Steministas

Our final episode of Season 2 focuses on heart disease. In this episode, we welcome PhD Candidate, Natalie Harris, to discuss the cardiac lymphatic system and how it relates to heart disease.  

In this episode, we discuss how diet can impact heart health with a specific focus on red meat and saturated fat.    // Sources // AHA: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations  Triglycerides: ​​https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/chemistry-of-life/properties-structure-and-function-of-biological-macromolecules/v/molecular-structure-of-triglycerides-fats  Red meat and heart disease: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/study-strengthens-links-between-red-meat-and-heart-disease  https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-07-21-red-and-processed-meat-linked-increased-risk-heart-disease-oxford-study-shows  https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/meat-and-heart-disease  Omega-3 fatty acids: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/omega-3-fats/

In this episode, we talk about COVID-19 and the heart. How does COVID affect the heart? Listen to find out why underlying cardiovascular issues are a risk factor for severe COVID and to hear what damage COVID can to heart function. Previous COVID episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JeH5o3NVi9da1cajvJ3vL?si=15f11115272040b8  Previous RNA vaccine episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xDPH8WoMTJFLumyqDyfS5?si=390f4dee74e240e1    //Sources// COVID and heart what we know: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/covid-19-and-the-heart-what-have-we-learned-2021010621603 ACE-2 receptor: https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-ace2-receptor-how-is-it-connected-to-coronavirus-and-why-might-it-be-key-to-treating-covid-19-the-experts-explain-136928 ACE-2 ANG II: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00317/full Cardiovascular disease: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)  SARS ACE-2 receptor: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1287568/ SAR-COV-2 ACE-2 receptor: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7778857/ COVID and heart damage: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33092737/  Cardiomyocyte injury:  Cytokine storm: https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Cytokine-Storm.aspx#:~:text=During%20a%20cytokine%20storm%2C%20various,can%20lead%20to%20organ%20damage. Direct and indirect mechanisms: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776538 COVID autopsy review: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S1054880720301046?returnurl=https:%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1054880720301046%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&referrer=https:%2F%2Fjamanetwork.com%2F  NEJM COVID Vaccine Myocarditis: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110737  SARS-COV-2 and cardiomyocyte iPSCs: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abf7872

In this episode we discuss the importance of exercise for a healthy heart! Listen in to find out how exercise improves your heart health and what amount and type of exercise is recommended for your health.   // Sources // Article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000048890.59383.8D VO2 max: https://med.virginia.edu/exercise-physiology-core-laboratory/fitness-assessment-for-community-members/vo2-max-testing/ HIIT study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17414804/ New heart study: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131014155744.htm AHA recommendations: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

In this episode, we talk about how blood types are determined and explain the blood type diet and the science (or lack of) behind it!    Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook!

In this episode, we set up the background of the cardiovascular system! We'll discuss the biology of the heart, blood, and blood vessels!   Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook!

In this episode, we reveal the theme of this season: the cardiovascular system! We'll introduce you to the basic components and go over the episode lineup. And you really don't want to miss out on our fun facts about this very important organ system.    Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook!

In this episode, we update you on our current life situation's and give a teaser for the upcoming season of Steministas that begins September 29th!   Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com!

The claims about essential oils are many and include curing the flu, preventing headaches, soothing anxiety and many other claims. This has led to more people than ever putting oils on their skin, diffusing them into the air and even taking them in capsules. Is there potential harm from doing this or are the many claims legit and is there science to back them up? In this podcast we talk about some of the limitations with all essential oils, scientific studies that have shown negative effects about certain oils and scientific studies that have shown positive effects about certain oils.  Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com! SOURCES // https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/03/18/will-essential-oils-like-lavender-and-tea-tree-make-your-breasts-larger/#42c8270e3fc2 https://www.dietvsdisease.org/do-essential-oils-work/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994788/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8805113 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2145499?dopt=Abstract https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25389481  

Down Syndrome is a genetic disease characterized by mental and physical disabilities. It is often screened for early on in pregnancy and there is a correlation between countries that push early pregnancy screening and the percentage of babies with Down Syndrome being aborted. In this week's episode, we go over the genetics behind Down Syndrome, discuss the statistics of abortion of Down Syndrome babies being put out by other countries, and talk about the ethical implications behind testing for disabilities.    SOURCES // Down syndrome basics and screening: https://www.ndss.org/about-down-syndrome/down-syndrome/#:~:text=Down%20syndrome%20is%20usually%20caused,the%20egg%20fails%20to%20separate. Down syndrome screening: https://www.womenandinfants.org/services/medical-screening/screening-for-down-syndrome#:~:text=Substances%20in%20your%20blood%20which,(free%20beta%2DhCG). Down syndrome symptoms: https://www.healthline.com/health/down-syndrome#symptoms Down syndrome financial cost: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20161216/down-syndrome-may-not-be-big-financial-burden-on-families#:~:text=Researchers%20found%20that%20average%20monthly,life%2C%20the%20study%20authors%20said. Article condemning Ohio’s Down syndrome abortion bill: https://www.aclu.org/news/disability-rights/the-offensive-hypocrisy-of-banning-abortion-for-a-down-syndrome-diagnosis/ Atlantic article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/12/the-last-children-of-down-syndrome/616928/ Dr. Rosmarie Garland-Thomson’s article ‘Human Biodiversity Conservation: A Consensual Ethical Principle’: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rosemarie-Garland-Thomson-2/publication/277601791_Human_Biodiversity_Conservation_A_Consensual_Ethical_Principle/links/55cdfd7d08ae118c85bc1cb8/Human-Biodiversity-Conservation-A-Consensual-Ethical-Principle.pdf Scientific American article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-dark-side-of-crispr/ Russian scientist uses CRISPR to prevent deafness article: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03018-0 Deaf people oppose gene editing article: https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/why-deaf-people-oppose-using-gene-editing-to-cure-deafness Down syndrome empathy study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12635971/   Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com!

