Podcasts about Bioinformatics

Send us a textIn this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Michael Edwards, the founder and CEO of Bioinfo Solutions LLC, a data analytics company specializing in extracting insights from complex biological information. Dr. Edwards brings over two decades of experience in genomics, spanning from laboratory research to teaching data science and bioinformatics, with a passion for deciphering the genetic language of cells.00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast00:38 Sponsor Message: Bio on the Bayou 202502:12 Guest Introduction: Michael Edwards02:36 Michael's Journey into Genomics and Bioinformatics05:07 Key Milestones in Michael's Career08:18 Founding Bioinfo Solutions09:31 Diverse Projects and Client Engagements15:38 The Role of Bioinformatics in Modern Research22:28 Challenges and Insights in Data Analysis27:00 Exploring Methodologies and Exciting Projects28:05 Gene Expression as a Language30:22 Future of AI in Bioinformatics31:17 Networking and Data Visualization32:20 AI and Automation in Various Fields38:12 Importance of Statistics and Data Visualization41:09 Broadening Skills and Tools in Bioinformatics44:07 Inspiration and Concerns in Science48:52 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Hosts Rory Rohlfs and Emilia Huerta-Sanchez chat with Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen, a leading computational chemist known for her work on predicting protein functions and designing machine learning software. They talk about her contributions to helping Indigenous scientists, her love for science from an early age, and the mentors who made a difference in her career. Dr. Ondrechen also shares what it's like being an openly gay, two-spirit scientist and reflects on her career journey, the importance of mentorship, and her work to make science more inclusive for future generations.EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:29 Meet Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen03:26 High School Chemistry Adventures05:33 College and Career Beginnings07:55 Graduate School and Beyond15:50 Faculty Life and Sabbaticals20:13 Transition to Biological Research22:58 COVID-19 Research Efforts26:28 Gender and Sexuality in Science32:37 Revise and Resubmit: Career ReflectionsCREDITS: This episode is produced and edited by Maribel Quezada Smith. Sound Engineering by Keagan Stromberg. Production Coordinator, Marissa Alcantar. A Diferente Creative Production. Special thanks to Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen.

This is one of the most enriching discussions about health I've had—not by dissecting the intricate mechanisms of health, but by exploring a deeper understanding. Despite the marketing from the ever-growing 'Health & Wellness' industry, there is nothing they can tell or sell you. The truth is, no ritual, supplement or bio hack can replace the essential communion with our bodies, and no scientific study can rekindle our intrinsic connection to nature. Joining us is the remarkable Dr. Kathy Yeo, a true polymath artist and seasoned holistic practitioner. She approaches healing through the lens of relationships, emphasising that a broader perspective on health reveals what's often missing in the reductionist, mechanistic view of healthcare: meaningful connection. These connections to ourselves, to nature, and the cosmos at large, is HEALTH. I always gauge the quality of a conversation by how much I remember of it. When I can't recall the details until I revisit the recording, I know we've engaged in a genuine flow—an unfolding of ideas and insights. It's a conversation about so much more than health but reconnection.   Dr Kathy Yeo.   For her Bachelor's degree, she has a double major in Bioinformatics and Theatre Arts. She was the first student to graduate in Bioinformatics (the application for Human Genome Project). For her academic success, Dr. Kathy was offered to study pre-med at Leeds University, England, and participated in Tribolium Genome Sequencing Consortium research at the University of Cologne, Germany. Dr. Kathy graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in San Francisco Bay Area as a recipient of the Student Achievement Award and finished the program six months early.  Her training was focused on Applied Kinesiology and Osteopath (Craniopathy and Visceral Manipulation Reflex Technique). Her post-graduate studies include functional medicine, clinical nutrition, bioenergetic medicine, German drainage therapy, living food medicine, and various detox protocols.   Feelings with Strangers   Socials https://www.instagram.com/feelings.with.strangers/   YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@FeelingswithStrangers   Dr Kathy Yeo   Site https://www.drkathyyeo.com/   Socials https://www.instagram.com/drkathyyeo

In our first episode of 2025, our hosts, Chris Williams and Dave Thompson, have the pleasure of speaking to Fernando Garces, CEO and co-founder of BioGlyph. Leading us from the sunny climes of Portugal through the tropical paradise that is London, on route to the West Coast of the US and A, Fernando shares his evolving love of science through the heights of academia, into industry, and now as CEO of a software company he co-founded to improve the modeling of complex multispecifics. Important questions are unpacked throughout - is London really a tropical paradise? How long can we keep milking podcast episode titles that take advantage of the homophonic property of pharma and farm? Oh, and we have another surprising guest answer to the ‘Deschênes Dilemma'… It is not to quote G. K. Chesterton, a proper nailbiter!

(2:30) - AI-designed proteins neutralise snake toxinsThis episode was brought to you by Mouser, our favorite place to get electronics parts for any project, whether it be a hobby at home or a prototype for work. Click HERE to learn more about how AI is being used to expedite the drug development discovery phase! Hint: it's a great primer for this episode :) Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

