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Like a lot of health practitioners, Dr. J. Dunn's quest to heal from her own lifelong conditions of depression and chronic fatigue brought her to a foundational response to genetic testing.
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Dr. J. Dunn is the founder of My Happy Genes, a company that facilitates genetic testing for eight biochemical processes and pathways including brain chemistry, energy production, inflammation, detox, the immune system, and histamines. She's a chiropractor who has been practicing for over 32 years in natural and functional medicine. She has had a lot of success in her work, but still had some questions around issues that seemed unreachable, such as her own depression.
After researching genetic and epigenetic testing and the roles of epigenetics versus genetics, she went full throttle on a better understanding of methylation, which is how genes affect our biochemistry at the cellular level. Gene expression determines how we make energy among other processes and depends on our genes and genetic code, but there's something we can do to alter the expression.
That's where she focuses, that step between what the genes code for and how the processes are carried out. She says that, "if we can get precise on genes affecting our biochemistry, we can adjust cofactors and coenzymes to help get balanced with these pathways." For example, she learned she doesn't make the vitamin D receptor.
Low vitamin D leads to low dopamine levels and affects brain chemistry. She finally had a specific answer on why she struggled with depression and got to work. Once she supplemented with specific cofactors, she was able to improve her vitamin D levels and her brain chemistry: she'd made epigenetic changes, clearing the path for her happy genes. She tells listeners about the testing process and the algorithm they've created as well as the individual nature of the solutions. She also gives listeners a code for a nice break on the price of the initial test.
For more, see the company's website: myhappygenes.com. Use Code Genius1 to get $50 off your purchase of the DNA kit.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Did you know that ants actually keep and "milk" livestock? Evolutionary ecologist Aniek Ivens shares this tidbit and more alluring ant facts in this episode. Listen and learn
Researcher and evolutionary ecologist Aniek Ivens runs projects both in The Netherlands and New York. Her work centers on the evolution and ecology of cooperation, and, as she explains to listeners, ants are therefore the perfect animal to study. The ant colony structure works as a superorganism: "ants are like cells in the body of the colony," she says, with the ant queen as vital organ. As a kid she was fascinated by ants and she brings that childlike fascination alongside her rigorous research. She offers listeners amazing time-lapse images of an ant's life that are startlingly sophisticated, from the well-known leaf cutter species that raises a special fungus to other ant species that work with aphids in a type of exchange for services.
We know aphids as pests, but some ant and aphid species depend on each other for life. Aphids actually live inside some ant nests, feeding off of the sap of tree roots. These aphids excrete a sort of "honeydew" or sugar water and the ants eat this excretion, but not as an afterthought. The ants actually tap the aphid's abdomen when they are ready to eat, almost like humans milking a cow. In turn, the ants protect the aphids from other pests and clean them—those sugary substances can get moldy quickly, which could kill the aphid. The ants keep the aphids and their area clean and mold-free. What's really fascinating is this is just the tip of the ant-aphid specialization. Aniek continues explaining how the microbiomes of both insects play a role, how the microbiome of an ant species in Japan is similar to the same in New York state, and how she's working to finish a study using ant and aphids as a model species for microbiome research. Listen in for more astounding ant facts.
For more about her work and for contact information, see her website: aniek.nyc. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
The snapping of the trap-jaw ant's jaw is one of the fastest animal movements known to man—approximately three times as fast as the fastest cheetah. This mechanism is not only used for catching prey, but for moving away from potential predators. How? Tune in for answers to this question and more, including:
It wasn't until Magdalena Sorger had nearly completed business school that she discovered her true passion: biology and the study of evolution—particularly of insects, and even more particularly, of ants. As an adjunct researcher with North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences & North Carolina State University, currently stationed in Vienna, Austria, Sorger focuses her efforts on two general areas within the field of ants: research on speciation (i.e., what differentiates one ant species from another), and working with students and teachers to promote citizen science, especially with regard to ants.
She shares his expertise on all things ants, discussing topics such as the ant mating process and reproduction, RFID and other tracking methods for studying ant colonies, the ant life cycle and social behavior of ants, the ecological role of ants, and the direction of future research.
Interested in learning more? Check out https://theantlife.com/ and https://discoverants.com/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Stupid, brutish, and primitive: that's the "caveman" stereotype that's been applied to Neanderthals time after time. But it's the same stereotype that a growing body of evidence is showing to be flat-out wrong. In fact, there's an ongoing debate about the extent and significance of the known genetic (and other) differences between Neanderthals and early modern humans like us.