Identical twins are the gold standard in genetics to determine how much of a disease is genetic versus environmental. However, a recent study was published uncovering genetic differences between identical twins. In this week's episode we discuss embryonic development, the study itself, and what this could me with how we determine genetic causes behind diseases.  SOURCES // What are GMOs? GMO Watch podcast episode that we guest starred on: https://gmowatch.com/what-are-gmos-steministas/ Overview article about the study: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science/identical-twins-are-not-identical Overview article about the study: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/identical-twins-can-have-slightly-different-dna-180976736/ Actual study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-020-00755-1 Identical twins explanation: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/identical-twins Identical twins and placenta: https://fetus.ucsf.edu/monochorionic-twins#:~:text=Identical%20twins%20that%20share%20a,called%20monochorionic%20twins%20(MC).&text=While%20fraternal%20twins%20(2%20eggs,up%20sharing%20a%20single%20placenta Heritability: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/inheritance/heritability/ Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com!

Meditation is increasingly being embraced as a powerful tool to combat anxiety, stress, pain, and neurodegeneration. In this episode we define meditation and talk about its origins. Then, we discuss the research about the health benefits of this practice. Sources History: https://time.com/4246928/meditation-history-buddhism/#:~:text=Some%20archaeologists%20date%20meditation%20back,and%2C%20of%20course%2C%20Buddhism. https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/the-burning-monk-1963/  General mindfulness resources: https://www.mindful.org/10-things-we-know-about-the-science-of-meditation/ https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/19/858551813/anxious-meditation-can-help-you-relax-into-the-uncertainty-of-the-pandemic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHILscdegL8  Meditation and pain: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/04/08/135146672/even-beginners-can-curb-pain-with-meditation#:~:text=Meditation%20has%20long%20been%20touted,monk%20to%20pull%20it%20off https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/Abstract/2009/01000/Pain_Sensitivity_and_Analgesic_Effects_of_Mindful.17.aspx  Meditation and stress: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-201401086967  Mindfulness meditation: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/how-to-meditate#:~:text=Mindfulness%20meditation%20is%20the%20practice%20of%20actually%20being%20present%20in,present%20moment%20without%20any%20judgment  Transcendental meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO3AnD2QbIg Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at steministas@gmail.com!

For Black History Month, we wanted to acknowledge the work being done today by talking about the contributions of Black scientists to our very own fields. In this episode, Emma and I cover geneticist Dr. Tracy Johnson (@TheTracyLab) and neuroscientist Dr. Nathan Smith (@SmithLab2018). We hope you enjoy hearing about their current research and service outside the lab!   Sources: Draw-a-scientist studies with children: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/03/what-we-learn-from-50-years-of-asking-children-to-draw-scientists/556025/ BioRiv study on under-citation of Black authors & people of color: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.12.336230v1.full.pdf  Dr. Johnson HHMI: https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/tracy-l-johnson Pathways to Success Program: https://www.hhmipathways.ucla.edu/ Dr. Johnson’s research: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Tracy-L-Johnson-50663399 Dr. Johnson’s lab website: https://johnsonlab.mcdb.ucla.edu/ Dr. Smith’s lab website: https://thesmithlaboratory.org/  Neurotransmitters: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology/neuron-nervous-system/a/neurotransmitters-their-receptors  Connect with Black neuroscientists! https://www.blackinneuro.com/home

Glaucoma is a debilitating disease where individuals lose their eyesight gradually. Often this happens later on in life and can sometimes be genetic. Scientists have been researching glaucoma and ways to help treat the disease. Recently, a study was published showing that scientists were able to reverse glaucoma-like symptoms in mice. In this podcast, we talk about the eye, dive into the study, and discuss potential implications of this research.  SOURCES //Actual article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2975-4Great summary of article: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-reverse-the-aging-clock-restore-age-related-vision-loss-through-epigenetic-reprogramming/Glaucoma: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucomaYamanaka Factors: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/10/104393/shinya-yamanaka-wins-2012-nobel-prize-medicineCRISPR eye disease: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00655-8Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us at steministas@gmail.com 

For Black History Month we wanted to highlight some Black scientists! In this episode (which is part one of a two part series) we're highlighting the work of Dr. Mae Jemison and George Washington Carver. They both contributed extensively to science and encouraging others to participate in science. SOURCES //Mae Jemison bios: https://www.biography.com/astronaut/mae-c-jemison https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison Dr. Jemison Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LooEeJyd3AY Interview with Dr. Jemison at Commonwealth Club of California: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZD5T0RmqE Experiences with racism: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/16/magazine/outnumbered-standing-out-at-work-161977.html Star Trek: https://www.startrek.com/database_article/jemison Challenger explosion: https://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-challenger-shuttle-disaster George Washington Carver video: https://unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/americon-vid-george-w-carver/video/#.Wo2oERPwbScHistory Channel article on Carver: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carverCarver’s true legacy: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/search-george-washington-carvers-true-legacy-180971538/

