Stay ConnectedTalking 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.
Copyright: © 2023 Colabra
The newest and most promising therapies for challenging cancers are adopting molecular-biology strategies. Brain tumors are especially problematic because of their location impedes patient function and presents formidable barriers to surgical treatments. But new molecular approaches show promise. A series of new techniques from viruses genetically trained to attack the tumor, to genetic modifications of immune cells, to new types of monoclonal antibodies represent a few of the new tricks researchers are now deploying in the fight against these deadly conditions. Dr. Duane Mitchell is a Professor at the University of Florida. He is a neurosurgeon that is discovering and refining the leading edge of next generation therapies. In today’s podcast, he shares his expertise in explaining the new types of technologies and the potential promise they may bring.
Website: Dr. Duane Mitchell and the UF Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program
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Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
This week’s podcast is an important discussion, a cautionary tale of what can happen when genetically-engineered crops are introduced to the environment. Circumstances may lead to release of the transgene into sexually compatible wild plants, leading to its persistence in non-crop species. Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith from Oregon State University has analyzed gene flow in grasses, and was the perfect match for understanding the issue of gene flow from genetically-engineered, roundup-ready, creeping bentgrass in Oregon. Her work has detailed how a genetic engineering plan to aid the consumer resulted in unwanted environmental impacts. Dr . Mallory-Smith’s work demonstrates that transgene escape and gene flow need to be carefully considered when establishing trials and during deregulation of GE crops. Hosted by Dr. Paul Vincelli.
Website: http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/content/carol-mallory-smith
The paper discussed can be accessed here.
Follow Dr. Vincelli on Twitter: @PVincell
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
Hormones, antibiotics, GMOs… A trip to the grocery store is a battle against fear and guilt. From marketers to activists, there is a concerted effort afoot to use fear, shame and guilt to shape consumer food choices. Sadly, this is happening at a time of unprecedented abundance, yet a time when farmers are facing difficulty in competing against low prices and endless regulation. Michele Payn is a popular speaker and author that is here to talk about her book Food Truths. The book analyzes the hot areas of public controversy, and uses scientific evidence and on-farm common sense to separate fact from fiction.
Twitter: @Mpaynspeaker
Website: Cause Mattters
Buy the book: Food Truths from Farm to Table
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
Aflatoxins are trace compounds produced by certain fungi, and represent a legitimate food safety risk. These fungi grow on corn, peanuts and other crops, especially in warm, humid areas that lack fungal control measures. They have been connected to numerous human diseases, primarily liver cancer, but also cause problems in livestock fed contaminated grain. Dr. Monica Schmidt of the University of Arizona has a good solution. Her team has expressed an RNA sequence in corn that matches the genetic sequence in the fungus. Upon invasion, the fungus takes up the RNA from the corn, and it shuts down the genes required for aflatoxin production. There are no effects on the corn kernel itself. This work shows that safer food could be produced by arming the plant with genetic defenses it could implement in fighting fungal contamination and the toxins it produces.
Dr. Schmidt’s lab website
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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 effects of farm insect controls on butterflies and bees are important to understand. Dr. Ric Bessin is an Extension Professor from the University of Kentucky is an entomologist that has studied this relationship. The discussion covers GE crops and monarch butterflies, habitat loss, and host plants, as well as the relationship between bees and insect controls. Hosted by Dr. Paul Vincelli.
Dr. Bessin’s website is here.
Follow Dr. Paul Vincelli @pvincell
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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 get lots of comments that the favorite episodes are when Kevin Folta answers your questions about food, farming, and genetic engineering. Not to disappoint, this entire episode is dedicated to your questions.
Except for the update on the “GMO Corn Experiment“!! With special guest Vern Blazek
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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 do biotech seeds affect the end user? If you listened to the “experts” they’d tell you that farmers were forced to buy seeds they didn’t want, because companies controlled their farms.
Tell that to Rob Sharkey. Rob is a farmer in Illinois that has been growing traited seeds his entire life, or at least as far as he can remember. He’s become an outstanding advocate for agriculture with a great podcast, hordes of loyal followers, and a wonderful grasp on how farming actually works.
We need more voices like Rob. Think about ways we can help you amplify your message.
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
Pears are favorite tree fruits, yet they are limited in varieties and availability. Dr. Amit Dhingra from Washington State University explains the roots of pear domestication, its improvement, and why we see so few varieties. In the second part of the podcast we explore some of the problems with creating new groves or orchards– where do we get more trees? How can we do it faster? He has started a company that addresses this important issue.
Follow Dr. Amit Dhingra @aamitdhingra
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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 are no compounds that can be sprayed to fight plant viruses, so plant protection requires managing the insects that spread them. This means use of insecticides that cost money and have potential impacts, such as affecting non-target insects. Scientists have successfully used RNA-based strategies to fight plant viruses, but that has been through use of transgenic approaches where genetic material of the virus is expressed by the plant cell, triggering resistance. Dr. Neena Mitter uses a different approach. Her team has successfully suppressed viruses with sustained resistance using RNA delivered with clay-based nanoparticles. The approach suppresses the virus, and now is being translated to field trials. Hosted by Dr. Paul Vincelli.
Dr. Mitter’s website is here: https://qaafi.uq.edu.au/profile/279/neena-mitter
Follow Dr. Paul Vincelli @pvincell
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
Did you know that broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage are all the same species? Just like dogs are highly-diverse members of the same species descended from a common ancestor, the members of Brassica oleracea also share a common genetic origin. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. J. Chris Pires and his graduate students Makenzie Mabry and Shawn Abrahams from the University of Missouri. We discuss the genetic origins of these crops, their evolution and genetic improvement trends.
Follow them on Twitter at @KenzieMabry @AbrahamsRS @JChrisPires
and via the website https://pires.biology.missouri.edu/
# COLABRA
Talking 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 BIOTECH
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotech
Website: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahq
The 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.
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