Tiny microbes have a big impact on wine quality. Aria Hahn, CEO and co-founder of Koonkie, Inc., discusses the exciting work her bioinformatics organization is doing in the field of metagenomics. Hahn explains the differences between genetics, genomics, and metagenomics. She shares insights from a project studying yeast populations in British Columbia's Okanagan region, revealing the diversity and distinct clades found on wine grapes. The conversation also covers the broader applications of bioinformatics in agriculture, including regenerative farming, soil health, and potential bioprotectants against wine spoilage. Hahn underscores the impact of microbiome management on wine terroir and the potential of bioinformatics in understanding and improving winemaking processes. Resources:         201: Balance Hot Climate, High Sugar Wine with Green Grape Juice aka Verjus 243: Microbial Communities in the Grapevine 251: Vine SAP Analysis to Optimize Nutrition Aria Hahn – Google Scholar Aria Hahn – LinkedIn Koonkie Make Better Wines with Bioinformatics The Microcosmos - Discover the World of Genomics Apple App Whole genome sequencing of Canadian Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from spontaneous wine fermentations reveals a new Pacific West Coast Wine clade Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:00:00] Beth Vukmanic: Tiny microbes have a big impact on wine quality. [00:00:09] Welcome to Sustainable Wine Growing with Vineyard Team, where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I am Beth Vukmanic, Executive Director. [00:00:19] In today's podcast, Craig McMillan, Critical Resource Manager at Niner Wine Estates, with longtime SIP certified vineyard and the first ever SIP certified winery, speaks with Aria Hahn, CEO and co founder of Koonkie Inc. [00:00:35] She discusses the exciting work her bioinformatics organization is doing in the field of metagenomics. Hahn explains the differences between genetics, genomics, and metagenomics. [00:00:47] She shares insights from a project studying yeast populations in one of British Columbia's wine growing regions, revealing the diversity and distinct clades found on wine grapes. [00:00:58] The conversation also covers the broader applications. bioinformatics in agriculture, including regenerative farming, soil health, and potential bioprotectants against wine spoilage. [00:01:09] Hahn underscores the impact of microbiome management on wine terroir and the potential for bioinformatics in understanding and improving the winemaking process. [00:01:19] We know your customers are looking for sustainable wines. In a recent review of 30 studies, Customers reported a higher preference for eco label and social responsibility labels compared with nutrition labels. Achieving SIP certified gives you third party verification that your vineyard winery or wine has adopted and implemented stringent sustainable standards. Apply today at SIP certified. org. [00:01:46] Now let's listen [00:01:50] Craig Macmillan: Our guest today is Aria Hahn. She is the CEO and co founder of Koonkie, Inc., a bioinformatics organization, business, doing all kinds of exciting stuff. Thanks for being on the podcast, Aria. [00:02:02] Aria Hahn: Yeah, so excited to be here. Thanks for [00:02:04] Craig Macmillan: We're going to get into the thick of it But we were attracted to some work that you folks and your colleagues have done with bioinformatics and yeast, wild yeast. But I wanted to drop back. A little bit first to kind of give some context. All of this kind of comes under the umbrella of metagenomics, correct? [00:02:21] Aria Hahn: Yeah, absolutely. [00:02:22] Craig Macmillan: and what is metagenomics? [00:02:24] Aria Hahn: I'm going to take further step back and talk about genomics um, maybe the distinction between genomics and genetics. [00:02:32] So genetics is something I think most people kind of understand. They have this intuitive sense of it. um, that make up ourselves and all living creatures. But it actually turns out that in most organisms, and not bacteria, and we'll get there in a Most of your DNA is not in genes. It's in between genes. And so genomics is the study of genes and all of the things that are in between genes. So that's kind of the distinction between genetics and genomics. And then metagenomics is when we do that at the community level. [00:03:02] so you could do metagenomics of humans, but metagenomics refers to populations of bacteria, uh, microbes, archaea, viruses, things that you cannot see and I'll say interact with directly. [00:03:17] Craig Macmillan: And then bioinformatics is a subset or is a technique, is that correct? [00:03:23] Aria Hahn: Yeah, it's a technique, you know, it used to be even 10, 15 years ago that everyone kind of did their own bioinformatics. And so really what that means is when we sequence DNA or read that DNA, so it's only four letters, ATCs and Gs, we extract the DNA the sample is, could be the surface of grapes, uh, a human, anything. [00:03:42] Um, Then we put it on a sequencer. There's a bunch of different sequencing technologies right now. Um, But you end up with these like very gross files that aren't openable on regular computers and they're literally just ATCs and Gs. And so bioinformatics is the cross section of high performance computing and biology. And so we develop algorithms and processes and pipelines to really take those gross huge files of ATCs and Gs and make them human readable. make them interesting, figure out, you know, what are the genes that are there? Who is there? What are they doing? And who's doing what? [00:04:19] Craig Macmillan: Okay, and I think that's the important part here is you would take a sample from the environment. We'll talk about this one more in a second, but there are particular sequences that may be associated with a certain type of microbe or even a particular genus or particular species of microbe that can be detected. [00:04:39] Aria Hahn: Yes, absolutely. [00:04:40] So a genome is all of the DNA that makes up that organism. So you and I have distinct genomes, but of course, our genomes are going to be pretty similar to each other compared to a human genome, to a fish, to a plant, to a [00:04:55] Craig Macmillan: why the focus on microbes? [00:04:57] Aria Hahn: Yeah, that's a great question. It depends how philosophical You want to get You know, people are generally [00:05:02] familiar with the concept of like the Higgs boson particle. It's like the God particle that makes up everything and that's great and the physicists are gonna come for me. But when we think about our planet Earth, I always say like If there is a god particle on this planet that is alive and that we interact with, like, it's a microbe. [00:05:21] This is their planet. They were here long before us and they will surely be here long after us. So we think about microbes in terms of they are the destroyers of higher level populations. They keep us healthy. They make us I'm going to say it's a great example, but it wasn't a great thing. [00:05:40] So caveat that. But COVID was a great example about how this is not our planet where we had an of a virus in one location in a very particular place in the world. And all of a sudden it was across the planet. We are vectors for them. [00:05:58] You know, looking at those maps and showing the spread and how quickly it happened, I like to use that often in visual presentations to say, if you don't believe me, like, look at this. It's spread through us. [00:06:10] Craig Macmillan: Right. And I think also this gets to some other things we might talk about later on, but there are communities of microbes that are associated with certain macroorganisms. [00:06:23] Aria Hahn: uh, so are, they're everywhere, they're on your um, there's lots of research in the cosmetic industry that's looking at that. There was this crazy CEO years ago where he was I'm gonna slather this microbial laden cream on my skin and then I'm never gonna shower again and I'm not gonna smell. Not necessarily like my cup of tea, I love a good hot shower. But, you know, it can be there. The soil is the microbial diverse environment on the planet. , But your gut, like you, you as a human being, can't actually digest your food without those microbes. You can't get those vitamins and nutrients that you need without that community in your stomach. [00:07:03] Plants work the same We say charismatic macrofauna, eagles, whales, things that are very Um, They, they don't to, you the seaweed and the weeds and the grass and kind of everything in between. it's All supported by the microbiome, by these microbial communities. [00:07:20] Craig Macmillan: so let's talk about one microbiome in particular, and that would be populations of yeast that we find on wine grapes. [00:07:29] Aria Hahn: Yeah, yeah. So we've looked at yeast and bacteria and they're both cool. [00:07:34] Craig Macmillan: That is super cool. And so this one particular project where you looked at yeast on wine grapes in British Columbia Tell us a little bit about that project [00:07:41] Aria Hahn: there's, So I live in I'm, I'm right in the thick of, you know, BC wine country, which is a fantastic place to live, we were fortunate enough to work with the Wine Research Institute out of the University of British Columbia, Vivian Mease Day's group. them and They do very, very cool work, but they were trying to look at the yeast populations in wineries across the Okanagan region. [00:08:02] We know that the history of lots of commercial. Yeasts are actually from oak trees in Europe. So that's very cool. And what we wanted to see is how are the yeasts that are being used to produce wine in the Okanagan region distinct and similar to commercial yeasts and yeasts that have been characterized from across and so We did just that and we were actually able to sequence a whole bunch of yeast. And so, again, that's like reading the genome effectively there. so we found four distinct clades, um, in the Okanagan region. And a clade is they're related groups, and so it's not like you and you're a twin where you might have an identical, uh, genome to a twin. [00:08:50] It's more like you and your cousins and second cousins and second cousins twice removed and, you're, you're kind of vaguely related to each other. You kind of cluster over here, but you're not necessarily super We've kind of found four clades that the 75 yeast strains that we studied in that particular piece of work Really related to, then we looked at like what is different in their genomes. [00:09:12] So they're all the same species. That's the first thing to, to think about here. So just like you and I are the same species, they're all the same species, but just like you and I, we have different areas of, of specialties. Some people podcasters. Some people are, artists and scientists and, um, kind of everything in between. [00:09:33] And we need everybody. So, we're all the same species, but we have different specialties. And the yeasts work very similarly to that. [00:09:40] Craig Macmillan: all right, so this is interesting to me so You go out and you you said when you looked at 75 species of yeast or different types of yeast Those are ones that you, you found. It wasn't like you went in and said, I want to test for each of these 75. You got information, you got data in and said, Oh, look, here's 75 different types of [00:10:01] organism. Yes, that's a, that's a great Um, so, we And we uh, the ferment or the, the yeast skins and we extract the DNA and then we get rid of the great DNA, which could probably also be really cool, but we didn't look at it in this case. And kind of threw that into the and then said, okay, we're just going to focus on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Latin term for a very common yeast strain, um, used in wine. And we said, we're going to look for it. [00:10:30] Aria Hahn: Then we found actually hundreds and . And then, um, and I didn't do this work, I don't do a lot of lab work myself, so, uh, this part is kind of the edge of my knowledge. But there is some ways to kind of do microsatellite clustering. And so you look, and you look for tiny differences in the genome, and you say, okay, maybe we found 500, but we actually want to look at ones that are distinct from one another. So we don't want to randomly pick 75, we want to pick 75. strains of this yeast that are different from one another. [00:11:01] And so you could use some lab techniques to make that happen. And then you take those hundreds and we say, these are the 75 that we know are different. We're going to dive deep into those 75 so that we can kind of get this breadth of genetic diversity from the region. [00:11:18] Craig Macmillan: And that was something I was thinking about. You mentioned you took samples from either fermenting wine or recently fermented wine or from skin material. How exactly is this collected so that you know that you're getting just [00:11:30] what you want? [00:11:31] Aria Hahn: Yeah. Painfully is the answer. So like when you do soil sampling, it's actually really And we tell people all the time sampling for yeast or microbes is not that complicated. I say every single time we talk to a client, I'm like, look, wash your hands with ethanol, you know, hand sanitizer, essentially between rinse your tools. And mainly you can't mess this up as long as you don't spit in the bag or bleed in the And I say this every time, and I will say one out of every few hundred samples is full of blood. Hands down like you always think we always the that and then hands down. We're like, this is full of And I think it's just like a matter of working in the field like people nick themselves They don't really realize that but really that kind of thing is really easy [00:12:15] When it comes to sampling a ferment that can also be fairly easy. [00:12:19] You have a lot of it You can kind and put it in a jar, but I will Um, Jay Marknack, who's done a lot of this work and developed a lot of these methods, he actually developed this method that is painstaking. Um, But you have like, he's got this method where he takes the grapes really carefully without touching them off of the and then washes just like very carefully with these like rinse solutions to really just get the microbes and yeast that are on that surface without touching it, without touching other surfaces. It's really just what was there in the field. And rinse all of that off. And you can imagine that's not that fun of a Um, And, and, and so, and it wasn't like he did it on his first try either. So he's now developed that we're copying and using, thank goodness. Uh, But it can be like that kind of painful where it's like washing individual grapes, collecting that rinse water, and then filtering that rinse water, like onto a physical filter, then extracting the DNA from that filter. [00:13:18] It's not fast. [00:13:19] Craig Macmillan: Nope, that's what I wanted to know. I've collected a lot of soil samples in my life for looking at soil microbiome. And you know, technique is everything. You know, contamination will mess you up pretty badly. [00:13:29] Aria Hahn: We had this one study I felt so bad, but they had collected these samples. They sent us the samples and we get the data back and it's, they're soil, they should be teeming with life, right? [00:13:38] And there's like one species basically in this thing, like there's a handful, but like one is dominating. So we go to them and we're like, what is going on here? And they're like, well, I don't see how that could have happened. , we've been storing these in a dark closet for a year. And we're like, that's why. You are studying bottle effects right here. And they're like, oh, we thought it'd be fine because it was dark and cool. And we're like, yeah, but it's not open to the air, and it doesn't have the plants and animals and bugs. You grew one guy. [00:14:07] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. We've been talking about bacteria, or the yeast. Are there other types of organisms, microorganisms, that you can use this technique with? [00:14:14] Aria Hahn: Totally. So you can use this technique on basically anything that's alive. So you could target viruses, uh, not something we've done on wineries, but could absolutely do it. You can target, , archaea, which are very similar to bacteria in that there are a single cell. But they are similar to eukaryotes. [00:14:32] So things that are bigger, um, like us, like mammals, like fish, Uh, but they are kind of small and invisible, , to the naked eye like bacteria. So those, we can, we can do that all the way up to, any animal that we can see, feel, touch, , and kind of anything in between. So it's a really powerful technique. As long as it has DNA, we can make this work. [00:14:53] Craig Macmillan: So you found these 75 types? of yeast organisms, but they fell into groups, they fell into clades. And I thought that was one of the most interesting things about this. Can you tell us a little bit about the natural history of behind these clades and kind of what that means? [00:15:09] Aria Hahn: We found these 75 different strains and they did group into four clades. So four kind of groups of more or less related organisms. So you can think of them as like clustering based on similarity. [00:15:22] The first one was one that is well known and well studied. So that's wine and European. And so those strains are more similar to these that we see in wines out of Europe and commercial strains. [00:15:35] And then the second clade we saw was the trans pacific oak. So a lot of wine yeast are very closely related to yeast that are found on oak trees. And so actually think that, , the original, , European wine yeast strains from, you know, the 1800s are from Mediterranean oak trees. And so it's not uncommon that we see these strains related to oak. [00:15:59] So that was the trans pacific oak. Then we see another group or clade that we called beer one mixed origin. And so we saw similarities to known previously studied yeast strains that are related to beer, sake, so other kind of fermented drinks. also kind of expected. [00:16:18] And then what was really exciting is that we found a new clade that we've designated the Pacific West Coast wine clade. it's always neat when you get to discover something new, of course. And so it has high nucleotide diversity. And so what that means is that even within this clade we do see a lot of genetic diversity kind of in there. [00:16:38] And what we do know is that that whole clade shares a lot of characteristics with wild North American oak strains, but, and this is kind of where like it all kind of comes full circle, but we also see that it has gene flow from the wine European and Ecuadorian clades. It can mean a couple of things. So it could mean that There is just so much selective pressure when you're, when you're trying to make good wine that these genes that are found in European wine strains, commercial wine strains, they're present in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in general, but then when we try to make good wine, we select for strains that have these, genes, , that we know produce good wine, because they produce good wine everywhere. [00:17:27] And so it could just be this process of natural selection. It also could be that most wineries , are not purists. It's not that. never in their history have other wine strains visited their their vineyards. They might have tried a commercial strain. They have wine from others, you know, people track things in, animals track things in. And so it could just be that there is this gene flow, quite literally from, from Europe, from these wine strains that just kind of comes into our population here in the Pacific West Coast. [00:18:00] And so there's kind of these, these two ways that we could have got these things, We do have some evidence to suggest that they were actually transferred in. [00:18:07] So it's called horizontal gene transfer. And my go to example on how horizontal gene transfer works is always , The Matrix, like the movie with Keanu Reeves. But what I've also learned is that if you talk to people that are like younger than me, they don't know that movie anymore, so this only lands with like a certain age of [00:18:23] Craig Macmillan: Right, I know, I know, [00:18:24] Aria Hahn: You know The Matrix where they like plug in and then they have all these new skills? [00:18:28] Bacteria can kind of do that, where you can just take genes from, , a relative, has to be like kind of closely related, and we take them and then we just put it into their genome, and in many cases, not all, but many, they're able to just kind of start making use of those genes right away. [00:18:43] And so that's horizontal gene transfer, which is pretty cool, because for us, the second that sperm hits the egg, that's it. That's all your genes. You're not getting more. You're not losing more. Like you're, you're set. But bacteria are more fluid. [00:18:57] So there is this cool thing called the wine circle, and it's a cluster of five genes that are associated with making commercial wine. [00:19:05] And we do think because we see this wine circle and these particular five genes in so many wine strains, and because of their location and a whole bunch of other kind of genomic characteristics of them, Um, we think that they are horizontally transferred. And so we do see this wine circle of these five genes in the majority of this new clade of British Columbia strains. [00:19:33] Craig Macmillan: So just talking about moving things around the world, you said like people have things on their bodies and whatnot. I, I was fascinated by the Ecuadorian group. And is that literally like it was growing on plants in Ecuador, kind of native to that area that is found its way up the West coast of North America. [00:19:53] Aria Hahn: that's really what we thought happened. I know it is amazing, right? Like does the amount and transfer and you know how you go through the airport and they're like, you and It's like the end of the world. It's like I get it because we don't want to like do that on purpose, but also the ecuadorian yeast like it's coming up here [00:20:12] Craig Macmillan: right, right. Exactly. [00:20:14] So what I think is of interest to winemakers, and also has potential beyond that that I'll ask you about winemakers are looking for increased complexity in their wines, and they're also looking for a sense of place. And I'm really happy to hear more and more people talking about terroir, not just in terms of rocks, but in terms of the whole picture. [00:20:33] The soil microbiome, the practices that are done, as well as light and climate and all those kinds of things. What are some of the things about what you found that indicate or that suggest a uniqueness to that Okanagan area that may make it stand out as different than other locations? How does this translate into sense of place? [00:20:54] Aria Hahn: That's a fantastic question. I'm going to give two answers first on the east side. We see that many of that nucleate. don't have all five of those wine circle genes. And so we see a lot of British Columbian strains have that, but there's this whole clade of these natural yeast used in wine that don't have all five of those. [00:21:17] So then you just have different genes to work with. And since you have different genes to work with, it's not just those genes, but it's all of the genes, and it's the rate that those specific strains are able to break things down. [00:21:28] You do get this added complexity when you're not using a standard commercial yeast. You just have this bigger variety of genes to choose from, and That's going to make the flavors more specific, and different. [00:21:44] It also introduces a certain, the disadvantage of using these is that, you know, they are gonna vary year to year, month to month. Uh, Potentially, and, and so you might get really, really amazing results one year and not the next year, and understanding why, why that might be is a whole exercise in and of itself, probably doable, but it's really exciting to think that these yeasts that are there naturally , they just have that genetic diversity and they want to live in these diverse communities, and so you are going to get that difference and terroir. [00:22:16] The other piece that was really exciting and was a different piece of work, but very similar groups and very similar, , samples, was looking at the microbiome, so the bacteria on the grapes. And we kind of found two things, and so there is some literature that shows if you look at a single farm, a single vineyard, and you look at different red varietals of grapes, you see actually a fairly similar microbiome signature on all of the different varietals. [00:22:46] Okay, but if we look at three distinct vineyards that are all within , one kilometer radius of one another. So they're very close. They have the same rock, to your point. They have the same weather. They have the same climate chaos happening, [00:23:01] but they're managed differently. We actually see very, very distinct signatures on all three that persists year after year. So we looked at two years, , this was again, Jay Martinek's work, , and we see that each one of those, even though it's the same varietal of grape, it is more similar to itself, year over year, than among the three farms. and and that's very interesting because what that suggests is Exactly what you're saying. [00:23:29] It's not the rock. It's not the climate that's driving the microbiome there. It's actually the practices of that vineyard that are changing that. And to me, that's so powerful, because what that means is that there's so much of that craft and art in the management of the vineyard that's then going to go and affect the terroir. , I know that's not the yeast answer, but that's the bacteria answer, and it's like, the power's in your hands. [00:23:54] Craig Macmillan: I'm on the Central Coast of California, and we've had some very hot vintages in this last , 2024 season. We had, and it was 2022 as well, we had these really hot stretches of over 100 Fahrenheit. Not very friendly to yeast in general. [00:24:09] Probably friendly to some, but not to others. And I had conversations with winemakers along the lines of like, could you even do a natural fermentation this year, a native fermentation? Are they there anymore? Or have they been selected against due to the heat? And I now have a total reset of the microbiome, the microflora in my world. this is the kind of thing that bioinformatics would be able to determine. [00:24:34] Aria Hahn: yeah, for sure. So we love that. We love when we get the baseline. We're like, show us your year that you were like, this is my typical year. This is my regular year. We'll live for that because as soon as you have the baseline, then we can go and answer those questions. So we can say, okay, great. We know what your baseline is when you typical year. [00:24:52] Now you have this heat wave that comes in. , Let's go and look. Let's go see who's survived. And I know I anthropomorphize all of these things a ton, but it really is, like, who's there, right? , is it the same bug, but very decreased? Are we getting different E strains coming in? are we seeing less overall diversity? [00:25:13] Do we see the same diversity, but Their population is a quarter of the size, and how does that affect the dynamics? Like, what do we see? And bioinformatics can absolutely absolutely answer these questions. And that can be really powerful. [00:25:26] Craig Macmillan: In my research I didn't pick up on this Can bioinformatics put a quantity on things? Can you quantify the relative size of these different populations? [00:25:34] Aria Hahn: We can, yes. So, you have to use some kind of special techniques. There's a couple of main ways we do them. One is called qPCR, so quantitative PCR. And so we literally take the DNA and we can count the copies of it in a very quantitative way. That's straightforward, pretty inexpensive. [00:25:52] Another way we can do it is a little bit more sophisticated, , but you don't have to know what you're looking for. So with quantitative PCR, we have to know, like, we want to go count saccharomyces cerevisiae. But if we don't know all of the microbes that are there, all of these that are there, then we can't go and target it with qPCR. So then what we have to do is use a spiken. the concept is pretty simple. You put a known quantity of a piece of DNA that we would not expect to appear in nature. And then when we sequence it, we know how many we got back. So if we know we put in a hundred copies of it and we get 200 copies back, now we have a pretty good idea of like, everything there was, sequenced twice or if we get 50 copies back, we're like, okay, well, however many we have, we're going to double that and we have a good idea and we do do this in like a little bit more sophisticated way where we put in like a whole bunch at different quantities so we can double check our math and make sure that it's all good. [00:26:49] But that's the concept is with a spike in so you can do it quantitatively. [00:26:53] Craig Macmillan: Talking about all the things that are out there, there's a lot of interest right now in bioprotectants for fermentation, where you introduce non fermentative yeast, and they kind of take up the ecological niche against foliage organisms, and then you can add a Cerevisiae strain to do that, to do your fermentation. [00:27:10] Would you be able to pick up those other genus, of yeast in a bioinformatic way and gives us a sense of what else is out there. [00:27:18] Aria Hahn: Yeah, for sure. So we sequence the whole community and then we kind of in a. Like a puzzle. I'm going to put together the individual genomes of everyone who's there. And so we can look at not just the targets, but the unknowns as well. And so often, especially in soils, what we get is sometimes up to 80 percent of the genomes that we're able to recover from that sample are totally novel. [00:27:43] So they're new to science. It's really exciting. and we hate it. We love it and we hate it. So, we love it because it's really fun. You, you discover these new species of bacteria, of yeast, or these new strains, and, and you get to name them. You don't have to name them after yourself anymore, you have to name them about the place that they're there. Which is a totally logical thing. But, would have been fun. , [00:28:06] So we get to name these things, it's really exciting. [00:28:09] But it also means it's so much work. Because now you have this genome that's so new. And so now you're trying to figure out. What are all the genes? Do we know the genes it has, but just not quite the way that they're arranged? Do we not know what many of these genes do? And if we don't know what these genes do, like what kind of uncertainty and questions does that bring up? And so it can be really exciting, that discovery phase, and also quite overwhelming, honestly. [00:28:36] Craig Macmillan: what other applications might there be for bioinformatics in wineries or in vineyards? [00:28:41] Aria Hahn: Yeah, that's fantastic. So definitely monitoring. You know, regenerative farming is a really big thing right now. how can we introduce additional species, cover crops, , you know, planting additional or different plants in between. Like, what can we do to really increase the soil health, sequester carbon, the biodiversity of the soil, of the land, and how does that affect it? So we can monitor all those things with environmental DNA or eDNA. [00:29:09] One thing that we've been thinking about a lot is this concept of smoke taint, which I think has kind of affected the whole west coast of North America. [00:29:18] Are there microbial treatments that can kind of mitigate smoke taint, , can we feed bacteria, the bacteria that we know [00:29:29] can kind of break down those volatile phenols that cause the smoke taint. Get them to kind of break that down first before we make the wine. Like we're kind of looking at applications like that. [00:29:40] Obviously those are, I would say further out in terms of technological development biodiversity, which we can absolutely go and do today. , but there's interest in that smoke taint. Application, and we're really interested in that. [00:29:52] Then there's also kind of everything in between. So can we the harvest? Can we increase the quality of the grape? Can we help with years that are dry? Can we help with years that are wet or cold or hot? as we, kind of committed to a certain number of effects of climate change, we have to start thinking creatively. [00:30:14] I was on this call with an unrelated company. They wanted to do similar things but in the mining space, in the reclamation space. And I don't know how it happened, but I was on this call with this man. It was his last day before it was dark where he was. He's in Quebec. He's three hours ahead. [00:30:29] , You know, it was winter. So it's very, the mood was very, like, dark and somber, and this was his final call of his final day of work. And he was so hopeful about microbes, and he spent his career working with them. And just before he signed off the call, he says, I hope microbes save us all. [00:30:50] And then he kills the call. And, and, for, the next few years, I titled every single talk I did, Microbes may save us all because I just, the weight of that conversation was so big and I know that's not what we're talking about here in terms of [00:31:08] smoke taint, but I do think, you know, to bring us full circle to this like omnipresent godlike presence of microbes that there's something to that idea in that I think that they have this potential to save us from ourselves. If we can learn more, [00:31:25] Craig Macmillan: I think what we're talking about is bioremediation and the potential there. And bioremediation would work by identifying an organism that's going to play a certain role and then actually introducing it into the environment. For instance, like introducing it to wine that may have smoke taint, for instance. [00:31:40] Aria Hahn: , so there's a three main approaches to that. [00:31:42] So the first is exactly what we're talking about. You introduce a micro that we know and you, and you put it in there. The main challenge of that is this, this word we call engraftment. We actually steal that word from organ transplants. So, when you put in a new heart, not that I know anything about heart transplants, but when you put in a new heart, you have to engraft it. [00:32:01] And so people need to be on immunosuppressants, is my understanding, to make that heart transplant like stick in their body, have their body accept it. Kind of the same challenge when you introduce a microbe into an open, wild environment where you need that new species to engraft in that community. If you can't do that, you just have to keep adding it. [00:32:21] You have to keep adding it, keep adding it, it's time consuming, it's expensive, all of these things. So engraffing is still a challenge in that field. But that is one way. [00:32:29] The second way is to bioengineer. And so the concept here is that you take species or strains that are naturally occurring, so they do well in that environment, and you change something in their genetics and then reintroduce that. It does get around the concept of, [00:32:50] of engraftment in theory. The major issue with it is, there's not a lot of people or companies that feel ready, I think, to take a biologically engineered synthetic genome and introduce it into the environment en masse. We just don't understand the risks of it, or, or not, we don't know, but I think that's the point, is that we don't know, and so people are a little bit like, Maybe we're not quite there yet. [00:33:19] And then the third way is to say, I'm going to look at who's already there. And I'm going to understand what they like to eat and what their competitors like to eat and I'm going to try to starve their competitors [00:33:31] and really feed the ones who have the capacity to degrade those volatile phenols. I'm going to like try to get their population to do super well and thrive. and and try to kind of starve out and make the populations that can't do the job that I want lesser and less prevalent in the community. [00:33:51] And that approach I think is kind of one of my favorites where we understand and then we put some selective pressures. So this could be adding more nitrogen, adding different carbon sources. [00:34:01] It could be watering less to create a more aerobic environment. It could be you know, kind of drowning them to create an anaerobic environment. It's kind of those bigger controls that we have working with the microbes that are already there. [00:34:17] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, in the same way that we're not afraid to play with plant communities in agricultural systems, with cover cropping or intercropping or anything like that, same kind of idea, where maybe I plant something that I think will out compete a weed. [00:34:28] Same kind of idea. And we're pretty comfortable with that. [00:34:32] And also things will have a way of finding their stasis, finding their, their It's just getting it kind of pushed in the right direction. I think that he's super, super cool. [00:34:44] A lot of interest and work in the soil microbiome in terms of soil health. We mentioned regenerative agriculture. I have put my toe in that, in, in my professional world extremely difficult, extremely confusing, lots of holes you know, and, and trying to find markers or metrics has been. challenging for instance, I was trying to figure out how healthy some soils were. It, healthy in quotes, and I wanted to do analysis of respiration. And this very good soil ecologist said, well, that tells you how many folks are in the room, but it doesn't tell you what they're doing or who they are. [00:35:21] And I was like, that's a really good Point I could have a lot of respiration from organisms. I don't want and I wouldn't know what was who and who was what? What world can bioinformatics play in that [00:35:33] Aria Hahn: , that's a great question. So I would say it's the opposite in general, without the spike ins and kind of specific things, what? we can tell pretty inexpensively, 50 to 100 a sample, is basically who's in the room and in what relative abundance. So it is come down a lot in price. It doesn't tell us a lot about their genetic capability. [00:35:55] So if we know them because they've been previously studied, then we can say like, oh, yeah, these guys are known to do X, Y, and Z. [00:36:02] If we don't know them, for that kind of price point in those methods, we're kind of just like, yeah, we know their names. But that's it. [00:36:08] Then we can do kind of a deeper dive, , to a different type of sequencing called whole genome sequencing. And you get the whole genome. And so there we can actually say not only who they are, but what they're doing. Or what they have the ability to do. And so that's where the limit of DNA is, is that it can tell us the potential. They can potentially do this, but it doesn't actually tell us if they're choosing to do that, so to speak. [00:36:33] There are other techniques that are very related. Metatranscriptomics, it's looking at the RNA, and you could do metabolomics. So you can actually look at the metabolites that they're producing, and then it tells you what they actually did. But we often can start at that base layer of DNA. and build up. So those questions we can answer. [00:36:51] And I think you're right about there are a lot of holes and it's confusing and it's complex. And we say this to clients all the time, like, if you know way to solve a problem, do that. Biology is messy. [00:37:03] But if you don't, like let's look at biology and let's enjoy the mess , there's a lot of beauty in that mess. And that's one of the things we've actually loved about interacting with wineries they are incredibly scientifically minded folks. They're data driven, the amount of innovation and technology they're using. never fails to impress, but you also get that love of the art and the craft from them. We love that. We see art and science as like in a circular spectrum. And so we love when, our clients in the, in the wine start talking to us about kind of their secret sauce and the things that they've tried and how, and they always get a little bit nervous. [00:37:49] And they would, if they always kind of start, they were like, you know what else I do? And we're like, tell us. And then they tell us something and they're like, we just know from experience. Experience that this works that this changes the ferment, but we don't have any evidence for that And and I think they're worried we're gonna judge them but we're like no that is like their science is all way of knowing but [00:38:09] my friend says art is science and love and and I love that idea that is something that's been really really fun about working with wineries and vineyards is they kind of get that they're like, yeah, this is the love piece here [00:38:22] Craig Macmillan: That's cool I think there's beauty in the mess. I might adopt that if you don't mind I mean, I may use that for some of my own stuff. I think that's great What is one thing you would tell growers or wineries, , [00:38:35] Aria Hahn: their choices are directly impacting the microbiome, so that's the bacteria and the yeast And that that is going to affect the terroir, the complexity, the quality of the wine, and it is knowable. [00:38:50] Craig Macmillan: there we go. And we also know that some of the things that we do may affect that and that is part of what makes us special. Where can people find out more about you? [00:38:58] Aria Hahn: We have a website, it is koonke. com, K O O N K I E dot com. can also look me up, Aria Hahn, , and on Google Scholar, the internet, I feel like I'm very findable. [00:39:10] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, you are very findable and we will have a lot of links and other things on the show page. So please check that out. Really fascinating stuff going even beyond this. I want to thank you for being on the podcast. [00:39:21] This has been a great conversation. [00:39:22] Aria Hahn: Yeah, thanks for having me. Super fun. [00:39:25] Craig Macmillan: So our guest today was Aria Hahn. She is CEO and co founder of Koonkie, a bioinformatics company, and is doing some really fascinating stuff, not only around yeast, but lots of other topics. [00:39:35] And I just got lost down the rabbit hole when I took a look at that website, all the different things you folks have been involved in, and it was really fun. [00:39:48] Beth Vukmanic: Thank you for listening. [00:39:49] Today's podcast was brought to you by Sunridge. For over 45 years, Sunridge nurseries has supplied premium quality grapevines. to grape growers worldwide. A pioneer in the industry with a focus on clean quality vines and personalized dedication to their partnered growers has led them to be the largest, most well respected grapevine nursery in the United States. Sunridge Nurseries continues to lead the industry having undergone several expansions to their modern state of the art facilities and is the first and only grapevine nursery to have implemented the most advanced greenhouse Horticulture water treatment technology in North America. [00:40:26] Make sure you check out the show notes for links to Aria, an article titled, make better wines with bioinformatics plus sustainable wine growing podcast episodes, 201 balance hot climate, high sugar wine with green grape juice, 243 microbial communities in the grapevine. And 251 vine sap analysis to optimize nutrition. [00:40:50] If you liked the show, do us a big favor by sharing it with a friend, subscribing and leaving us a review. You can find all of the podcasts at vineyardteam.org/podcast, and you can reach us at podcast at vineyardteam. org until next time, this is sustainable wine growing with the vineyard team.   Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