Reports of new variants of coronavirus (a.k.a. SARS-CoV2) have surfaced in the U.S. in the past month. With these changes in the SARS-CoV2 genome come concerns that the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer may not be as effective. Take a deep breathe - things are not as bleak as they seem! In this episode, we explain viral variants. How do they arise? And, importantly, what do we know about how these mutations change the current situation for COVID-19 (infection rate, vaccine immunity, symptoms)? SourcesNew variant info:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-emerging-variant.htmlhttps://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-covid-variant-states.html Track new variant by state: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant-cases.htmlVaccine concerns:https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/health/pfizer-vaccine-variant-strain-mutation/index.htmlhttps://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.07.425740v1Infectivity:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/health/coronavirus-uk-variant.htmlhttps://cmmid.github.io/topics/covid19/uk-novel-variant.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/01/08/954967079/coronavirus-faq-how-do-i-protect-myself-from-the-u-k-varianthttps://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.24.20248834v1Viral mutation rate: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02544-6Viral neutralization test: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaque_reduction_neutralization_testFlu virus mutations: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htmWhat is BioRxiv: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxivBioRxiv Moderna 1/25: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.25.427948v1 Update 1/25 new variants: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/health/coronavirus-moderna-vaccine-variant.html?auth=login-email&login=email Brazilian variant: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-brazil-strain-confirmed-minnesota/ https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/01/21/958953434/reinfections-more-likely-with-new-coronavirus-variants-evidence-suggests

In our podcast two weeks ago, we covered some concerns about GMOs. In this episode we will cover some benefits of GMOs in regards to agriculture, nutrition, and the case study of golden rice. Hopefully, we have given you a good background on GMOs and answered your burning questions in this three part series. Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us with any questions or episode ideas at steministas@gmail.com!SOURCES //GMO proshttps://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2020/07/new-study-gmo-crops-reduce-pesticide-use-greenhouse-gas-emissions/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/09/21/21greenwire-crop-savior-blazes-biotech-trail-but-few-scien-88379.html?pagewanted=printGMO environmental impacthttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2020.1773198Organic productshttps://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-productsForeign Policy Golden rice article: https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/golden-rice-genetically-modified-superfood-almost-saved-millions/Summation of retracted golden rice research article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-genetically-modified-rice/genetically-modified-rice-a-good-vitamin-a-source-idUSBRE87E0RO20120815Retracted golden rice research article: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/96/3/658/4576908Retraction reason: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/102/3/715/4564264Golden rice and Vitamin A deficiency: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/11/08/golden-rice-the-gmo-crop-loved-by-humanitarians-opposed-by-greenpeace/Low participants golden rice study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682994/Zimbabwe golden rice study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21715509/Anti-golden rice perspective: https://theconversation-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/theconversation.com/amp/the-philippines-has-rated-golden-rice-safe-but-farmers-might-not-plant-it-129956?amp_js_v=a6&

GMOs are incredibly controversial in our society, especially when it comes to the food we eat. This is the second episode in a 3-part series breaking down the science of GMO foods. In this podcast, we explain some of the concerns about GMOs and what is being done to combat these potential issues. We also answer some of our listeners' burning questions about GMO foods - be sure to send us your own questions, too!Sources:Book: Mendel in the Kitchen by Nina V. Federoff and Nancy Marie Brownhttps://www.amazon.com/Mendel-Kitchen-Scientists-Genetically-Modified-ebook/dp/B002U58AU0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=367F0BNVHTAJ&dchild=1&keywords=mendel+in+the+kitchen&qid=1610055044&sprefix=mendel+in+hte+kitchen%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1GMOs generalhttps://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/agricultural-biotechnology?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=feedyourmind2020Stats on how GMO crops:https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspxNon-GMO CRISPR plantshttps://cals.ncsu.edu/news/crispr-plants-new-non-gmo-method-to-edit-plants/#:~:text=CRISPR%2FCas9%20is%20a%20tool,replace%20a%20specific%20genetic%20sequence.&text=That%20does%20not%20necessarily%20mean,relevant%20crop%20is%20a%20GMOhttps://newatlas.com/first-crispr-meal/45270/?itm_source=newatlas&itm_medium=article-bodyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744888/Bt cornhttps://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/br/monarch/bt-corn-commercialization/Cry9C recallBook – chapter 9https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/09/23/biotech-corn-fuels-a-recall/673f2399-5622-4f03-ac22-a7babb1ebea8/EPA policy reduce risk of resistance: https://www.epa.gov/regulation-biotechnology-under-tsca-and-fifra/insect-resistance-management-bt-plant-incorporatedGMO regulations U.S. vs. Europe: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/same-science-different-policies/#:~:text=The%20outcomes%20of%20the%20U.S.,has%20approved%20fewer%20than%20fortyhttps://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/european-and-american-views-on-genetically-modified-foodsGMO environmental impacthttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2020.1773198Organic productshttps://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-products

GMOs or genetically modified organisms have become quite a controversial topic in the past decade. In this podcast, we delve into the history behind GMOs, explain how they work, and discuss some of the technologies used to produce GMOs. This is part one of two and we plan to tackle why GMOs have become controversial in the next podcast. As always, our goal is not to tell you what to think but to give you the tools you need to make informed decisions and remove some of the fear and stigma associated with the science behind these controversial topics. If you have more questions feel free to contact us at steministas@gmail.com or on Twitter or Instagram @steministaspodSOURCES // Great article on GMOs: https://www.unfortunatephd.com/post/what-you-need-to-know-about-gmosFlavr Savr: https://www.genengnews.com/insights/mistakes-shorten-first-approved-gmos-shelf-life/Plant transformation: https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/what-is-plant-transformation/Europe vs U.S.https://theconversation.com/how-we-got-to-now-why-the-us-and-europe-went-different-ways-on-gmos-48709History:https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes Different types of gene editing: https://agbiotech.ces.ncsu.edu/q1-what-is-the-difference-between-genetically-modified-organisms-and-genetically-engineered-organisms-we-seem-to-use-the-terms-interchangeably/Defining a GMO: https://grist.org/food/mind-bomb-its-practically-impossible-to-define-gmos/Transgenic plants: https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/transgenic-plants/top-6-examples-of-transgenic-plants-genetics/84649Book: Mendel in the Kitchen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U58AU0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

