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
In the first part of this week’s podcast you’ll learn how to debunk a viral claim. There are repeated claims that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup, is detected in a plethora of food, beverages and body fluids. The reports are designed to scare people, especially targeting parents that are concerned about the food they feed to their families. This week a glossy brochure surfaced making claims that glyphosate was detected in Cheerios, Oreos, organic snack foods, and many other common groceries. However, this was not a legitimate report from a peer-reviewed journal and should not be given much weight. Nonetheless, a well-meaning Snopes a response that gave the report undue credence. Fortunately they corrected the record.
The second part of the podcast discusses hops, the flavor element of beer. Where did it come from, why did people start using it in beer? These questions and others are discussed with Dr. Shaun Townsend, a plant breeder that creates new varieties for the craft brew industry.
Dr. Townsend’s website: http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/group/hop-breeding
# 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.
Corn. It ultimately has a role in so much of what we eat. From a sweet corn cob on the 4th of July, to the calories that made the steak possible, to fuel in our gas tanks, to the sweetness in a soda, corn is a central player. This week’s podcast is an interview with one of the world’s leading experts in corn genetics, Dr. John Doebley from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Doebley is the world’s leading authority on the genetic events that made modern corn, the individual steps in domestication thousands of years ago, that can be traced back to discrete changes in DNA.
# 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 processes of biotechnology can be a bit of a black box, and that does not help further its understanding or acceptance. Journey of the Gene is an interactive, multimedia resource that can aid in explaining the process of genetic engineering. This week’s podcast features Dr. Don Lee, one of the central developers of the resource. From teachers, to ag producers to extension professionals, this interactive web resource details the process of genetic engineering using the example of solving soybean disease Sudden Death Syndrome. Hosted by Dr. Paul Vincelli (@Pvincell).
Website: https://ge.unl.edu/journey-of-a-gene/
# 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.
Beginning at conception, a new human’s development and long-term health are critically dependent on the availablity of proper nutrition. The right nutrients at the right time can have profound impacts on individuals, but also have effects on whole societies. Today’s guest is Lucy Martinez-Sullivan, Executive Director of 1000 Days. She talks about the critical need for pre- and neo-natal nutrition, and how our scientific and social interventions can reshape the lives of many.
Website: http://thousanddays.org/
Twitter: @thousanddays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/First1000DaysIreland
# 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 peanut is a valuable crop for American farmers and is extensively cultivated worldwide. It is an important source of protein and healthy oils. At the same time the public is concerned about peanut allergies and aflatoxins. What is the reality, and how is technology coming to the rescue to address these problems? Dr. Peggy Ozias-Akins is a Professor and peanut expert at the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus, and she talks about past and contemporary issues in peanuts. In the second part of the podcast I talk about communicating concepts in genetic engineering with family and friends. How do we reach people we care about that have been tainted by non-scientific opinions? We can do that, but it takes following a strategy.
# 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 eggplant (brinjal, aubergine) is a curious fruit in western nations, but is an important staple for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Today’s podcast discusses the eggplant with Dr. Mark Chapman from University of Southampton in the UK. Dr. Chapman has examined the domestication and evolution of the eggplant, discussing its natural variability and the use of molecular tools to study relatedness between the diverse land races. The second part of the podcast shares Dr. Indra Vasil’s remembrances of Dr. Norman Borlaug.
# 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.
Talking Biotech #52 visits with Iida Ruishalme, cell biologist, author and blogger. Iida is a trained scientist that writes the blog Thoughtscapism. Recently she published a comprehensive assessment of the frequently-asked questions regarding the glyphosate herbicide. Her thoughtful discussion was the basis of today’s discussion.
Follow Iida in all of her social media areas:
Blog: thoughtscapism.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Thoughtscapism/
Twitter: Iida Ruishalme @Thoughtscapism, https://twitter.com/Thoughtscapism
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/iidadragon/thoughtscapism/
and Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Iida-Ruishalme
# 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.
Today’s episode is born of frustration. Fear-mongering non-experts are abusing improper interpretations from an available herbicide detection kit to make claims that herbicides are now found in vaccines. Namely, they seek to find glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. They use a kit you can buy on the internet, but fail to use it in the way it is designed. Instead of using it on water, they use it on complex mixtures that yield false positives that are interpreted as legitimate signals.
So to push back I want to provide you with the information you need to discuss these topics with confidence. This topic has no guests. I reached out to the folks making the claims as well as the company that makes the product, and nobody wants to join the conversation. It is simply me talking about the claims, the assay, and how you can help debunk the bad information that pollutes this important public discourse.
# 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.
One of the most important steps in genetic engineering a plant is the process of regenerating an entire new plant from a single cell that contains the new genetic instructions. The process is as much art as science. Dr. Indra Vasil was a pioneer in this area, especially in monocots, the plants we think of as our major grasses and grains. In this interview Dr. Vasil discusses the early days of plant tissue culture, and his contributions to the process that makes genetic engineering of crops possible. Dr. Vasil shares his experiences and talks fondly of the many scientists that supported his work, as well as the need to get students to think outside the box.
# 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 dog-days of summer are a perfect match for watermelon. This podcast discusses domestication, breeding and interesting stories of where this magical fruit came from, and where it is going. Dr. Cecilia McGregor shares her knowledge of the origins of this important dessert crop, along with interesting facets of how it is used by other people around the world. She also ventures into “endless amusement” with watermelons.
In the second half, I answer the many questions that came in over the internet this week!
# 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.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