Join Alex and Emma aboard their nerdy spaceship for the latest System76 hardware and software news. Meet RJ Nowling in an exclusive interview about bioinformatics and genomic data science processing with the ARM-powered Thelio Astra!06:20 Tiny Hardware News about the Meerkat08:55 Conference Appearances (SCALE, LFNW, GTC) and Garrett created a cool planetary COSMIC demo 12:00 COSMIC News, Alpha 6 delayed14:35 RJ Nowling Interview about genomic data science17:00 Experiments to produce sterile genetically modified mosquitoes to eradicate diseases18:00 How RJ got started with bioinformatics19:10 RJ's Linux journey21:20 Choosing hardware for bioinformatics22:40 How to get into genomic data science24:00 Find a cool Phd professor to work with24:40 Future of genomic data science with "Enhancers" and cross-species comparisons27:00 Excitement about advancements in biology27:25 How to get in touch with RJ27:45 Experience with Thelio Astra28:15 Emma and Alex play a balloon gameCheck out what we make!Blog: blog.system76.comLaptops: s76.co/WuEDOnoSDesktops: s76.co/Zn4NXTf9Pop!_OS: s76.co/D_IWRvWD

GUEST:   https://mycota.com/   MENTIONS:   https://www.mycoportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=274169   https://www.inaturalist.org/   http://ww.calalive.org/   MUSHROOM HOUR:   https://welcometomushroomhour.com    https://instagram.com/welcome_to_mushroom_hour   https://tiktok.com/@welcome_to_mushroom_hour   Show Music courtesy of the one and only Chris Peck: https://peckthetowncrier.bandcamp.com/   TOPICS COVERED:   Passion for Mushroom Cultivation   Wild Mushroom Identification   DNA barcoding vs. Whole Genome Sequencing   Sanger Sequencing & Nanopore Sequencing   DNA Sequencing Process from Specimen to Final DataAI & Algorithms Interpreting Genetic Data   Creating Foundational Data Sets   Unidentified Fungi All Around Us   Expanding from Indiana Across North America   Genetic Data Making Better Field Mycologists   What is a “Species”?   The Species Problem in Medicinal Mushroom Research   Becoming a Contributor to Mycota Labs Projects   Bioinformatics & Scaling Biodiversity Studies   

Send us a Text Message (please include your email so we can respond!)Episode 57! We were excited to have on this episode Dr. Adam Wright who is a PhD in Bioinformatics to discuss SCREEN or "Electronic Sepsis Screening Among Patients Admitted to Hospital Wards: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial" published by Arabi et al in JAMA 2024 and presented at the CCR Down Under Conference. A long episode but a lot of good discussionSCREEN (pubmed): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39658862/SCREEN (JAMA): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2828069If you enjoy the show be sure to like and subscribe, leave that 5 star review! Be sure to follow us on the social @icucast for the associated figures, comments, and other content not available in the audio format! Email us at icuedandtoddcast@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions! Thank you Mike Gannon for the intro and exit music!

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, host Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Dr Thom Dixon, whose work explores biofutures and the bioeconomy. We explore what synthetic biology and bioinformation are and how much of an individual person's information signature is biological. We discuss how AI can learn from biomimicry and adaptive natural biological systems. We explore the future of surveillance plants and how sensing in the environment will operate and what it might mean for national and physical security as well as how a future consumer synthetic biology app will accelerate the fields growth and reach.The conversation covers Australian biodiversity and potential for functionally useful genetic traits to adapt to climate change as well as role of synthetic biology in climate adaptation and accounting, such as carbon cycling and increasing carbon uptake. This episode includes a quick look at some security threats, including the pervasiveness of DNA data collection (and inability to protect DNA instances), role of AI in mediating information and its potential in influence and interference campaigns. Finally, we discuss the need for policy makers to better understand biology. As we see an increase in cyber-physical (and environmental) systems, policy makers need to improve their understanding of biology and how it interacts with technology.  Thom Dixon completed his PhD at Macquarie University. It explores the development of and use of bioinformation and synthetic biology can impact international relations. He was the Vice President for the Australian Institute of International Affairs NSW. He is a member of the ARC Centre for Excellence for Synthetic Biology and the manager, national security and defence for Macquarie University. Resources mentioned in the recording: + Model's of Life: https://defencescienceinstitute.com/funding-opportunity/darpa-biological-technologies-hr001124s0034/+ The Substack: https://biofuturesinstantiated.substack.com/ This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan. 