You've probably heard the exciting news that the RNA vaccines for COVID-19 have been successful in clinical trials and are currently being shipped around the world! While exciting, new technologies can be intimidating and understandably, can raise a lot of questions and concerns. In this episode we review the history of traditional vaccines, explain the science behind RNA vaccines, and answer your questions about this novel vaccine.How vaccines work article: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31237-XVariolation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variolation#:~:text=Variolation%20was%20the%20method%20of,but%20protective%2C%20infection%20would%20result.Vaccine types: https://www.vaccines.gov/basics/typesRNA vaccines: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/the-promise-of-mrna-vaccines-68202Immune system information: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/biology-of-the-immune-system/overview-of-the-immune-system#:~:text=Human%20leukocyte%20antigens%20(HLA)%20are,to%20distinguish%20self%20from%20nonself.&text=An%20immune%20response%20is%20the,immune%20system%20to%20an%20antigen.Moderna vaccine trial info: https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/16/modernas-covid-19-vaccine-is-strongly-effective-early-look-at-data-show/Modern and Pfizer vaccines: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/17/covid-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/?arc404=trueVaccine efficacy: https://scroll.in/article/979627/a-statistician-explains-what-does-90-efficacy-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-mean Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us at steministas@gmail.com

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to two women this year for the application of CRISPR to biotechnology. This fascinating technology has huge implications for science! In this podcast we talk about the life of Alfred Nobel who founded the Nobel prize, what CRISPR is, and why it is so exciting that two women won the Nobel Prize.  SOURCES: //Alfred Nobel's life: https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred-nobel/alfred-nobels-life-and-work/ CRISPR Nobel Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/nobel-prize-awarded-women/#:~:text=Only%20one%20woman%2C%20Marie%20Curie,1911%20Nobel%20Prize%20in%20Chemistry.

Since Thanksgiving is next week, in this episode, we take a closer look at the common belief that turkey makes you sleepy. We discuss the science behind this claim and whether or not there is any truth to it.SourcesAmino acids:https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002222.htm Tryptophan:https://www.sleep.org/what-is-tryptophan/Tryptophan supplement contamination:  http://www.nemsn.org/Articles/truth_about_tryptophan.htm Tryptophan and sleepiness:

In this week's Steministas, we discuss a recently published paper about predicting trustworthiness based on people's facial expressions from Nature Communication. This paper stirred up quite the controversy online. People are arguing that this paper promotes phrenology which is the study of people's qualities and characteristics based off of measuring their physical characteristics - specifically people's heads and faces.In this episode, we discuss the history of phrenology, what the paper analyzed, and the potential implications of a strong, scientific paper publishing a paper that seems to promote phrenology.  SOURCES: //Article about main paper we discuss: https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5pawq/an-ai-paper-published-in-a-major-journal-dabbles-in-phrenology Phrenology history: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/facing-a-bumpy-history-144497373/ Phrenology history: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/the-shape-of-your-head-and-the-shape-of-your-mind/282578/ Phrenology charts: https://allthatsinteresting.com/phrenology-charts#1 Phrenology and racism: https://pages.vassar.edu/realarchaeology/2017/03/05/phrenology-and-scientific-racism-in-the-19th-century/ Indian culture and Andrew Jackson: https://jah.oah.org/teaching-the-jah/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-civilizations-indian-intellectual-culture-during-the-removal-era-1/#jacksonPhineas Gage: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/05/21/528966102/why-brain-scientists-are-still-obsessed-with-the-curious-case-of-phineas-gage

As we near the end of one of the most active hurricane seasons in decades, we can't help but wonder why this season is so much worse! To understand why, we dive into the factors that go into the making of a hurricane. We discuss what causes hurricanes, including some serious physics lessons involving magical paper airplanes that will blow your mind! We then briefly speculate on what could be causing the increase in frequency of these storms.  Sources Hurricane naming practice: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/storm-names.htmlRetired hurricane names: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml2020- ran out of letters: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/19/hurricane-season-names-atlantic-us-tropical-storm-betaTyphoon Haishen: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54046150 Hurricanes: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.htmlhttps://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/how-hurricanes-form.html#:~:text=Warm%20ocean%20waters%20and%20thunderstorms,enhancing%20shower%20and%20thunderstorm%20activity.https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/en/https://scijinks.gov/hurricane/https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/storms/how-hurricanes-formCoriolis effect: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/coriolis-effect/Hurricane season: https://www.noaa.gov/stories/peak-of-hurricane-season-why-nowhttps://www.npr.org/2018/09/14/647944033/september-is-peak-hurricane-season-why-is-that

The original X-Men movie brought the Marvel comics to life for the first time in 2000. And years before the completion of the human genome project or the discovery of CRISPR, this film already opened up interesting questions about genetics when we reflect back 20 years later! In this episode we discuss the science behind X-Men and the politics and ethics of classifying individuals as mutants versus normal. SOURCES: // Genetic changes happening during puberty: https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.3841Genetics behind X-men: http://www.wiringthebrain.com/2016/03/the-surprising-real-genetics-behind-x.htmlWe’re all mutants: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/we-re-all-x-men-as-far-as-genetic-mutations-go/X-men as species: https://archive.nerdist.com/the-genetics-needed-to-make-x-men/Kinds of mutations: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22011/Fixing DNA mistakes: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dna-replication-and-causes-of-mutation-409/Mutation number: https://www.livescience.com/33347-mutants-average-human-60-genetic-mutations.htmlCrispr-X-men:https://www.synthego.com/blog/could-crispr-make-x-men-a-realistic-possibilityRadiation and cancer therapy: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/radiation-therapy/about/pac-20385162  

