuses on the Southern White Rhino, and how captive diets are impairing their reproductive success. Here’s a link to the paper I discuss: Gut Microbiota and Phytoestrogen-Associated Infertility in Southern White Rhinoceros

Episode 16 – Southern White Rhino Reproductive Success

This week’s episode talks about the hunting strategies of Great White Sharks, and how they relate to their energetics. Turns out, they’re kind of lazy hunters…check it out here! Here is the paper I discuss: Swimming strategies and energetics of endothermic white sharks during foraging

Episode 15 – Great White Shark Energetics

On this episode I’m talking about the axolotl! This salamander holds a lot of potential in biological research due to its ability to regenerate limbs. Check out the episode here: Here are the links to the papers I mention: The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators Macrophages are required for adult … Continue reading "Episode 14 – Axolotls"

Episode 14 – Axolotls

This week, I’m discussing the history of cloning, along with its current applications. Check it out!   Here are a couple links related to the work I discuss: 1. Cloning of Macaque Monkeys by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 2. Revive & Restore – Passenger Pigeon

Episode 13 – Cloning

This week I’m discussing my most recently published article! This is work that I did at Virginia Tech with dairy heifers, looking at the effects of supplemental post-absorptive propionate on energy metabolism and reproductive performance. You can find the article here: Propionate Affects Insulin Signaling and Progesterone Profiles in Dairy Heifers

Episode 12 – Post-Absorptive Nutrition in Dairy Heifers

This week’s episode discusses all those microbes living in your intestine — the gut microbiota! How can all these bacteria effect your behaviour? Listen here…   Here are a couple links to the papers I mention in this episode: 1. Gut/brain axis and the microbiota 2. Gut microbiome and depression: what we know and what … Continue reading "Episode 11 – Gut Microbiota"

Episode 11 – Gut Microbiota

This week’s episode talks about the newly legalized (in Canada) Cannabis. Coming from a biological point of view, what work can be, or has been done with the Cannabis plant in order to improve crop performance and yield? Here are a couple links to the work done at the University of Guelph: Optimal Rate of … Continue reading "Episode 10 – The New Cash Crop"

Episode 10 – The New Cash Crop

This week’s episode discusses how the new USMCA agreement affects the dairy market, specifically in regards to the use of rBST in cattle. Here’s the link to the meta-analysis I discuss: A meta-analysis review of the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin 2. Effects on animal health, reproductive performance, and culling

Episode 9 -rBST in Dairy

Back at you with part two of the CRISPR discussion! On this episode I go through three recently published articles showing some of the applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. Here are links to the three papers I discuss: 1. Muscle-specific CRISPR/Cas9 dystrophin gene editing ameliorates pathophysiology in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular … Continue reading "Episode 8 – CRISPR Pt. 2"

Episode 8 – CRISPR Pt. 2

This week you get part 1 of a two part podcast on CRISPR-Cas technology. In this first part I’m talking about what it is and how it works. Next episode I’ll go though some recent research articles using the CRISPR-Cas system!

Episode 7 – CRISPR Pt. 1

In this week’s episode I’m talking about blood types, and a technique that could be used to develop universal blood: As promised here’s the link to the abstract I discuss: Discovery of CAZYmes for cell surface glycan removal through metagenomics: Towards universal blood And here is an additional paper by the same group: oward Efficient … Continue reading "Episode 6 – Blood Types"

Episode 6 – Blood Types

This week I’m talking about our understanding of how humans differ genetically in order to have acquired speech, and how that understanding has changed based on current research. Here are the links to the articles I discuss: 1. A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder 2. Molecular evolution of FOXP2, … Continue reading "Episode 5 – Human Speech"

Episode 5 – Human Speech

And I’m back! Here’s episode 4 for you: This week I’m talking about RNA Velocity, a cool new technique allowing for the calculation of not only RNA expression, but also whether that expression is increasing or decreasing at that point in time. Here’s a link to the Nature article (1), and the preprint PDF (2): … Continue reading "Episode 4 – RNA Velocity"

Episode 4 – RNA Velocity

On this week’s episode we take on the technique cell culture: Here are links to the two articles I discuss in this episode. Epithelial membrane protein 1 promotes tumor metastasis by enhancing cell migration via copine-III and Rac1 Anti-inflammatory effect of two Lactobacillus strains during infection with Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans in a HeLa … Continue reading "Episode 3 – Cell Culture"

Episode 3 – Cell Culture

Each week I'll be discussing a different current biological research topic, explaining how it applies to the real world. There's so much research going on, but so little of it makes it to the general public -- I'm here to change this. Blog: wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com

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