Obesity is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, with genetic and molecular factors playing a crucial role in how our bodies regulate weight. In this season opener, we explore the science behind obesity, focusing on how hormones, genetics, and brain circuits influence feeding behavior and body weight. Join us for a fascinating discussion about the interplay between molecular biology and real-world health outcomes.Our guest, Dr. Giles Yeo, is a professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the genetics of obesity. With decades of research experience, Dr. Yeo dives into how hormones like GLP-1 interact with the brain and how genetic mutations can affect eating behaviors. He also explains the innovative molecular biology techniques his lab uses to map brain circuits and decode the genetic influences on body weight.But this episode isn't all about the lab. Dr. Yeo shares his journey from studying the genetics of Japanese pufferfish to becoming a leading voice in obesity research and science communication. Whether he's decoding how Ozempic works or reflecting on the importance of good science communication, Dr. Yeo's passion for the field—and his knack for making complex topics relatable—shines through. Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you're hearing we hope you'll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague.  Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

The Smart 7 is an award winning daily podcast that gives you everything you need to know in 7 minutes, at 7am, 7 days a week...With over 17 million downloads and consistently charting, including as No. 1 News Podcast on Spotify, we're a trusted source for people every day and the Sunday 7 won a Gold Award as “Best Conversation Starter” in the International Signal Podcast Awards If you're enjoying it, please follow, share, or even post a review, it all helps...Today's episode includes the following guests:GuestsMark Zuckerberg - CEO of MetaSarah Hanson-Young - Senate for South AustraliaHelle Thorning-Schmidt - Co-chair of Meta's independent Oversight BoardWill Guyatt - The Smart 7's Tech Guru Dr Kalena Marti - Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation TrustDr Ian Rowe - Professor at the University of Leeds Institute for Medical Research and Honorary Consultant Hepatologist at the Leeds Liver UnitBianca Perea - Liver transplant recipientScott Paik - Representative from Mixi IncYushu Zhou - Co-founder of RoboPetHyunju Connor - Research Astrophysicist at NASATulio de Oliveira - Professor of Bioinformatics at Stellenbosch University in South Africa Dr Simon Clarke - Professor in Cellular Microbiology at the University of ReadingMike Coffey -Professor at Scotland's Rural CollegeContact us over at X or visit www.thesmart7.comPresented by Ciara Revins, written by Meg Turner and Liam Thompson and produced by Daft Doris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on what has been a busy year at Genomics England and in the wider genomics community. Throughout the year, guests have joined us to discuss groundbreaking research discoveries, important ethical considerations, and share their personal stories. It was also a year of transformation: we rebranded our podcast as Behind the Genes, welcomed Dr Rich Scott as our new Chief Executive Officer, and launched the Generation Study, in partnership with NHS England. The Participant Panel also saw changes, with Kirsty Irvine stepping into the role of Chair and Adam Clatworthy and Helen White becoming Vice Chairs. In this special end of year episode, Adam Clatworthy, Vice-Chair of the Participant Panel, sits down with Dr. Rich Scott, CEO of Genomics England, to look back on the highlights of 2024. Together, they revisit key podcast moments, reflect on research discoveries, and share insights into the evolving world of genomics. Below are the links to the podcasts mentioned in this episode, in order of appearance: Celebrating genomic breakthroughs - Insights from the Festival of Genomics Shining a light on rare conditions How has a groundbreaking genomic discovery impacted thousands worldwide? How can we work in partnership towards a new era of genomic medicine and research? How has design research shaped the Generation Study? How can we bridge the gap between diverse communities? Can Artificial Intelligence accelerate the impact of genomics? "It's really important that we just continue to bring that patient and participant community on that journey, just to ensure that they really understand the full benefits. And we've talked about that on the episode today. I know that the panel has always encouraged the Genomics England team to look at its boots while shooting for the moon. I really like that phrase just to make sure, look, we can't forget where we've come from to make sure we're taking people on that journey" You can download the transcript or read it below. Adam: Welcome to Behind the Genes.  Rich: Our vision at Genomics England is a world where everyone can benefit from genomic healthcare, thinking about how we ensure the lessons we've learnt through our diverse data programme is embedded across all of our work.  So that word “everyone” applies to people in lots of different ways, different communities people come from, different socioeconomic backgrounds, making sure that equity is baked into all of our work.  And there's real opportunity for genomics to play a broader role than in rare conditions and in cancer, we're proud of the impact we're already having there, and we should really look to the future.  Adam: My name is Adam Clatworthy, and I'm the Vice-Chair for rare conditions on the Participant Panel at Genomics England.  On today's episode, I'm going to be joined by Rich Scott, CEO of Genomics England.  We're going to be taking a look back at the key milestones from 2024 for Genomics England, and really discussing our hopes and aspirations for the year ahead.  During this episode we'll also hear from some of our guests we've had on the show this year, who have helped shape our discussions and shared some of their most impactful moments and insights.  And if you'd like to listen to more like this, then please subscribe to Behind the Genes on your favourite podcast app.  So, with that, thanks for joining me, Rich, how are you doing?  Rich: I'm great, thanks for hosting today, I'm really excited about it.    Adam: So, Rich, it's been a pretty exciting year for you, you've taken on the CEO role at Genomics England full-time, so why don't you just start by telling us about how those first few months have been for you?  Rich: It's been a really exciting year, I think for us overall at Genomics England, and obviously personally taking on the CEO role, which is an enormous privilege.  I've been at Genomics England nine years, and I think both a privilege and a real responsibility to take on the role.  To think both about how we continue to honour the commitments we've given our participants and those we work with, and to think about the future, where we might go together, what evidence we need to generate, what our systems need to support.  So it's been great taking on the role, and thinking about that, both the present and the future, and there's been lots, as we'll talk about, there's been lots going on.  Adam: No, that's great.  And I must say for myself as well, I started the Vice-Chair role at a very similar time to you early in the year.  When I started, we were in the process of looking for our next Chair.  Obviously, we had Jillian and Rebecca, both standing down, after many years in the role.  They've been there from the start, really guiding the Panel through this amazingly successful period.  But for me, I've really enjoyed working in partnership with Helen, who is our Vice-Chair for cancer.  It's been a real partnership, in terms of filling in for that interim leadership role.  And we wanted to make sure that we weren't just caretakers, we were really continuing to be actively involved in a lot of the discussions that are happening with your colleagues across Genomics England.  Very much leading the Panel, and starting to have those important discussions around, where does the Panel go next?  And what's our strategy for the next two to three years?  What are the key areas that we can drive real value and impact, in line with your own milestones at Genomics England?    And, of course, I've just loved getting stuck into chairing the Panel meetings as well, for me, that's the best part, is really bringing together these amazingly diverse and passionate people.  With so many different personalities, lived experiences, and a combined passion for just taking this forward together, and making sure that the benefits of genomics really impact, and that's felt by the wider community itself.  So there's been lots of highlights to recognise this year, a real stand-out for me has to be the Genomics England Research Summit, from what I understand it was the most attended event to date.  And it was just so good to see that a lot of the Panel were front and centre across that event, sharing their stories, having a really active role, whether introducing speakers, or telling their own journeys as part of the Q&A sessions.   I myself was really privileged to be on stage with Baroness Nicola Blackwood, literally nine days after I officially started the role.  So it was great to just dive in at the deep end, get in front of an incredible audience, and just see that the broader Panel was front and centre of the event itself.  And it was just great to see how popular the event was, many more people coming to have a chat to us on the stand than would have found us before, so, all in all, a really big highlight for myself.  So, for you, Rich, are there any other highlights that you want to call out for this year?  Rich: And first to say, absolutely agree with the Research Summit being, you know, a highlight.  The diversity of the discussions that we had, it's one of the things we enjoy most about thinking about creating the summit, as you say, involving the participants very much at the centre.  Like, physically at the centre of the room, for people to come and talk to participants and hearing stories.  And then really seeing how over the years we can see the impact growing, and having talks, whether it's about individual findings, or big research studies.  So the final talk of the day was from Charlie Swanton.  He was talking about some really exciting work that his team have done in our National Genomics Research Library, making a really important discovery about extra chromosomal DNA in cancer, and that's now been published in Nature.  And then right next to him, we were having a policy talk from Sam, who's the CEO of NICE.  And you can see the range of things, the sorts of evidence, sorts of conversation, we need to have, so that was really fantastic.  I'd call out one discovery this year that maybe we'll come back to, and one other big highlight.  So I think the big discovery this year was the discovery of this piece of non-coding sequence in the genome called RNU4-2, which turns out to be pretty much the most common cause of developmental disorders that's been discovered.  And it's just so exciting to see that having been discovered in the National Genomics Research Library.  And then the news, the knowledge spread, across the world, and family support groups coming together to understand and learn more about what that means for them.  So that was, I think, the discovery over the years at Genomics England that's touched me most, seeing that story.  And I'd say for us, organisationally, another big highlight has been the launch of our newborns programme, the Generation Study.  So as lots of people listening will know, we've been actually thinking about what the questions underlying this study are for a good number of years, doing a lot of preparatory work.  Actually, before we even started, setting up public dialogue jointly with the National Screening Committee about what the public were keen to understand and the appetite for research in this area.  And then we've been spending several years designing the study, working with the NHS how to design, safely launch it, National Screening Committee involved all along, and working with patients and the public to design it.  And this year now launching the study at a public launch, just a couple of months ago, by the time people are listening to this, and at the time of recording, more than 2,000 families have joined the programme.    So really exciting, us exploring a really big question for genomics, about the use of whole genome sequencing in newborn babies.  Whether that should be offered to every baby at birth, primarily driven by that desire to do better for those children born with treatable conditions, where genetics, genomics, can be a way in to finding them, but doing that at the right pace, and very much in a research setting.  That's been a real, a moment, I think there's been so much work on the path to it, but it's right to sort of celebrate these staging posts on the way.  We're early in the programme, there's lots to do, lots to work through, lots of evidence that we'll accrue, but it's really exciting to be at that staging post.  Adam: No, absolutely, and from my side, I think seeing all of the media pick up for the Generation Study launch, you could really see the excitement in the wider kind of community.  Seeing it shared on social media, obviously those part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, seeing things like this.  It's like they can see the tangible outcomes of all the work that they've done as part of that initial project, and seeing how those learnings are then taken onto this new study.  So we'll now hear a clip from earlier in the year from Louise Fish, who is the former CEO of Genetic Alliance UK, who shares her thoughts on the potential of the Generation Study.  Louise: The Generation Study is looking at 200 conditions and whether it's possible to screen for them.  And for all of those 200 conditions, it's a really exciting opportunity to see if we can learn more.  Both about the potential to understand and develop treatments early, but also just about the chance to understand the natural history of that condition so much earlier than we do at the moment.  And I think that's it, it's that understanding the natural history of the condition really early, and understanding how a family can be helped, through all aspects of the condition, which is giving people most excitement I think, alongside the potential to develop treatments.  Adam: So now, let's look back at the priorities for Genomics England for 2025.  Now, Rich, would you like to just take us through some of the things you'll be focusing on next year?  Rich: Yes, one of the things that we've been doing this year, but also actually in the year before, is really looking to the future.  And saying, where might we be in terms of genomics really living up to the impact it could have, if we collectively, in the UK and working with international partners, sort of get things right?  And that's very much about balancing the realism of where we are, and the impact we're already having, and being proud of that, and then getting that same sort of ambition and realism casting to the future.  And I'd say, I think there are two really broad themes.  I think the first thing is, we're enormously proud of the impact we've had already for families with rare conditions, and people with cancer, and that impact will continue to grow in the coming years, in those areas.  And in the next few years, that's where the biggest impact of genomics will continue, and the rare disease programme we have thinking increasingly about how we support the generation of evidence and pathways that lead to rare therapies.    So building, getting better all the time at finding diagnoses, which is still a long journey we're on, and continuing that work.  Increasingly thinking about how we can support therapies, and in cancer, again, playing a better role in cancer, both by driving efficiency in diagnostics, and efficiency in identifying where therapies enabled by genomics can be targeted.  And we see lots of different examples of that, clinical trials is a big area where we hope to have more impact in the future, but also thinking about some of the novel therapies that are there, both for rare conditions, but also, for example, the cancer vaccines.  And I think we're uniquely placed in the UK, because of our partnership at Genomics England with the NHS, and the broader science ecosystem, to have that impact.  So that's the sort of like continuing very much where we are, but really pushing those boundaries.  And then also, if we look to the future, to say, what role could genomics play?  And we, as you know, our vision at Genomics England is a world that everyone can benefit from genomic healthcare, and I think that plays out in a couple of ways.  Firstly, thinking about how we ensure the lessons we've learnt through our diverse data programme is embedded across all of our work, so that word “everyone” applies to people in lots of different ways, different communities people come from, different socioeconomic backgrounds, making sure that equity is based into all of our work.  And then also, to say there's real opportunity for genomics to play a broader role than in rare conditions and in cancer, we're proud of the impact we're already having there, and we should really look to the future.  And as we set out where we think what evidence is needed and where we need to learn what the digital infrastructure that we build and others build, need to build that to support that, we look across a few different areas.  But really you can see genomics playing a role across the lifetime, in different places in different roles.   To pick one really powerful example is something people often refer to as pharmacogenomics.  Which is a medical term for what boils down to look at a person's DNA sequence, that's the genomics bit, and making decisions based on what drug to give them, what drugs to avoid, or perhaps what dose to drug to give them.  Based on, for example, the desire to avoid adverse drug reactions that people might be at high risk of, and you can identify that risk looking at the DNA.  That is one example of genomics playing a role in being increasingly sort of preventive, getting away from disease, getting upstream of disease arising, or harm arising.  And there are other opportunities in common disease as well, sort of casting forward to what that impact might be, and we feel that genomics could play a role, really broadly, across healthcare, in probably as many as half of all healthcare encounters.    But what we need to do over the coming years for that to potentially be the case is we need to build out the evidence, and we also need to understand what digital infrastructure we need, to make that a possibility.  So that the information is there in simple format, for patients and the public, for their GPs, for their pharmacist, for people in any speciality in hospital, not just sort of rare disease clinics or in cancer, as we are at the moment.  And so very much we're thinking about the programmes that we and others could run to ask some of those questions, to think about what we need to build out.  We feel that the UK's uniquely placed to develop that evidence, so that we can make the choices about how genomics is used, and so we can be ready to embed it.    And it really aligns with that shift that we see and we hear, for example, in government being talked about, when we're looking about sort of the shifts that the NHS sees as essential.  You know, increasingly preventive, increasingly digital, increasingly in the community, and that point of sort of getting upstream.  And genomics is going to be an important part of that.  And we at Genomics England are really excited about the role that we can play, whether it's through the digital infrastructure we build, whether it's the programmes that we run to develop the evidence.  Or whether it's through the ethics and the engagement work, the work with the Panel, and the work with the wider public, to understand how we might develop this evidence, what people are comfortable with, what the expectations are.  And I think that, pulling that together is complex, it's really exciting to think about how we do it.  I think we in the UK are uniquely placed to take advantage of that.  Adam: That's great, and I think the pharmacogenomics piece is fascinating.  I mean, you hear many stories of people having adverse reactions to certain medications, and you wouldn't even think it's something that may be linked to their genetic makeup.  It's so important that we take people along that journey, around what the benefits are, the ethics, to make sure that people really understand the journey that we're making and what the potential impact could be.  Whilst there's lots of amazing new areas to develop into, a key focus for us on the Panel is really continuing to demonstrate how the 100,000 Genomes Project participants continue to have an impact, and they're helping shape a lot of these developments.  So they generously donated their data, it not only helps Genomics England develop the systems and services that now benefit many families, but it also continues to drive that scientific and technological enhancement.  So it wasn't just about reaching that 100,000 genomes, that project was really the starting point, as it were, it's not the finish line, it laid the groundwork for a lot of these developments.  So it's about how do we focus on maximising the benefit for those participants over their lifetime, not just at that one point in time.    We know genomics is evolving so rapidly, what you can glean from a genome today is far more than what was possible in 2013.  And we know the Diagnostic Discovery team is continuing to analyse the data for participants in the project based on these new advances, the team led by Suzi (Walker), who's doing some amazing work there.  Using all the latest tools and enhancements, just to make sure that those participants are really benefiting from that learning.  So, we just need to make sure we stay close to that wider community, and just ensure they're not forgotten, that's really a key north star for us as the Panel.  And something that we've been pushing is better ways that we can help to communicate the ways that you're celebrating these successes, providing regular updates on research progress, offering personalised reports based on the latest findings.  And it's all about providing them with that hope.  Some people may never get a diagnosis, but it's about giving the hope that one day they might get that phone call out of the blue, so it's about giving the hope that those possibilities are out there for others.    So we're now going to shift gear onto hearing from Shaun Pye, who is the father of Joey.  She was diagnosed with DYRK1A syndrome, which is a rare chromosomal disorder, which causes a degree of developmental delay or learning difficulty, at the age of just thirteen.  In this podcast episode, Shaun and his wife Sarah told us of their journey to Joey's diagnosis, and how their role in writing the BBC television comedy drama series, There She Goes, has helped to shine a light on the rare condition community.  Shaun: Then the opportunity came along with 100,000 Genomes, and we signed up immediately.  And then that, they did that, and it was a few years before that went through the system, and then we had, out of the blue really, we were asked to go and see a geneticist, and we had no idea that this is what it was.  I honestly thought it was just a routine sort of, we've got a few more theories or something, and she just said, “We've found out what it is.”  And it's like, that moment is, well, we tried to describe it in the TV programme, but it is quite hard to describe what goes through your mind, when after thirteen and a half years somebody suddenly says, “Oh, by the way, that thing that happened with your daughter, we've worked out what it is.”  Adam: So here, Rich, did you want to provide some updates around future progress, particularly in diagnostic discovery and expanding the research?  Rich: When we're looking to the future, we're looking sort of in two areas.  How we can build the impact we're having today for families with rare conditions and cancer, and that very much includes the participants in our programmes, 100,000 Genomes, those through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, who joined the National Genomic Research Library.  And we've seen, I think the number that I'm most proud of at Genomics England is that number of diagnostic discoveries returned to the NHS, which has just hit the 4,000 mark.  And for those less familiar with the terminology, essentially what that means is where either researchers or the internal team at Genomics England have identified changes in the genome data, that with new knowledge, often with a fine tooth comb, it's considered likely that that is the answer to the cause of the rare condition in that person in the programme.  So that's 4,000 of those returned to the NHS.    And that tells you a lot about where we are for families with rare conditions, and I think there's two points here.  The first one is, we've got a long way still to go to do what we want to for families with rare conditions.  I'm a doctor and still see families in my clinic once a month at Great Ormond Street, even with the incredible advances we've had over the last particularly 10or 15 years, with the changes in sequencing and analysis, we still find an answer for the minority of families.  So that number is growing, and we're really proud of how much better we've done, and there's a long way left to go.  And the really critical thing is designing a system which we're so lucky with in the UK here, where we can continue to learn.  And that's not just for learning for the knowledge of people who might encounter the health system in the future.  It's to learn for those people who've joined the National Genomics Research Library, who've already trusted us to be the custodians of their data, and to do better in the future.  And that's what our diagnostic discovery work really aims to do.  And sometimes that's about new gene discoveries.  So all the time new things are being discovered each year.  And if you look at the DNA code, if you like, boil it down very simply.  99% of it is what we call non-coding DNA, I'll come back to that, about 1% is the genes, which if you like are sort of the books in the library of the DNA, overall DNA code, that we understand relatively well how they're read by the body.  The bits in between, it's a bit of a funny, well-spaced out library this one, that's the 99%, actually we've had very little understanding of most of that code in between.  But we're beginning, and particularly this year, to gain an understanding of how we might interrogate some of those pieces.  And not all of the answers lie in that non-coding DNA, there's lots of answers still left in genes that we don't understand well.    But one of the examples I mentioned earlier, and in fact the thing, the single discovery I guess which I'm most proud of having happened in the National Genomic Research Library is this discovery of this non-coding region called RNU4-2.  Which is a funny, like technical series of letters and numbers, but basically it's a very small patch of the whole DNA code.  Where this year, scientists discovered actually about 60 patients in the families in the National Genomic Research Library where that was the cause of their child's developmental disorder.  Actually, that knowledge has really rapidly spread across the world.  So I actually saw on social media at the weekend, from one of the scientists involved in the discovery, that the family support group that's been set up for what they're calling ReNu syndrome, which I think is a lovely name in itself, speaks to that word hope that you mentioned, Adam.  