Jurassic Park is a cult classic movie for many. It was one of the first movies to introduce dinosaurs to the general population and this love of dinosaurs has continued and grown over the past 30 years. The first Jurassic Park movie sets up the science behind this dinosaur theme park. In this podcast, we delve into the genetic feasibility behind creating dinosaurs, and also talk about the accuracy of how the film portrays dinosaurs. SOURCES: //Jurassic Park documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5qpyx98ysJurassic Park science article: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44293060 Frogs changing sexes: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/03/frogs-reverse-sex-more-often-than-thought/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=facebook::cmp=editorial::add=fb20190321animals-frogsexreversal::rid=&sf209705676=1&fbclid=IwAR1GKbss-MLKUCqdSNjarPtwVFmv2BMXgc2qYKpbrV2NJDm5RDk24ZoEKxo#close Interesting context of DNA research: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/jurassic-park-reveals-delicate-interplay-between-science-and-science-fiction-180969331/ George Pionar and amber: https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/the-paleobiologist-who-inspired-the-science-in-jurassic-park/Reproductive cloning: https://knowgenetics.org/cloning/ Woolly mammoth: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/science/woolly-mammoth-extinct-genetics.htmlHow they did the effects for the water vibrating: https://www.businessinsider.com/jurassic-park-water-cup-2015-6Velociraptor error: https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a32445925/jurassic-park-velociraptor-error/Velociraptor/Deinonychus debaclehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/you-say-velociraptor-i-say-deinonychus-33789870/Velociraptor feathers: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-fossil-reveals-velociraptor-sported-feathers/https://screenrant.com/jurassic-park-dinosaurs-no-feathers-reason/Genome editing of embryos: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/commission-charts-narrow-path-editing-human-embryosEthics meeting: https://www.nap.edu/resource/25665/Heritable%20Human%20Genome%20Editing%20Report%20Summary%20-%20FINAL%2020200903.pdf

This is our second podcast in a two-part series about race. In this podcast, we discuss the role of race in medicine. We review the pros and cons of considering race in medicine. We also talk about the origins of some of the most common race-based medical stereotypes. Finally, beyond human interactions, we reveal how implicit biases can become engrained in the very algorithms and systems that decide our care and further increase health disparities.Sources:Science “Race and Medicine” – Constance Holden 2003BMC Health Services Research “Is race medically relevant? A qualitative study of physicians’attitudes about the role of race in treatment decision-making” - Shedra Amy Snipes et al. 2011Skin tone: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/07/22/malone-mukwende-medical-handbook/The problem with race-based medicine:https://www.ted.com/talks/dorothy_roberts_the_problem_with_race_based_medicine?language=enRedheads and pain: https://www.pnas.org/content/100/8/4867Black patients and pain:https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/how-we-fail-black-patients-painhttps://www.pnas.org/content/113/16/4296 Meta-analysis of disparities in pain meds:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22239747/In-group bias:http://www.psych.nyu.edu/vanbavel/lab/documents/Mende-Siedlecki.etal.2019.JEPG.pdfSpirometers: “Breathing Race into the Machine” by Lundy BraunOrigin of myths about physiological racial differences: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.htmlJohn Brown’s personal accounts:https://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/jbrown/jbrown.htmlGlomerular Filtration rates and race:https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/docs/12-10-4004_abe_faqs_aboutgfrrev1b_singleb.pdfhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9214396/https://medicine.uw.edu/news/uw-medicine-exclude-race-calculation-egfr-measure-kidney-function#:~:text=As%20of%20June%201%2C%202020,excludes%20race%20as%20a%20variable.https://www.kidney.org/news/establishing-task-force-to-reassess-inclusion-race-diagnosing-kidney-diseases Experience of Black physicians:https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/07/01/880373604/to-be-young-a-doctor-and-black-overcoming-racial-barriers-in-medical-trainingBiDil: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60052-X/fulltexthttps://www.nature.com/articles/6500489 CYP2D6 gene: https://www.nature.com/articles/gim201680Race and pharmacogenetics: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/pharmacogenetics-personalized-medicine-and-race-744/Sickle cell disease: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/features/keyfinding-trait.htmlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2093356/https://digitalwindow.vassar.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1334&context=senior_capstoneBias in Healthcare algorithm:Science “Dissecting racial bias in an algorithm used to manage the health of populations” Obermeyer et al. 2019Nature “Millions affected by racial bias in health-care algorithm” Heidi Ledford 2019https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/10/24/racial-bias-medical-algorithm-favors-white-patients-over-sicker-black-patients/

This is our first podcast in a two-part series about race. In this podcast, we discuss the difficult topic of race and genetics through the lens of science and history. First, we discuss the history of racism beginning in the 1500s, then shift into how science was used to justify racism in both Europe and America. Throughout the podcast, we unpack the question of if race is genetic or just a social construct by delving into some genetic concepts about disease and ancestry. Finally, we discuss some genetic examples that are normally used to try and justify that race is genetic.  // SOURCESArticles: 1547 Vagrancy Act: https://www.intriguing-history.com/edward-vi-enacts-harsh-statute-against-vagabonds/Virginia Slave Codes summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_act_concerning_Servants_and_Slaves#:~:text=The%20Virginia%20Slave%20Codes%20of,the%20crown%20colony%20of%20Virginia.Actual Virginia Slave Codes:http://hackettlatinacademy.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/5/1/22510182/virginiaslavecodes.pdfdGenetics and race article: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/science-genetics-reshaping-race-debate-21st-century/Genetics and race article:  https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/race-is-real-but-its-not-geneticScientific Racism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_racism#Carl_LinnaeusMAO-A gene: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/code-rage-the-warrior-gene-makes-me-mad-whether-i-have-it-or-not/Books: DNA is not Destiny - Steven Heine: https://www.amazon.com/DNA-Not-Destiny-Misunderstood-Relationship/dp/0393244083A Troublesome Inheritance - Nicholas Wade: https://www.amazon.com/Troublesome-Inheritance-Genes-Human-History/dp/1594204462 