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For the past 25 years, Professor and Chair at the University of Louisville, Dr. Jonathan Haws, has been investigating early modern human ancestors. For the last 10 to 15 years, he's been excavating a cave in Portugal that provides something few others do: a very long, fairly continuous sequence in time, without giant gaps caused by localized erosion. This provides a unique look into longstanding questions about our evolutionary past, such as how modern humans dispersed from Africa into Southeast and Western Europe, to Spain and Portugal, and what happened to Neanderthals who were living in those regions.
The cave's sequence goes from about 10,000 years ago to between 70,000 and 80,000 years ago. Particular interest lies in the time period between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, when Neanderthals went extinct and early modern humans migrated into Portugal. Experts, including Dr. Haws, are still unable to say with certainty whether there was direct interaction between early modern humans and Neanderthals in this region, but new genetic evidence demonstrates that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals in many places over several thousand years around the edge of Southeast Europe and into the Near East.
With the use of total station technology and LiDAR technology (light detecting and ranging), a detailed, 3D mapping of all artifacts and the vertical and horizontal layout of the cave is being captured and examined. Dr. Haws shares the details of what they're finding, illustrating his firsthand experience of the cave for listeners, and explaining the processes and stages of archaeological fieldwork in the process.
Visit https://louisville.edu/anthropology/about-us/dr-jonathan-haws to learn more. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
What does an ant have in common with a human? Probably a whole lot more than you would expect. Tune in for a compelling conversation with David Richard Nash, a professor of ecology & evolution at the University of Copenhagen who's been working with social insects—particularly ants—for over four decades.
You'll discover:
Nash shares the details of the many interactions between ants and other organisms, especially myrmecophiles, which are species which love ants. For instance, in exchange for protecting lycaenid caterpillars or aphids against predators or parasites, ants acquire an ongoing food source from those insects.
He talks about the parallels between ant colonies and behavior and humans, and the ability of ants to self-organize work teams to go out and obtain specific nutrients from other organisms when necessary. He also discusses the day-to-day activities of ants and the division of labor within a colony, the ecological role of ants, ant colony structure, the ant life cycle and habitat, parasitism versus mutualism of ants with other organisms, how ants adapt their behavior in response to environmental stimuli, whether ants have some level of what we generally understand as 'intelligence,' insect vision, sympatric speciation of ants, and so much more. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
The kidney may be one of the most underestimated organs: it's incredibly complex, and responsible for five to seven key functions in the body. In addition to producing urine and removing toxins from the blood, it regulates blood pressure, produces hormones, protects the body's immune system, and controls blood pH levels. When kidneys fail, all of these functions are lost.
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Shuvo Roy is a professor of bioengineering at UCSF whose work is centered around the development of a surgically implantable bioartificial kidney capable of providing constant treatment to patients who are currently on dialysis, and eventually performing all of the functions of a natural kidney. Roy's work is part of The Kidney Project, which is a national effort to improve the lives of those with kidney failure.
While dialysis can act as a proxy for the kidney in filtering the blood, it does not provide the other functions nearly as well as a natural kidney. To date, no one has been able to replicate a human kidney capable of performing all of the functions of a natural kidney, but that's the goal of Roy's work.
First, the artificial kidney will combine a mechanical filter made from silicon wafers, and cadaver kidney cells to provide mechanical filtration, produce important hormones, and perform other key functions of the proximal tubule, such as salt and water reabsorption. This will liberate people from the necessity of going to a dialysis center multiple times a week, allow them to eat and drink freely, and enhance the overall quality of their lives. As the device enters the clinical realm, the technology will be further refined to eventually capture all of the functions of a natural kidney.
Roy dives into the details of all this and more, including the specific benefits of artificial organs, microfabrication technology and applications, and the manufacturing and engineering processes of medical devices like the artificial kidney.
Learn more at https://pharm.ucsf.edu/kidney. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Struggling to sleep? Want more energy? Want to focus for longer periods of time? Interested in natural ways of improving your life, but unsure where to begin? This is the episode for you. Press play to learn:
Logan Christopher was never naturally strong or necessarily athletic, but he started getting into bodyweight training around age 18. Inspired by strongman entertainment (people pulling off amazing feats of strength), and fueled by a desire to find a 'secret weapon' to pursue his aims, he began exploring a variety of alternative health topics, including herbalism.
The cordyceps mushroom was one of the first herbs he took, and the results were undeniable: he had a marked increase in energy during his workouts, and he was hooked. He took an even deeper dive into herbalism, Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, Western herbalism, and even alchemy. This research led him to establish Lost Empire of Herbs, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Christopher's reason for getting into herbalism was for physical performance, but herbs can benefit those who seek to enhance mental performance, and even sleep or sexual performance. Anyone who is looking for an herb to fulfill some type of functionality is likely to find it, says Christopher.