There are now 248 members of that group, and that's how fast that knowledge spreads across the world.  And what we're doing is thinking how we can support those discoveries more broadly, and non-coding DNA is one of those areas where that growth is, but it's not the only one where we're looking to support things.  But it's so exciting, and I think it gives you a sense of the scale of progress that is left to make.  And I think a really important point is that remains a really important area of our focus, it's not about moving on and looking just to the future, but we need to keep working for the families who are already part of our programmes.    Adam: That's incredible, that 248 members in such a short space of time.  And I love the ReNu name for that, I agree, I think that's a fantastic way of positioning it.  Earlier this year, we heard from Lindsay Pearse, whose son Lars received a diagnosis through that groundbreaking discovery of the genetic change in the RNU4-2, or ReNu gene, which was made possible by whole genome sequencing.  She told us what the diagnosis meant for their family.  Lindsay: This feeling that, like, we've been on this deserted island for eight years, and now all of a sudden, you're sort of like looking around through the branches of the trees, and it's like, wait a minute, there are other people on this island.  And in this case, actually there's a lot more people on this island.  Yes, it's very exciting, it's validating, it gives us a lot of hope and, you know, it has been quite emotional too (laughter).  And also, a bit of an identity shift, because I spoke earlier about how being undiagnosed had become quite a big part of our identity, and so now that's kind of shifting a little bit, that we have this new diagnosis, and are part of a new community.  Adam: You talked about it there, Rich, I mean, it's been really seen as a success story for the whole genomics ecosystem, especially the speed at which it all came together.  From the conversations I had with some of the individuals that were involved in the study, from the date of seeing the first findings in the lab meeting to a polished pre-print going live, was exactly 47 days, which in science terms is less than a second.  So that's how they positioned it to me, incredible.  And you've just said there, they set up this support group earlier this year, and already got 248 members, which is incredible.  The impact on families is significant, the mother touched upon it there.  I mean, for many parents there is that relief that it wasn't something they did during pregnancy, but instead, it is a chance occurrence.  For some, this knowledge means that they can make important decisions, choosing to grow their family, for example.  And it really ends that diagnostic odyssey that many families face, providing answers and potentially ending unnecessary testing that their child is going through.  But I think, and I can talk from personal experience here, that the largest impact is really being able to connect with other families and building that community, you cannot really understate that.  If I look at our own experience of getting a CRELD1 diagnosis for our children, the first time we didn't feel alone was when we could find that community.  We can support each other, we can learn from each other's experiences, and really also drive forward further research into that condition through advocacy.  So, I remember seeing that post on the Facebook page, about that RNU4-2 discovery, and this was before I'd even started in the role at Genomics England on the Panel, but you could really feel that excitement and the relief that they had.  And they mentioned that the official paper only had 36 other people worldwide, they found this little Facebook group that they created with five families in, and in the space of, what, 6, 7 months, they're already at 248.  That's all people that understand what they're going through.  And it's really hard to describe, it's like finding your family that you've never met, people that understand, and they really get what you're going through.  And being able to share tips, advice, learnings, and things that everyone's going through at different stages in their child's life.  So, I really don't think you can talk highly enough of that, that community aspect, and that's just been amazing to see.  And, look, this new era of research into the role of non-coding RNA genes, it really may open more opportunities for diagnoses for patients, participants potentially leading to hopefully more breakthroughs in the year ahead.  So now we're going to move on to why it's so important to engage patients and participants in the genomics world.  So, we'll now hear a clip from Helen White, who is the Vice-Chair for cancer on the Participant Panel.  Now Helen and I have been working really closely together as Vice-Chairs in this interim leadership role, to really ensure that we continue advancing the Panel's strategic initiatives while we recruit that new Chair.  So it's been amazing learning and working with Helen.  In this clip, she discussed an important topic that's been very much top of mind of the Panel, which is the importance of involving the patients and public in genomics research.  Helen: I think, you know, as patients, members of the public, we're eager to get on and for change to happen and things to be better, but it's, yes, a big, big process.  But also, good to hear that you talk about it being a collaborative approach, it's not just Genomics England, it's the NHS, it's members of the public and patient voices, it's other organisations working in partnership.  Adam: Now I think we all recognise the importance of engaging patients and public to ensure diverse communities understand the benefits of genomics, and actively involving patients and participants in the research, to make sure that they're including the perspective of what matters most to them.   Rich: I mean, it goes back to the thing that we really see as central to the value that we at Genomics England can provide.  So we increasingly think of ourselves as a data and evidence engine for national scale genomics, and I think a really important to call out there is that evidence is broad.  And part of that evidence is about public expectations, public preferences, and patient preferences.  And if you think about the big things that we do and where we bring that value, and bring that data and evidence engine role, is, you know, firstly in the digital infrastructure that we build and the data that we hold and present to our various users.  Secondly, it's in the evidence that we distil from that, and very much thinking about part of that being evidence in and around, including that piece on what people expect, this isn't just about hard science and health economics, this is an equally if not more important part of that.  And then thirdly, it is the third area of our focus is on that engagement piece, because that's so fundamental.  And I think you and Helen called that out absolutely right, about that being, that's integral to the whole process, and it's the beginning of any programme you need to start with understanding what the big drivers are, what the expectations are, and doing this very much together.  That's one of the reasons we're so fortunate to have the Participant Panel we do, in our Newborns Programme the Panel have been an important part of that design from the outset.  It's also about broader engagement with different communities, people who currently don't engage with genomics, because they've had no need to, sort of understanding that piece.  And I think we've definitely seen over time in health data research, but also research more broadly, where it's quite easy for these things to be disconnected.  And that results in two things.  It results in research happening about interesting esoteric stuff, but not on the stuff that makes a difference for families.  And I think that's really important, because researchers need to be directed in the resource limited world towards the things that really make a difference.  So that's the first thing.  And the second thing is, it's very easy, with the best will in the world, for people to make wrong judgements about what people are or aren't content with, and you need therefore to be absolutely transparent about what the research is.  Be really clear about what those questions are, and let people challenge you, right from the outset, so that we can design research studies, but also, the system as a whole, together in a way that everyone has a say.  Not everyone has the same view, but how we can develop a system that takes into account those things and gets that balance right.  This is about making a difference to people's health outcomes, thinking about how we achieve that, while also balancing off all of the different views there are, is really important.  And that's at the heart of it.  And it can be scary, because it's right that there is that challenge out there.  And it's one of the things that I think we've learnt at Genomics England, how important it is to be really open to that challenge, and to do that piece really early in all of our work, and have it there baked into our governance as well, for example, the Participant Panel.  Adam: Absolutely, and I think you've summarised all the key areas there really well, in terms of the importance of that engagement.  And one other area I'd just like to pick up on is the impact it can have on the patients or the participants, simply by having that connection with the researcher, that's doing all of the amazing stuff that for some of us, it's really hard to comprehend.  But having that interaction and collaboration with them, it's so important in terms of, again, I go back to giving you that hope.  And a real highlight for me at the Genomics England Research Summit was when Hannah, one of the members of our Panel, she came running over to us and she was just beaming.  And she said, “Guys, you'll never guess what, I've just met the scientist who discovered my daughter's diagnosis in the NGRL.”  And you could see that she was so excited, you cannot understate the impacts that can have on them as a family.  Like having that interaction and that personal connection with the person that really in some ways kind of changed their lives, in terms of understanding more about what that could mean for their daughter growing up, and how they're managing the condition.  So, it's amazing when you can see those highlights and hopefully we'll see more of those.  And it's also really important that we get that diversity I think, as well, in that collaborative approach, just to make sure that it is equitable for all.  And that really brings us on nicely to the next topic, which is about how do we bridge the gap between those diverse communities, and make sure that we're reaching everyone as best as possible?  So we're now going to hear a clip from Sandra Igwe.  Sandra is a CEO and founder of the Motherhood Group, speaking about the Generation Study.  Now, Sandra spoke about the importance of building trust, and how it is vital to engage with a diverse group of communities in the design of research studies.  Sandra: Every community's different, and every patient is different as well.  And so that may require different focuses or different formats or different messengers for different groups.  And so we like to have people with lived experience from the community representing that, and also driving the uptake of consent as well.  But failing to engage diverse voices can lead to perpetuating inequalities in access and uptake.  So it's really important to have representation, because the lack of it in research can overlook communities' specific concerns and needs.  Adam: So, Rich, did you want to talk about why it's so important to have that diversity?  Rich: Yes, I mean, it's critical.  One, I mentioned earlier, our vision as an organisation is a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare, and that word “everyone” really resonates.  I think Sandra has been really an important part of the work that we've done over the last couple of years, particularly through our Diverse Data programme.  But I think one of the real challenges for us is how we make sure that that is something which is embedded across all of our work.  And that's something that we're really focused on at the moment, how we embed the learnings that we've had through that standalone Diverse Data programme into everything we do.  Because we're absolutely committed to that, and I think that is engagement with the diversity of different groups relevant to each programme.  I think one of the real important things is that transparency piece about actually that it's hard to achieve equity in healthcare, full stop, because of historical underinvestment in some of these areas.  And I think being clear with people about that is a really important step, and then talking really practically about why it really makes sense to take different approaches.  And so one thing about our programmes and how we think about the future overall, if genomics is going to make a difference to more than half of healthcare encounters, it needs to be something that across all communities, and across the large majority of people in each of those, that this is something that they want to be part of.  Because it's going to make a difference for them or their families or something they really buy into.  And that's why this isn't just about thinking only about specific programmes where this is a question, it's about making sure that we're designing a system, developing the evidence that is really broadly applicable, and continues to learn.  Because we know that what we learn today is hopefully an improvement on where we are, but we continue to learn and learn and learn.  And it's about creating a system that does that, and does that equitably, or as equitably as we can.  Adam: So we're now going to hear from Moestak Hussein, who works to build and embed cohesion, inclusion, and social justice, in her role at Bristol City Council, in public health and communities.  Moestak talks about the value of co-production, and how this can help to build trust with communities who have historically been underserved or mistreated.  Moestak: If we talk about co-production, true co-production is really creating a power balance where there's no hierarchy, it's an empowering model.  It empowers both the researchers or the person that comes in, but also the communities that participate, and you all start on the same level, on the same outcomes and the same goals and aims that you want to achieve.  Adam: So, if I look at that from our perspective on the Panel, I think co-production in genomics research, so using participant data in the NGRL, is certainly what we'd like to see much more of.  To ensure that research is not only relevant to its intended audience, but also aligns with broader democratic principles of citizenship, accountability, and that transparency as well.  But look, we have to be realistic.  Some genomics research projects are not going to lend themselves to meaningful patient and public involvement in the early stages, but it's really important later on in the research pathway, if the findings identify a patient population who might benefit from that research.  At the moment, involvement of patients and participants, carers in research, is really not great, in terms of the researchers using the NGRL.  So, in conversations what we're hearing is they're saying, “Well, we don't know how to do it, we don't know what steps we should take.”  Or “We don't think it's relevant because we do this particular research.”    But really, our view is that some PPIE, or patient and public involvement engagement is better than none.  Some may not be relevant for all stages of the research pathway, we're not really seeing enough of that happening at the moment, and some papers are even being published without any context of the participants' lived experience at all.  Which can actually be quite frustrating, if you're that patient or parent, and you see a paper published, and you think, well, actually, why didn't they reach out to us?  Just to understand a bit about the symptoms that we're experiencing, what are the challenges that we're facing, just to really add that important context.  So, I think there's certainly an opportunity for us on the Panel, certainly for Genomics England, to be that kind of guiding light for those researchers.  Whether it's providing them with researchers, research papers, or a hub of patient advocacy organisations that are already connecting those patients with researchers.  It's all about signposting them the relevant information, so I think there's certainly things we can do there.  And it really fits in with the bigger engagement piece.  So, whether there's a landing page or a dedicated website that shows them, where do they go, what are the steps that they can take, what's the best practice, what's worked well for another researcher, and how did that lead to really great outcomes for the families involved?  That's where I think we can all play a part in guiding them on that journey, rather than it just being a case of, they're not doing that patient and participant engagement very well, and kind of criticising it.  Let's reach out to them and say, “Look, we can help you and guide you on that journey.”  Rich: I really agree with the need to make those connections happen.  One of the things I think that is often missing is just a confidence just to crack on and do some of this stuff.  And I think, actually, looking at the ReNu syndrome experience, that was work that was swiftly done.  Scientific at the beginning, the initial publication put out there so that people could understand, and was quite medical by necessity, in terms of the speed of getting information out there.  And then very quickly, and quite organically, patient support groups have formed, and also, the scientists are working with that group.  I had a really interesting conversation with Sarah Wynn, who's the CEO of the Unique last week, about how some of that has played out, how the role they've played in facilitating some of that.  And some of it just comes down to sort of really simple things, and working through how you can set up Zoom or whatever meeting, for people to learn about the condition.  And how you preserve anonymity, where that's appropriate, but also allow people to have discussions about their loved ones where they want to, etc.  So it's partly just about giving people the space and the confidence to get on with some of these things.  And as you say our, one of the things we at Genomics England are quite thoughtful about, and I think it's a really good topic to continue talking to the Panel about, is how we get that balance right.  Where, actually, us being a connector and, as you say, signposting useful resources or ways of doing these things, just to break down some of those barriers.  Because almost always the research groups, when they discover something new, this is really new territory for them, and they're often nervous about doing the wrong thing.  And so it's about breaking down some of that anxiety actually I think.  Adam: Yes, absolutely.  In our case, with our condition that we're advocating for our son, we've been working with a researcher.  And it's almost on us as well just to kind of share our story with them, and making them feel more comfortable to ask us questions and be very open and transparent about the more we can share, the more that can hopefully benefit their research moving forward.  It's very much a two-way thing as well, but I like what you said there about having the confidence just to kind of reach out and start those conversations, and have that starting point.  Next topic, we're going to look at some of the innovations that are on the horizon, that we're seeing in the world of genomics.  So, Rich, do you want to take us through what are the most exciting things that you're exploring at the moment?  I know we hear a lot about AI and the technological aspect, so why don't you take us through some of those?  Rich: Yes, so I guess this comes back to that question where we've been looking forward, you know, where might genomics be impactful and making a real difference to people's lives, to helping us have a more efficient healthcare system in the future?  And I think part of that is about this general shift.  You know, genomics technology, we just take for granted now how much it's shifted, how it's within the means of the healthcare system to generate genomic data.  And we're really fortunate in this country because of the digital infrastructure that we've been able to build together with the NHS, that opens up a lot of these questions.  And it's just extraordinary the time we're at in genomics, so almost take those two things for granted, which we should never do.  The change in genomic testing technology, which continues to advance, and secondly, thinking about the digital infrastructure, like the nuts and bolts of what we've got, and the ability to safely store and reuse and analyse some of that data at scale.  And point at two big things.  Firstly, genomics enabled therapies are changing a lot.  So, our understanding, our ability to make a diagnosis, or understand what's different about a cancer, for example, mean that in various ways it's becoming feasible to do more tailored therapies.  Where knowing that, the genomics nitty-gritty of that condition, helps you tailor that, or create sometimes even a bespoke personalised, truly for that one individual, therapy.  And in rare conditions we see that with the so-called N=1 therapies, but also with gene therapies and so forth.  And in cancer we see that with the cancer vaccines, for example.  So that's an enormous area of change, and one of our responsibilities is to support that sort of research, to help identify people who might be eligible for trials or treatments.  But it's also to work with the ecosystem to think about how we can help support the generation of evidence that means that those therapies can be affordable and so forth, on a scalable basis.  So that's one really big area of excitement.  And we see our Rare Therapies Launch Pad being part of that, the National Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, being part of that.  So that's thing one.  Thing two is AI and machine learning, and I think sat on alongside the sort of broader picture of saying, there's a lot left to learn, there's enormous potential in genomics in terms of playing a role in many different situations, not just in rare conditions, in cancer.  And we know doing that well, but also scaling it, making it really efficient, so that we can do that in a context of a really busy health service, one of the answers is making sure that we're leveraging everything we can about the potential of AI.  And there's lots of different ways in which that can be supportive, I won't list lots of them.  But one of the things that we're doing at Genomics England and working with the NHS is thinking about the most promising areas.  And some of those are quite, like, down and dirty, if you like, so sort of saying, which jobs are there that we can use AI, if you like, as a co-pilot, alongside experienced scientists, to speed up their work?  And we're really excited about the role we can play in a few ways actually.  So the first one, back to that sort of data and evidence engine point, is helping organisations who have a tool, help validate it for use in the NHS, and say, “Does it perform to this standard?  What do we want to say about how it performs from an equity point of view?  And from a clinical safety point of view?” etc.  And making that leap from stuff that makes a Nature paper to stuff that lands in clinic is surprisingly challenging, and that's one of our roles.  And we really enjoyed working with various companies and academics over the last few years on that.  We did some work recently with Google DeepMind, on their AlphaMissense tool, thinking about how we can think about that role that might play, for example, in speeding up the interpretation of rare variants that might cause rare conditions.  And there's enormous potential in all sorts of different parts of the sort of end to end of genomics playing a role in healthcare.  And then I'd also say one of the really important things is because genomics in many ways just needs to be part of healthcare and not be treated differently, we also need to recognise where there are questions we need to work through really thoroughly that are a bit more bespoke.  And one of the things that we're really committed to doing, as we look to the future, is making sure that we can support on some of those questions that we really need to be clear on.  I'll go back to that point on, what do we mean about making sure we understand how a tool is working, and whether it's producing results in an equitable way for all different communities?  How do we understand that?  How do we explain what we understand about the performance of a tool?  How do we make sure that patient identifiable data remains non-identifiable if a tool's been built, trained on data?  Working through some of those questions.  But they're really important for us to do, and we're enormously excited about the potential, and we're really committed to working through in detail how we can make that path to adoption safely and in the way that everyone would expect and desire as rapid as possible.  We're just one step in that process.  But we really see a sort of important role for helping people who are producing various tools or various use cases, helping them prove them, helping them validate them, and making the system more efficient overall, but in ways that we really understand.  Adam: That's fantastic.  Look, not that I'm biased at all, but I can tell you that the AlphaMissense innovations that are being developed are shared a lot internally at Google, it has been seen as an amazing success case.  So hopefully we'll see more on that moving forward.  But in the next clip, we're going to hear from Francisco.  So Francisco is the Director of Bioinformatics at Genomics England, who tells us more about the application of AI and its benefits in genomics in healthcare.  Francisco: So AI is already driving the development of personalised medicine for both research and healthcare purposes.  Now at Genomics England we are investigating the use of AI to support a number of tasks, for the potential impact in both research and healthcare.  In the context of healthcare, we are talking about AI tools that can support the prioritisation, the ranking of genomic variants to allow clinicians to make more accurate and faster diagnosis.  Adam: While all of these innovations sound really exciting, it's really important that we just continue to bring that patient and participant community on that journey, just to ensure that they really understand the full benefits, and we talked about that on the episode today.  I know that the panel has always encouraged Genomics England team to look at its boots while shooting for the moon.  I really like that phrase, just to make sure, look, we can't forget where we've come from to make sure we're taking people on that journey.  So, we're going to wrap up there.  Thank you to Rich Scott for joining me today, as we reflected on key milestones for 2024, and looked at the year ahead for both Genomics England and the wider genomic ecosystem.  If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love your support.  Please like, share and rate us on wherever you listen to your podcasts.  I've been your host, Adam Clatworthy, this podcast was edited by Bill Griffin at Ventoux Digital and produced by Naimah Callachand.  Thank you everyone for listening. 