As part two of our series on unethical treatment of Black people in science and medicine, we tell the story of Henrietta Lacks. We all owe Henrietta thanks for the birth of HeLa cells. These cells, which came from a cancerous tumor removed from Henrietta, became the first human cell line. HeLa started a biological revolution! Unfortunately, Henrietta and the Lacks family were uninformed and treated poorly by the medical staff and researchers involved in the process. Her experience illustrates how important and divisive informed consent and tissue bioethics still is in this country.Sources:Book: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” - Rebecca SklootUpdate to the Common Rule: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/18/510442240/scientists-neednt-get-a-patients-consent-to-study-blood-or-dnahttps://www.aamc.org/news-insights/5-things-you-need-know-about-revised-common-ruleLacks family and privacy: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/08/07/209807857/decades-after-lacks-death-family-gets-a-say-on-her-cellshttps://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/26/175351289/sequencing-of-hela-genome-revives-genetic-privacy-concernshttps://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-lacks-family-reach-understanding-share-genomic-data-hela-cellsJim Watson interview: https://www.sciencealert.com/father-of-dna-james-watson-stripped-of-accolades-in-ugly-racism-row

This the first podcast in a series of two podcasts on unethical treatment of Black people in medicine. In this podcast, we share about the horrific Tuskegee syphilis experiment where Black men who had syphilis were recruited and denied treatment for their disease. We discuss the original goals of the experiment, how the 40-year long experiment was brought to the public's eye, and how clinical trials changed after this unethical horror. SOURCES: //Distrust of medical research: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/tuskegee-study-medical-distrust-research/487439/Washington Post ‘Bad Blood’ article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/05/16/youve-got-bad-blood-the-horror-of-the-tuskegee-syphilis-experiment/Bad blood case study: https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/texts/bad-bloodTuskegee experiments: https://www.history.com/news/the-infamous-40-year-tuskegee-studyTuskegee study’s impacts on black men: https://www.nber.org/papers/w22323.pdf

When you hear the word ultrasound, you probably think of pregnancies, but did you know that ultrasounds can have other uses? In this episode, we discuss how researchers want to use focused ultrasound to treat Alzheimer's disease.  Sourceshttps://www.alzheimers.net/new-ultrasound-therapy-treat-dementia/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191203082912.htmBBB: https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bbb.html Ultrasound: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245491.phpAD: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimersFocused ultrasound clinical trial: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/64114FU + AD: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04529-6.pdfPhase II clinical trial: https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT03739905Dr. Lipsman explaining the technique and applications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfuIzJS5Yqw

Drug discovery is a complicated and expensive process that can take years for a drug to finally come to market. In this week's podcast we walk you through the process of drug discovery looking through the lens of cystic fibrosis. We explain the many steps including screens for different drug compounds, the different phases of testing and the vast regulations that drugs in the US are under to protect people! Finally, we link this back to COVID-19 and some of the drugs that are currently being tested to see if they help treat COVID-19 symptoms. // SOURCES:SourcesCystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/aCystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/Research/About-Our-Research/Research-Milestones/Cystic Fibrosis: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CFTR#:~:text=Normal%20Function,%2C%20tears%2C%20and%20digestive%20enzymes.Ivacaftor discovery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3770629/pdf/dddt-7-929.pdfOriginal Ivacaftor screen: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16443646/Ivacaftor company: https://investors.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-kalydecotm-ivacaftor-first-medicine-treatIvacaftor clinical trials: https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/projects/ivacaftor-treatment-for-cystic-fibrosis/Follow-up characterization: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2773991/Drug discovery process: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22930/Drug discovery process http://phrma-docs.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/rd_brochure_022307.pdfDrug discovery process: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugsDrug failure/approval: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2019/05/09/the-latest-on-drug-failure-and-approval-ratesCOVID-19 Treatments: https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/antiviral-therapy/chloroquine-or-hydroxychloroquine/COVID-19 Treatments: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-potential-covid-19-treatmentRight to Try: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/right-tryHydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/medication-topics/plaquenil-shortageHydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.lupus.org/news/fda-recognizes-hydroxychloroquine-and-chloroquine-shortages

Science is a complicated process and it's especially confusing in terms of COVID-19 and the ever-changing regulations in regards to masks and what scientists are learning. In this podcast we go through the scientific process starting with generating hypotheses all the way to data analysis and communicating your science. We also try to explain the scientific process in regards to COVID-19 and shed some light on why regulations change so quickly! SOURCES: Different recommendations of masks article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/10/829890635/why-there-so-many-different-guidelines-for-face-masks-for-the-publicWHO masks: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masksWHO vs CDC masks: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cdc-offer-conflicting-advice-masks-expert-tells-us/story?id=70958380Updated WHO mask policy: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210