At Lost Empire Herbs, the focus is on finding herbs that have tangible benefits from the very beginning. Christopher talks about natural testosterone boosters, herbal medicine for men's health, herbal supplements for athletic performance and stress relief, the science of herbs, guidelines to follow when looking for the right types of herbs for you, and how to positively affect various aspects of your life, naturally.
Interested in learning more? Check out https://lostempireherbs.com/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Bees as ant trackers? Turning off a species' immune or motor neuron system? Drones used for precision delivery of products? These are just a couple of the topics explored by ant specialist and researcher Dr. Ben Hoffman.
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Dr. Ben Hoffman is Principal Research Scientist at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia. He specializes in the study of ants—specifically how ants become invasive, what parts of biology contribute to their success in becoming invasive, and how they can be better managed.
Dr. Hoffman focuses his efforts on ongoing research in this regard, and on helping people understand and control invasive ant species. He explains that an 'invasive species' is one that is known to have impacts on people, environments and ecological systems, or agriculture.
One of the primary challenges in removing invasive ant species is doing so without contaminating or destroying the environment from which they're being removed. In part, this is challenging because general insecticides are used to kill invasive ant species, and these insecticides can produce unavoidable negative impacts on the surrounding area.
An even greater challenge, Dr. Hoffman explains, is simply detecting the presence of an invasive ant species. He explores ways of overcoming these challenges, and touches on many other topics along the way, including the ecological role of insects, ant colony structure and communication, the invasion process, and more.
For more information, visit https://people.csiro.au/H/B/Ben-Hoffmann. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Can the immune response to viral infection be strengthened to the point that the impact of the infection is greatly reduced, and later or latent infection is prevented? This is the question at the crux of Ebony Monson's research in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology at Latrobe University in Australia.
Tune in to learn:
Monson's work focuses primarily on viruses that infect humans—flaviviruses specifically, such as Zika, dengue, and hepatitis C. She studies the innate immune response that's produced immediately after an infection, with the goal of better understanding how this innate immune response can be enhanced or augmented.
Monson recently finished her PhD, which demonstrated that during early viral infection, there is an accumulation of new lipid droplets within the cytoplasm of cells, and an increase in the size of existing lipid droplets. Furthermore, Monson demonstrated that these lipid droplets are necessary for an effective interferon response during viral infection, and that without them, there would be a much more exaggerated immune response.
Prior to this research, no one thought much of lipid droplets, as they were largely assumed to be unimportant in the development or progression of the immune response. Monson explains how these lipids can be broken down and can actually become toxic to the host, how they move around in the cell, how they grow and become depleted, and a number of other topics which are the subject of ongoing research.
Tune in for all the details. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
"…Their society and community is so complicated, that in fact you cannot really have a straight answer for why something is happening. You need to see it from a global perspective, and look at it from different angles…it's the complexity that makes it fascinating for me," says Dr. Fani Hatjina of bees, which have been the subject of her work for her entire professional life. She focuses specifically on social honey bees, and joins the show to discuss her current research goals and insights.
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Dr. Hatjina is Director of the Institute of Animal Science & Department of Apiculture in Greece. After completing her PhD on the pollination behavior of bees, she went on to pursue additional research.
Currently, her focus is on finding ways of increasing the resistance of local honey bee populations against a primary pest (the varroa mite), searching for alternative methods of controlling disease without chemicals, improving and preserving the local population of honey bees in Greece for the benefit of the species and for beekeepers, and studying the effects of pesticides and other environmental stressors on bees, such as the presence of heavy metals, and even chemicals that are used by beekeepers inside bee colonies.
Dr. Hatjina explains 'pollination behavior,' which includes the way bees move inside the colony and on flowers or crops, how efficiently they transport pollen, and when they transport pollen. The idea is that by gaining a deeper understanding of this behavior, pollination efficiency can be increased.
She also comments on the "many gaps in knowledge" when it comes to understanding what triggers the increase of pathogens and bee mortality in winter. Sensors inside or underneath bee colonies are being implemented in order to gain a better idea of the possible variables contributing to it, as well as generate some sort of image of what is going on within a bee hive during winter months. Infrared light can also be used to gather valuable information about the heat generated by the bees, the size of the swarm inside a colony, the position of bees inside a colony, and how these things can change according to the external temperature.
Interested in learning more? Tune in for the full conversation and check out Dr. Hatjina's publications at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fani_Hatjina. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
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