We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.Ning He, et al.  Contextual bias in forensic toxicology decisions: A follow-up empirical study from China. (2024) Journal of Forensic Sciences, doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15520.Kesmen, E. et al. Bioinformatics-driven untargeted metabolomic profiling for clinical screening of methamphetamine abuse. (2024) Forensic Toxicology, doi: 10.1007/s11419-024-00703-2.Schuller, M. et al. Electromembrane extraction of drugs of abuse and prescription drugs from micropulverized hair. (2024) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, doi: 10.1093/jat/bkae051.Schackmuth, M. et al. Identification of fentanyl analogs and potential biomarkers in urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS). (2024) Journal of Chromatography B, doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124303.Trobbiani, S. et al. Increasing the linear dynamic range in LC-MS: is it valid to use a less abundant isotopologue? (2017) Drug Testing and Analysis, doi: 10.1002/dta.2175You can try out NotebookLM yourself at https://notebooklm.google/Contact us at toxpod@tiaft.orgFind out more about TIAFT at www.tiaft.orgThe Toxpod is a production of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists. The opinions expressed by the hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TIAFT or their employers.You can send us a text message using this link!

On this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop welcomes Swati Chaturvedi, CEO of Propel X, to explore the world of deep tech, frontier technology, and the forces shaping the future of human progress. Swati shares her decade-long journey in deep tech, reflecting on how the term evolved as a response to the "tech startup" boom, and discusses her focus on companies leveraging breakthroughs in science and engineering for humanity's advancement. The conversation touches on the role of government support, the power of hypothesis-free experimentation, and the critical importance of partnerships between startups and large corporations. They also discuss transformative technologies like AI, autonomous drones, bioinformatics, robotics, and the possibilities and perils of human augmentation. For more insights from Swati, visit Propel X at www.propelx.com or connect with her on LinkedIn, where she shares her thoughts on innovation, R&D, and the future of technology.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:16 Defining Deep Tech and Its Evolution03:06 Challenges and Philosophical Insights in Deep Tech07:07 AI's Role in Engineering and Bioinformatics14:22 Future Shock and Human Augmentation14:35 The Evolution of Science and Technology22:58 The Future of Work and Social Dynamics24:06 Exploring Sci-Fi Genres: Cyberpunk vs. Solarpunk25:25 Exploring Solar Punk and Human Problems26:01 The Promise and Limitations of Deep Tech26:39 Economic Realities of Technological Advancements27:16 Future Impact of Emerging Technologies28:58 Challenges in Ag Tech and Environmental Concerns29:30 Global Environmental Change and Human Activity33:53 The Role of Modeling in Predicting Climate Impacts36:22 Scientific Method and Industry Collaboration39:23 Government's Role in Early Stage Research42:34 Investment Strategies in Deep Tech46:27 Consumer and Corporate Markets for New Technologies49:12 Conclusion and Future DiscussionsKey InsightsThe Rise of Deep Tech as a Distinct Category: Swati Chaturvedi explains how the concept of "deep tech" emerged as a response to the overuse of the term "tech startup" during the heyday of consumer technology. Unlike simple software apps like photo-sharing or delivery platforms, deep tech focuses on companies leveraging scientific and engineering breakthroughs to solve fundamental human challenges. This includes innovations in fields like AI, robotics, life sciences, space technology, and advanced materials. Her 2014 blog post defining deep tech has since become a widely referenced resource in the field, signaling a shift in focus from digital consumer solutions to tangible, science-based advancements.The Role of Hypothesis-Free Experimentation: Traditional scientific research follows a hypothesis-driven approach, where scientists predict outcomes before testing. Swati highlights the transformative potential of "hypothesis-free" experimentation, where AI and machine learning allow for large-scale experimentation without predefined assumptions. This approach mirrors the randomness of evolution, enabling faster discovery of unexpected results. Companies like Helix are applying this method in drug discovery, where AI-driven processes identify new therapeutic compounds. This shift could significantly accelerate R&D timelines and reduce costs in fields like pharmaceuticals and materials science.The Power of Government Support in Early-Stage R&D: Swati emphasizes the essential role of government funding in de-risking early-stage research. Through programs like SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants, government agencies like the NSF (National Science Foundation) and the Department of Defense (DoD) fund exploratory research at universities and small businesses. These grants act as the "seed fund of America," investing billions annually into high-risk, high-reward projects. Companies that receive these grants often have their private sector investments matched by government dollars, providing significant leverage for investors and entrepreneurs. This public-private funding model enables startups to bridge the "valley of death" between research and commercialization.The Critical Role of Corporate-Startup Partnerships: Swati highlights the importance of partnerships between startups and established corporations, especially in deep tech. These joint development projects allow startups to access resources, validate their markets, and co-develop products with corporate customers. While some founders worry about protecting their intellectual property (IP), Swati believes that the benefits of corporate partnerships outweigh the risks. Corporate collaborations offer crucial early traction and revenue, helping startups de-risk their path to market. This is especially vital in sectors like healthcare, robotics, and clean energy, where the cost of developing and commercializing products is exceptionally high.AI as a Force for Human Augmentation: The episode explores AI's role as an augmentative force rather than a replacement for human intelligence. Swati notes that AI is best understood as a tool that allows humans to multiply their cognitive abilities—processing vast amounts of information, identifying patterns, and making faster connections. This augmentation goes beyond software, extending into physical augmentation with devices like robots and smart tools that help humans accomplish physical tasks. While AI-driven tools like ChatGPT may lead to job displacement, Swati sees it as a natural progression, requiring humans to upskill and shift to higher-value tasks.The Promise and Risks of Climate and Environmental Technologies: Swati identifies climate change and global environmental degradation as existential challenges that even the most advanced deep tech may struggle to address. Technologies like atmospheric water generation, carbon capture, and agtech are making strides, but she notes that they are not yet sufficient to solve global challenges like water scarcity, food security, and air pollution. Drawing from her personal experience with air pollution in India, Swati argues that we need to better price and internalize the "cost of the commons"—the shared environmental resources that are often depleted for private gain. Without a clear economic incentive to prevent environmental harm, she warns that climate issues will continue to escalate.The Future of Space Tech and Human Exploration: Swati expresses optimism about the commercialization of space technology, noting its growing impact on daily life. Technologies like satellite internet (e.g., Starlink) are already improving connectivity in remote areas worldwide. The use of satellites for earth observation, weather tracking, and resource management is also becoming essential for sectors like agriculture and disaster response. Looking ahead, Swati is bullish on the potential for space colonization on the moon and Mars, although she acknowledges the immense technical and ethical challenges involved. While space tech once felt like science fiction, companies like SpaceX have made it tangible and real.