Vitamins have gone from unknown to a billion dollar industry within a century! In the previous episode we covered the basics of what vitamins are and how they were discovered. During this episode, we'll focus on how vitamins and supplements, the broader class of dietary additives, are marketed, evaluated, and regulated. It may shock you to learn that supplements are not routinely evaluated by the FDA! That's right, being in pill form does not make supplements equal to the level of scrutiny that we place on medicine and drugs in this country. If you use/need supplements, please check out our sources and listen for some strategies that you can use to research reliable sources of supplements!Sources:Vitamania book: https://www.amazon.com/Vitamania-Vitamins-Revolutionized-Think-About/dp/0143108158Vitamin A toxicity: https://www.healthline.com/health/hypervitaminosis-a#causesHistory of vitamin advertising: https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/vitamins-come-to-dinnerFDA regulation of vitamins: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/30/us/diet-supplements-attacked-by-fda.htmlhttps://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/06/supplements-make-tobacco-look-easy/488798/NIH Dietary supplements: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/DietarySupplements-HealthProfessional/Vitamin C commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F_ZZvdHqPMEMS: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/eosinophilia-myalgia-syndrome/St. John’s-Wort drug interactions: https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/st-john-s-wort.htmlPlant vs animal vitamins:https://www.kevinstock.io/health/vitamins-and-minerals-plants-vs-animals/Harvard – best foods for certain vitamins: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-best-foods-for-vitamins-and-mineralsIdentifying safe vitamins: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/107141/https://www.consumerreports.org/supplements/how-to-choose-supplements-wisely/USP:https://www.quality-supplements.org/verified-products/verified-products-listings#list3NSF: https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/ConsumerLab: https://www.consumerlab.com/NatureMade: http://www.naturemade.com/about-nature-made/science-basedRitual website: https://ritual.com/products/essential-for-women-multivitaminRitual clinical trial:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03828097?term=Multivitamin%2C+Auburn+University&draw=2&rank=1Ritual partnership with Auburn university: http://www.education.auburn.edu/news/roberts-masl-lab-complete-large-scale-clinical-trial-in-partnership-with-ritual/

Vitamins are everywhere in the news and are often marketed as having superpowers. This week we're covering all the basics behind Vitamins: what they are, how they work, their importance, and recommended vitamin levels. This is a two part podcast so stay tuned for the next podcast where we discuss how vitamins became vitamania and how they're regulated.// SOURCES Vitamania book: https://www.amazon.com/Vitamania-Vitamins-Revolutionized-Think-About/dp/0143108158Plant vs animal vitamins:https://www.kevinstock.io/health/vitamins-and-minerals-plants-vs-animals/Vitamins and what they do: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitaminsElmer McColum: https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/the-birth-of-vitamin-a/Vitamin D levels: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-whats-right-level-2016121910893Synthetic vs natural vitamins: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/synthetic-vs-natural-nutrients#section1Fortification/enrichment: https://www.supermarketguru.com/articles/fortification-vs-enriched-know-your-food/Calcium/Vitamin D: https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/osteoporosis/role-calcium-vitamin-d-bone-health

During these unprecedented times, many people have reported having strange dreams - and others just more dreams! What is causing this shift in our dreaming patterns? In this episode, we talk about our limited understanding of dreams & sleep, and we discuss why experts believe this change is happening.Sources:Dream Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8S75CNDr. Barrett’s website: http://www.deirdrebarrett.com/Sleep & Coronavirus:http://science.unctv.org/content/blog/dreamshttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-pandemic-is-giving-people-vivid-unusual-dreams-here-is-why/https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-04-07/coronavirus-quarantine-dreams (Interview with HMS sleep researcher)Sleep cycles: https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-happens-during-sleep/Italian earthquake: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0055936

The immune system has become a hot topic recently with COVID-19's spread but did you know that scientists can manipulate the immune system to fight cancer? In this episode we go over the basics of the immune system, discuss how cancer can hijack the immune system and introduce you to CAR-T therapy! // SOURCES Types of T-cells: https://www.celiackidsconnection.org/2018/05/06/what-are-the-different-types-of-t-cells/Great summary of the nature article: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-t-cell-therapy-kills-most-human-cancer-types-and-might-work-across-individualsHallmarks of cancer: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-hallmarks-of-cancer-9-reprogramming-energy-metabolism/Journal article on glycolysis and immune system: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/pdf/S1550-4131(18)30178-5.pdfPersonalis article: https://www.personalis.com/understanding-role-human-leukocyte-antigen-cancer-immunotherapy/What is CAR-T therapy: https://www.cartcellscience.com/car-t-cell-therapy-frequently-asked-questions/Lymphoma CAR-T: https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(17)30058-8?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1525001617300588%3Fshowall%3Dtrue#secsectitle0020

With warmer weather rolling in, many of you are probably dreaming of a nice cold ice cream cone, but not everyone can enjoy this tasty treat! In this episode, we discuss lactose intolerance - we've all heard of the unfortunate symptoms, but what are the biological and genetic causes behind this phenomenon?Sources: Lactose intolerance facts: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerancehttps://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance#geneshttps://www.theweek.co.uk/64017/lactose-intolerant-why-most-of-us-can-t-digest-milkLactose genetics: http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/smallgut/lactose_intol.html

Allergy season is in full swing! Cars are covered in pollen, sneezes abound, and Claritin is being swiped off the shelves faster than toilet paper. In this video we discuss the difference between allergies and food intolerances, the role of our immune system in allergies, different types of allergy tests, and hypotheses as to why people have more allergies now than they did 100 years ago! // SOURCES Adaptive vs innate immunity: http://www.biology.arizona.edu/immunology/tutorials/immunology/page3.htmlAllergy testing info: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-reasons-why-home-allergy-tests-probably-wont-help-you/Different kind of allergy tests review: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1258/acb.2011.011011Genetic tests and allergies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5407010/Importance of not putting children on diets based off of allergy tests:https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/04/bogus-allergy-tests-causing-real-harm-say-expertsBlood testing for allergies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314037/pdf/1840666.pdfMaking sense of allergies PDF: https://senseaboutscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Making-Sense-of-Allergies-1.pdfFrequent allergies: (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/allergies-more-frequent_us_561b1687e4b0e66ad4c85844)Overactive immune system: https://www.embriahealth.com/resources/healthlifestylereportsGermany Environmental factors: https://www.allergicliving.com/2010/11/20/allergies-why-so-many-now/Epigenetics and allergies: https://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177319365/the-doctor-trying-to-solve-the-mystery-of-food-allergies