In this episode of the Micro Binfie podcast, host Andrew Page talks with Dr. Erin Young, a bioinformatician at the Utah Public Health Laboratory, recorded during the 10th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. Erin shares her journey from researching hereditary cancer predisposition to her current role in public health bioinformatics, which she entered through a prestigious CDC and APHL fellowship. The conversation delves into her work with bacterial pathogens, particularly in tracking antimicrobial resistance in organisms like Klebsiella. Erin discusses the tools she uses for genome typing, such as MASH, FastANI, and SKA, and her innovative research on the accuracy of long-read sequencing technologies like Nanopore for detecting antimicrobial resistance genes. She also provides a preview of her upcoming poster for ASM, where she examines how Nanopore reads can be used effectively in public health microbiology. This episode offers a fascinating look at how bioinformatics and genomics are advancing the fight against infectious diseases.

What are the oral hygiene tips that could save your life? Dave Asprey sits down with one of the most popular guests on the show, Naveen Jain, founder and CEO of Viome Life Sciences, to explore how your oral microbiome influences not just your dental health but your entire body. Naveen reveals groundbreaking insights into how imbalances in oral bacteria can trigger chronic inflammation, heart disease, and even cancer—and how understanding your unique microbiome can help prevent these risks. Discover why oral health goes far beyond brushing and flossing, how to optimize your oral microbiome for longevity, and why common mouthwashes may be doing more harm than good. Naveen also introduces cutting-edge solutions from Viome, including personalized oral lozenges and postbiotics, to elevate both your oral and overall health. In this episode, you'll also uncover the exact foods to eat and avoid to live a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life. What you'll learn in this episode: • The surprising link between your oral microbiome and chronic disease • Why bacterial diversity in your mouth is essential for overall health • How leaky gums drive systemic inflammation and increase health risks • The dangers of over-sterilizing your mouth and eliminating beneficial bacteria • Personalized solutions to improve oral and gut health with Viome • Actionable tips to optimize your oral microbiome for better longevity Resources: • 2025 Biohacking Conference – https://biohackingconference.com/2025 • Viome Full Body Intelligence Test (Save $110) – https://www.viome.com/dave • Viome Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/viome • Learn More About Viome – https://viome.com • Danger Coffee – https://dangercoffee.com • Danger Coffee Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dangercoffeeofficial/ • Dave Asprey's Website – https://daveasprey.com • Dave Asprey's Book: Smarter Not Harder – https://daveasprey.com/books • Dave Asprey's Linktree – https://linktr.ee/daveasprey • Upgrade Collective: Join The Human Upgrade Podcast Live – https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Own an Upgrade Labs – https://ownanupgradelabs.com • Upgrade Labs – https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen – Neurofeedback training for advanced cognitive enhancement – https://40yearsofzen.com Sponsors: -Leela Quantum | Head to https://leelaq.com/DAVE for 10% off. -ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order. Timestamps: • 00:00 Introduction to Viome and Its Impact on Health • 00:53 Meet Naveen Jain: Visionary Behind Viome • 02:41 Understanding the Microbiome and Its Role in Health • 05:54 The Power of RNA Analysis in Personalized Health • 12:19 Diet, Microbiome, and Personalized Nutrition • 29:50 The Importance of Oral and Gut Health • 39:20 Debating the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting • 40:08 The Role of Gut Bacteria in Fasting and Diet • 42:12 Understanding Chronic Inflammation and Diet • 44:13 The Keto Diet Myths and Realities • 45:44 Oxalates and Superfoods What You Need to Know • 49:25 The Concept of Holobiont and Human Health • 56:21 The Five Pillars of Longevity • 01:02:04 The Importance of Quality Sleep • 01:05:18 Purpose and Community for a Longer Life • 01:09:48 Upcoming Topics and Final Thoughts See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMMUTE workshop: Predictive Medicine and Patient Rights: Balancing Risks and Benefits for Individuals and Society Date: Wednesday, 13th November 2024, 9:00 – 10:30 Venue: The Aula, Hof 1.11, University of Vienna Campus, Spitalgasse 2, A-1090 Vienna This was a public event, free of charge. Moderator: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Forgó, Head of the Department of Innovation and Digitalisation in Law, University of Vienna Speakers: Joachim Maurice Mielert (COMMUTE Legal and Ethical Advisory Board member, Generalsekretär, APS Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit e.V. -Action Alliance for Patient Safety eV, Germany) Prof. Dr. Martin Hofmann-Apitius (COMMUTE Project Coordinator, Department Head, Bioinformatics at Fraunhofer SCAI, University of Bonn) Prof. Sarah Bauermeister PhD CPsychol (Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Dept. Psychiatry, University of Oxford) Constanze Hübner M.Sc. (Research Associate, Center for Life Ethics, University of Bonn) This is a local recording as the sound in the stream did not work. This is also why the video signal is missing from 01:20 to 4:07 (but audio is here, at least :-) ). Sorry for any inconveniece. Further information on COMMUTE: https://www.commute-project.eu/en/about.html

In this episode of the Micro Binfie Podcast, host Andrew Page catches up with Torsten Seemann at the 10th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland. They discuss the rapid evolution of bioinformatics, the challenges faced by labs worldwide, and the explosion of tools post-COVID. Torsten shares insights into his work at Melbourne's Microbiological Diagnostic Unit (MDU), the development of platforms like OzTracker for bacterial genomics, and how his lab plays a national and international role in data sharing. The conversation dives into the future of the widely-used variant calling tool Snippy, as Torsten reveals exciting updates funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, including nanopore read support and the ability to process pre-assembled genomes. They also explore the importance of maintaining open-source bioinformatics tools to prevent them from becoming obsolete. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the state of genomics, software development, and the challenges and rewards of open-source collaboration.

Colorectal cancer rates might be dropping across Canada, but this province has the highest rates in the country. Touati Benoucraf is an associate professor of Genomics & Bioinformatics at Memorial University. He spoke about his research with the Morning Show's Sarah Antle.

DNA sequence data promises to enable the study of biodiversity and its response to threats. However, much of this potential depends upon the availability of reference genomes. We hear about the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) from its Chairperson, Rob Waterhouse (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). We also hear from ERGA member Will Nash (Earlham Institute) about his quest to understand the genome of the beautiful Violet carpenter bee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Nora Khaldi is a renowned biotech entrepreneur, mathematician, scientist and founder and CEO at Nuritas, an AI-enabled synthetic biology company focused on creating the next generation of intelligent ingredients. Dr. Khaldi is an industry leader in the field of life science, biotechnology and food technology.  She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Evolution, Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics from Trinity College Ireland and a masters in mathematics from Aix-Marseille University.  Her research has focused primarily on research evolution and comparative genomics. Nora holds over 30 patents and is a highly published author.   Together Dr. Khaldi and I dive into the world of peptides and the infinite possibilities of the Nuritas peptide finder. We explore the characteristics of peptides that can change and improve targeted areas, including maintaining muscle health while losing weight, skin health and wrinkles through collagen production and reduced inflammation, and glucose, craving control, sleep promotion, and skin health. Dr. Khaldi reviews the PeptiStrong timeline, highlights targeted populations and shares observations from her personal use. She also addresses the possibilities and concerns associated with AI, reminding us how scientists can enhance their research with its assistance.  I'm your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.   Episode Resources: Dr. Nora Khaldi - https://www.nuritas.com/team/dr%E2%81%9Fnora%E2%81%9Fkhaldi/ Design for Health Resources: Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/ Research Blog: Decoding Peptides: The Body's Little Helpers - https://www.casi.org/decoding-peptides-bodys-little-helpers Research Blog: Bioactive Peptides From the Fava Bean: The Future of Muscular Health? - https://www.casi.org/bioactive-peptides-from-the-fava-bean-future-of-muscular-health Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/ Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog. https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education Chapters: 00:00 Intro. 03:09 Dr. Khali's interest in mathematics and life sciences converged as her career progressed. 5:58 The moment that peptides became the focus of Dr. Khali's research involved wallaby milk.  9:27 Details about peptides and the infinite possibilities of the Nuritas peptide finder.  13:03 The molecular universe of an apple includes more molecular data than all social media put together. Dr. Khali details this library of peptides.  15:44 A timeline of the peptide finder's work and how its inaccuracies are corrected over time to identify solutions. 18:14 Determining which areas to focus on and bring to market starts with securing both health and longevity.  21:16 Pillars in seeking peptides that can change and improve targeted areas, including maintaining muscle health while losing weight.  24:01 Discovering the muscle building mechanisms that became the ingredients in PeptiStrong.  27:51 Why can't humans access all nutrients that are hidden in plants?  31:42 The role of AI in identifying properties and the role of humans in ensuring accuracy.  35:25 Pre-market control testing markers and models and findings from early human clinical trials. 42:18 PeptiStrong timeline and targeted populations and observations from Dr. Khaldi's personal use.  47:15 Designs for Health CEO Amardeep Kahlon's testimonial for performance peptides.  49:15 The combination of mathematics and computer science is AI, and scientists can enhance their research with its assistance.  52:25 PeptiYouth focuses on skin health and wrinkles through collagen production and reduced inflammation.  54:42 Upcoming areas of Nuritas peptide research include glucose, craving control, sleep promotion, and skin health. 58:50 Is it possible that the answers for cancers and other diseases might be found in peptides?  1:01:27 Dr. Nora Khaldi personal favorite supplements, top health practices, and her changing post-pandemic views on remote work. 

The history of fermented foods like beer, bread, and other foods can be traced back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in China and Egypt. This ancient technology was originally used to preserve foods when refrigeration was not an option. While less common in modern industrialized civilizations, we're now realizing that fermented foods play a major role in gut microbiome diversity, which is a biomarker for overall health. Join our conversation with Dr. John Leech, Technologist at Teagasc in County Cork, Ireland to learn all about the history and how cutting-edge technologies are being applied to research in food fermentation. John shares his story of how he found this field of research and how he's now headlong into striving to understand and harness the power of fermented foods. We learn about the complex microbial communities that define and deliver the health benefits of these foods, but we also hear about how this biological complexity makes them inherently irreproducible. Foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, tepache, milk kefir, and water kefir are produced from fermentation, facilitated by complex communities of microbes. Consumption of fermented foods can alter our gut microbiome, which has been shown to affect obesity, inflammation, longevity, and efficacy of drug treatments. John and his team are using qPCR, NGS, and other methods to characterize the microbial consortia used to produce these foods. They're now working to figure out how to simplify the consortium while still delivering health benefits, all while making the process reproducible and scalable Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you're hearing we hope you'll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague.  Download Transcripts: Speaking of Mol Bio Podcast | Thermo Fisher Scientific - US Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

Host Andrew Page is joined by Robert Petit from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory. Robert, a key developer of the Bactopia pipeline, shares insights into how this end-to-end tool is transforming bacterial genomic surveillance. They dive into the origins of Bactopia, its applications in public health, and Robert's experience leading genomic projects in a rural setting. Discover how Bactopia streamlines pathogen detection, improves documentation, and integrates with other tools to deliver fast and accurate results. Listen in as they discuss new innovations in bioinformatics, including visualizations and human-read filtering, and explore future projects like CamelHUMP, designed to simplify sequence-based typing. Recorded live at the Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland, this episode brings you the latest in pathogen genomics and the challenges and rewards of working on the frontier of public health.