As part of California's Proposition 65 law, the state must maintain a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. California is considering adding acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol to this list of hazardous chemicals. In this episode, we first explain what acetaminophen is and what it is used for. Then, we summarize the evidence of why some scientists think it may cause cancer and discuss whether these concerns are valid based on the research.Sources: https://reason.com/2020/01/22/acetaminophen-carcinogen-california-prop-65/*Acetaminophen report: https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/crnr/acetaminophenhid092019.pdfHeadaches and prostaglandins: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headachesInflammation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/NSAIDS: https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/nsaids/nsaidsAcetaminophen: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/acetaminophen-avoiding-liver-injuryProp 65: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65

The Coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2 as it is actually named, has in a matter of months killed over 1,170 people and sickened over 70,000 others with a pneumonia-like disease called COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). A lot of questions are being asked about how it can spread, what the research says and what this means for the rest of the world.In this week's episode we talk about the basic biology behind SARs-CoV-2, we discuss recently published science about transmission dynamics, the reproduction value, incubation period and doubling time of the virus, and we end discussing China's response to the virus and the misplaced xenophobia people have during this time. SOURCES // Chinese woman study: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/paper-non-symptomatic-patient-transmitting-coronavirus-wrongReproduction value: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/how-fast-and-far-will-new-coronavirus-spread/605632/Coronavirus background: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirusEpidemiological study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001316#article_referencesCoronavirus (animals to human transmission): https://www.wsj.com/articles/scientists-link-china-virus-to-intersection-of-humans-and-wildlife-11580997600Travel: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/coronavirus-travel-advice/index.html Pandemic: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/02/health/coronavirus-pandemic-china.html?auth=login-googleLockdown in China: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/economy/china-coronavirus-returning-to-work-economy/index.htmlXenophobia: https://abc7news.com/5922670/China cancels Lunar New Year: https://www.dw.com/en/china-cancels-lunar-new-year-events-over-deadly-virus-fears/a-52121516Dr. Li, the whistleblower: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51403795Map of where SARS-CoV-2 is: https://systems.jhu.edu/research/public-health/ncov/

With DNA sequencing getting cheaper and cheaper more and more people are using services like 23andme and Ancestry.com to find out about their health and ancestry. What if there was a way to choose who you date based on your genetics? Harvard scientist, George Church, is working on this idea in his app, Digid8 which will pair people up based on the likelihood of them not having a child with a genetic disease. In this episode we do a refreshment on DNA sequencing, talk about the diseases this app is planning to screen for and get into the whole ethical situation and discuss if the term eugenics is appropriate for this idea of a genetics dating app.  SOURCES //60 minutes article https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harvard-geneticist-george-church-goal-to-protect-humans-from-viruses-genetic-diseases-and-aging-60-minutes-2019-12-08/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7d&linkId=78498957Facts about the dating apphttps://www.technologyreview.com/s/614920/actual-facts-about-george-church-dna-dating-company-digid8/FAQ questions that George answers http://arep.med.harvard.edu/gmc/gen_faq.htmlChurch lab ethics policieshttp://arep.med.harvard.edu/gmc/ELSI_gc.htmlPoints of view that the app is promoting eugenics https://gizmodo.com/jeffrey-epstein-funded-geneticist-is-building-a-dating-1840315470https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43kkmq/a-genetic-dating-app-is-a-horrifying-thing-that-shouldnt-exist

E-cigarettes are sweeping the nation with their ease of use and claims that vaping is better than smoking. Recently, there have been many E-cig related deaths. In this video we delve into the research behind Vitamin E acetate in E-cigs.Main source:https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6845e2.htm?s_cid=mm6845e2_w

Over a year ago, Chinese scientist Dr. He Jianku announced the birth of the first two genetically modified human babies. Now, we return to this story with new discoveries about the details of the study and the fate of the senior scientist. Main article:https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614764/chinas-crispr-babies-read-exclusive-excerpts-he-jiankui-paper/

In this episode, we discuss brain organoids (sometimes called mini-brains) - what are they, what can we do with them, and what are the ethical dilemmas that arise with this kind of technology? Main source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/oct/21/scientists-may-have-crossed-ethical-line-in-growing-human-brains

Birth control cleanses have become all the rage recently due to Instagram Influencers promoting it to women who are struggling with infertility. In this week's episode we research this cleanse, its ingredients and how birth control works in general. Main article: http://www.thepipettepen.com/unpackaging-hormonal-birth-control-facts-not-facts/

Have you ever wondered where your daily glass of milk came from? Here we discuss the state of US Dairy cows - and the current inbreeding practices taking place. Should we be concerned about this? Have a listen to find out! Main article:https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/17/770696476/most-u-s-dairy-cows-are-descended-from-just-2-bulls-thats-not-good

With flu season upon us everyone is trying to figure out ways to avoid getting the flu. Recently, Vitamin D has been suggested to prevent the flu more than the flu shot. In this video we dive into this claim and investigate some primary literature to determine Vitamin D's effect on the flu.

Emma and Rachel are the Steministas! In this episode, we'll be discussing the science that we do in our labs at UNC! We will tell you about how we got interested in science, why we decided to go to graduate school, and what we research. You can follow us on Instragram @steministas, Twitter @steministasunc, and Facebook @Steministas

Emma and Rachel are the Steministas! Our goal is to educate the public about science in the news by diving into the primary literature behind news articles.In this week's episode we talk about the purpose of Steministas, how we approach reading primary literature and why we chose to migrate from YouTube to the podcasting sphere.Follow us over on Instagram @steministas, Twitter @steministasunc and Facebook @Steministas!