In this weeks episode of "Pushing the Limits" , Dr. David Furman, Director of the 1000 immunomes project, the world's largest longitudinal population-based study of immunology and aging at Stanford University and Associate Professor at the Buck Institute for Aging, Founder of Edifice Health and Cosmica Biosciences, discusses his extensive research in immunology, particularly focusing on the 1000 Immunomes Project, which aims to understand the immune system's role in aging.  He emphasizes the importance of studying human biology over traditional animal models and introduces the concept of the Inflammation Age Clock as a new biomarker for aging.  The discussion also covers the implications of systemic chronic inflammation in aging, the role of nutrition, and the potential for interventions to improve health span. Additionally, Dr. Furman shares insights into his work with NASA on accelerated aging in astronauts, highlighting the broader applications of his research in combating age-related diseases.   Takeaways:    Dr. Furman aims to have a massive impact on human health. The immune system plays a crucial role in aging. Human studies provide better insights than animal models. The Inflammation Age Clock is a new biomarker for aging. Chronic inflammation is a key factor in age-related diseases. Nutrition significantly affects inflammation and aging. Reliable biomarkers are needed for effective aging interventions. NASA's research on astronauts reveals accelerated aging in space. The convergence of technologies is revolutionizing health research. Future research will focus on protecting astronauts and advancing aging studies. Titles: System Chronic Inflammation: The Hidden Driver of Aging Nutrition and Inflammation: Key Factors in Health span   About the 1000 immunomes Project: The Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project (KIP) is a collaborative ongoing study at Stanford University that aims to define the biological basis of aging and disease using state-of-the-art 'omics' platforms and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) methods. The main focus of 1KIP is to establish biomarkers for healthy versus sub-functional immune systems. They do this by identifying the interactions between genetic and environmental factors, which contribute to the observed heterogeneity of biological responses in human beings.  To this end, 1000 individuals of different age groups (9-96 years old) were recruited between 2007-2017. Their blood samples were screened using multiple state-of-the-art technologies at a single facility, the Human Immune Monitoring Center (HIMC) to measure circulating proteins, cell types, cellular functions, whole-genome blood gene expression and subjects' haplotypes using deep sequencing technologies. The 1KIP dataset has enabled us for the first time to identify reliable biomarkers of aging and disease in a longitudinal population-based study of immunology and aging. 1KIP provides reference values for thousands of immune variables and identifies clusters of individuals sharing similar health versus disease immune profiles. BIO Dr. David Furman is an academic entrepreneur deeply committed to addressing intricate challenges within human biology, systems medicine, translational immunology, preventative healthcare, aging, and precision longevity. Holding positions as the Director of the Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project at the Stanford School of Medicine and as an Associate Professor and Director of the Bioinformatics and Data Science Core at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Dr. Furman leads research endeavors that leverage multi-scale biology ('omics') platforms and advanced AI/ML methodologies. He identifies biomarkers and integrative biological clocks essential for monitoring individual health statuses. Groundbreaking technologies originating from the Furman lab now facilitate the application of descriptive and mechanistic biomarkers to detect and combat accelerated aging and disease progression. With over 15 years of specialization in inflammation's role in aging mechanisms, Dr. Furman's expertise includes various domains, including neuroscience, cardiovascular health, metabolic diseases, and immune system function. Notably, in 2022, NASA's Human Research Program sought Dr. Furman's collaboration, leading to partnerships with SpaceX and Cornell University. Dr. Furman's entrepreneurial initiatives include the founding of the Inflammaging Institute, aimed at democratizing biological aging diagnosis, and the establishment of Stanford spin-off Edifice Health Inc., and Buck Institute spin-off Cosmica Biosciences Inc., both focused on innovative approaches to combat aging-related ailments and precision longevity interventions. Dr. Furman has published over 50 scientific articles in top-tier journals such as Cell, Nature Medicine, PNAS, The Lancet, and others, and is the inventor of over 25 patents.     Personalised Health Optimisation Consulting with Lisa Tamati Lisa offers solution focused coaching sessions to help you find the right answers to your challenges. Topics Lisa can help with:  Lisa is a Genetics Practitioner, Health Optimisation Coach, High Performance and Mindset Coach. She is a qualified Ph360 Epigenetics coach and a clinician with The DNA Company and has done years of research into brain rehabilitation, neurodegenerative diseases and biohacking. She has extensive knowledge on such therapies as hyperbaric oxygen,  intravenous vitamin C, sports performance, functional genomics, Thyroid, Hormones, Cancer and much more. She can assist with all functional medicine testing. Testing Options Comprehensive Thyroid testing DUTCH Hormone testing Adrenal Testing Organic Acid Testing Microbiome Testing Cell Blueprint Testing Epigenetics Testing DNA testing Basic Blood Test analysis Heavy Metals  Nutristat Omega 3 to 6 status and more  Lisa and her functional medicine colleagues in the practice can help you navigate the confusing world of health and medicine . She can also advise on the latest research and where to get help if mainstream medicine hasn't got the answers you are searching for whatever the  challenge you are facing from cancer to gut issues, from depression and anxiety, weight loss issues, from head injuries to burn out to hormone optimisation to the latest in longevity science. Book your consultation with Lisa    Join our Patron program and support the show Pushing the Limits' has been free to air for over 8 years. Providing leading edge information to anyone who needs it. But we need help on our mission.  Please join our patron community and get exclusive member benefits (more to roll out later this year) and support this educational platform for the price of a coffee or two You can join by going to  Lisa's Patron Community Or if you just want to support Lisa with a "coffee" go to  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LisaT to donate $3   Lisa's Anti-Aging and Longevity Supplements  Lisa has spent years curating a very specialized range of exclusive longevity, health optimizing supplements from leading scientists, researchers and companies all around the world.  This is an unprecedented collection. The stuff Lisa wanted for her family but couldn't get in NZ that's what it's in her range. Lisa is constantly researching and interviewing the top scientists and researchers in the world to get you the best cutting edge supplements to optimize your life.   Subscribe to our popular Youtube channel  with over 600 videos, millions of views, a number of full length documentaries, and much more. You don't want to miss out on all the great content on our Lisa's youtube channel. Youtube   Order Lisa's Books Lisa has published 5 books: Running Hot, Running to Extremes, Relentless, What your oncologist isn't telling you and her latest "Thriving on the Edge"  Check them all out at  https://shop.lisatamati.com/collections/books   Perfect Amino Supplement by Dr David Minkoff Introducing PerfectAmino PerfectAmino is an amino acid supplement that is 99% utilized by the body to make protein. PerfectAmino is 3-6x the protein of other sources with almost no calories. 100% vegan and non-GMO. The coated PerfectAmino tablets are a slightly different shape and have a natural, non-GMO, certified organic vegan coating on them so they will glide down your throat easily. Fully absorbed within 20-30 minutes! No other form of protein comes close to PerfectAminos Listen to the episode with Dr Minkoff here:    Use code "tamati" at checkout to get a 10% discount on any of their devices.   Red Light Therapy: Lisa is a huge fan of Red Light Therapy and runs a Hyperbaric and Red Light Therapy clinic. If you are wanting to get the best products try Flexbeam: A wearable Red Light Device https://recharge.health/product/flexbeam-aff/?ref=A9svb6YLz79r38   Or Try Vielights' advanced Photobiomodulation Devices Vielight brain photobiomodulation devices combine electrical engineering and neuroscience. To find out more about photobiomodulation, current studies underway and already completed and for the devices mentioned in this video go to www.vielight.com and use code “tamati” to get 10% off     Enjoyed This Podcast? If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review and share this with your family and friends. Have any questions? You can contact my team through email (support@lisatamati.com) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For more episode updates, visit my website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts.  To pushing the limits, Lisa and team

You've heard of fruit leather, but what about making leather from fruit? Or more precisely, feeding fruit waste like mango pulp to bacteria which then convert those sugars into a leather-like material that can be useful for all types of purposes? That's exactly what Polybion, a startup in Central Mexico, is doing. Co-founded in 2015 by two brothers with a passion for using biology to save humanity from ourselves—as CEO Axel Gómez-Ortigoza puts it—Polybion has pioneered methods of turning the fruit industry's trash into what they hope will be their treasure. As you'll hear in this episode, Polybion has methods for treating fruit waste to make it economic as a feedstock in their fermentation system to grow cellulose into a leather-like material they call Celium. Already the company is partnered with fashion companies eager to put Celium into their menu of offerings. To sustainably feed and clothe ourselves into the future, it's imperative that we no longer go big with animal agriculture, but instead go small with microbial agriculture. Will Polybion's cellulose leather be a part of the solution? Time will tell. But for now, enjoy hearing the wild ride this company's been on from conception to pivoting technologies to getting a product out onto the market. Discussed in this episode You can see photos of Celium here. CNN on the partnership between Danish fashion brand Ganni and Polybion. Suzanne Lee was an inspiration for Polybion's founders. Ecovative also inspired them, and we did an episode with them too! Plastic-eating fungi offer hope Axel recommends reading Microcosmos and My Inventions. He also recommends watching the original Carl Sagan Cosmos TV series from the 1980s. (The 2014 remake with Neil deGrasse Tyson is also great.) Guillermo González Camarena was an engineer who served as an inspiration to Axel.  More about Axel Gómez-Ortigoza Axel Gómez-Ortigoza was born with an innate fascination for the mysteries of life, the natural world, and the universe, which sparked his lifelong passion for life sciences and finding solutions to complex problems. After completing high school, he decided to carry on the family tradition of engineering that had spanned three generations and pursued a career in bioengineering. With his expertise in Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Cell Culture, Murine Assays, Genetic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, and Origami, Axel became a skilled R&D scientist. At the young age of 22, he and his brother Alexis co-founded Polybion, a New Generation Materials Company, which soon earned Axel a spot as one of MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35. Today, he serves as both CEO and CTO of his company, and his groundbreaking work has led to the development of the world's first Bacterial Cellulose Biomanufacturing Facility. Axel's tireless efforts have paved the way for the rapid advancement of bioassembled products, increased sustainability, and a more efficient transition toward a circular economy. He is convinced that the intersection of biology and technology is the key to solving the global health crisis. He envisions a future in which humans and nature can coexist in harmony.

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Join Steve Lehmann & Jeremy Langsam from Portal's Stargaze team on a bimonthly segment of Lab Rats to Unicorns: Rising Stars. In this episode, they explore the groundbreaking work of Zachi Attia, the Director of Artificial Intelligence at Mayo Clinic. With a rich background in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Zachi discusses his pivotal role in advancing AI models that predict and screen cardiovascular diseases. From his innovative research to real-world applications that are saving lives, this episode offers an inspiring look into the future of healthcare.

The development and application of epigenetic predictors of health is revolutionizing the way we understand and approach personalized medicine. These predictors, derived from analyzing DNA methylation patterns, provide a powerful tool for assessing biological age, disease risk, and overall health.By leveraging advanced machine learning and AI, researchers can identify specific epigenetic markers that correlate with various health outcomes, allowing for early detection and tailored interventions.The ability to accurately predict health outcomes and aging processes not only offers individuals a roadmap for healthier living but also promises to reduce healthcare costs by focusing on prevention rather than treatment.In this week's episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Varun Dwaraka and I discuss practical applications of epigenetics, such as the development of epigenetic clocks for measuring biological age. We explain the concept of epigenetic clocks and the different generations of these clocks, emphasizing the importance of reproducibility and association with clinical outcomes.Varun also introduces how machine learning and AI are used to create Epigenetic Biomarker Proxies (EBPs), developed in collaboration by TruDiagnostic and Harvard, which can provide detailed health insights from a single blood sample. We also cover the significant implications of EBPs, including cost reduction and personalized supplement recommendations from a single blood sample.In addition, we compare methylation risk scores to epigenetic biomarker proxies, providing a clear understanding of their differences and applications.Lastly, Varun shares current exciting areas of discovery and ongoing projects, offering a glimpse into the future of epigenetic research and its potential to revolutionize personalized health.Varun is currently the Head of Bioinformatics at TruDiagnostic and sits on the faculty at the Geneva College of Longevity Science. In this episode of Everything Epigenetics, you'll learn about:Varun's dissertation that covered epigeneticsWhy studying epigenetics is important How epigenetics offers valuable insights into gene expression patterns and the upstream factors contributing to themThe landscape of epigenetic clocks The best bioinformatic practices when developing such clocksStochastic and dynamic aging Validation of epigenetic clocksEpigenetic biomarker proxies (EBP) Ongoing research aiming to expand the list of EBPs Methylation risk scores (MR')EBP vs. MRSChapters: 00:00 Introduction and Commendation 05:21 The Growth of Epigenetics 11:41 Defining Epigenetic Clocks 14:08 Best Bioinformatic Practices 24:55 Stochastic Aging vs Dynamic Aging 26:49 Best Practices in Bioinformatics and the Importance of Validation 33:08 Epigenetic Biomarker Proxies: Estimating Values for Proteins, Metabolites, and Clinical Biomarkers 36:53 Expanding the List of Epigenetic Biomarker Proxies and Improving Accuracy 45:11 Areas of Discovery: Twins and Connecting Molecular Data to Physiological OutcomesSupport the Show.Thank you for joining us at the Everything Epigenetics Podcast and remember you have control over your Epigenetics, so tune in next time to learn more about how.

A weekly gathering to discuss careers and research topics, inspired by 17th and 18th century salons from Paris, with a modern twist. These sessions combine livestreams, guest speakers and group chat to exchange ideas, challenge, influence, inspire and educate. After the 30 minute livestream ends, you can join the host and speakers with our others and continue to discuss the topic for a further 30 minutes (you will find this in past events). Our very first gathering is scheduled for the 26th June at 12noon BST to explore 'Tackling Sexism in Academia'. Join us LIVE or join our community to catch-up when you have time: https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/tackling-sexism-in-academia-6284d2d8-3ddc-44f6-a618-8d7a3492f148 -- Sexism in academia is a significant issue that manifests through unequal opportunities, pay disparities, and underrepresentation of women, particularly in senior and leadership roles. Despite advancements in policies aimed at fostering equality, implicit biases and structural barriers continue to impede the progress of female academics. How can we claim to value intellectual diversity when half the population is underrepresented in academic leadership What message are we sending to the next generation of scholars if we continue to ignore the gender biases that permeate our institutions? Can academia truly progress if it fails to address the systemic barriers that prevent women from succeeding at the same rate as their male counterparts? In this salon session we will hear from our speakers and then give you the audience a chance to have your say. Speakers Georgina Menzies - is a Computational Biologist and Lecturer with a research portfolio in understanding DNA-repair and disease modifying coding mutations. Prior to this appointment Georgina held a Ser Cyrmu II Fellowship in the Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff. Georgina is involved in the Alzheimer's Research UK network in South Wales, and has helped drive the ECR steering committee for the UKDRI cross-centre theme on DNA repair and neurodegeneration into existence. Soumilee Chaudhuri - is a 3rd year doctoral candidate in Medical Neuroscience and Bioinformatics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, researching Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) in multiethnic populations. Soumilee was raised in Kolkata, India and graduated with double degrees in Neuroscience & Biochemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman as an International Merit Scholar. She works at the intersection of multi-omics and neuroimaging to characterize Alzheimer Disease (AD) therapeutics; she was competitively awarded the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Health Equity Scholar Program (ADNI HESP) fellowship. Her interests and experiences range from neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinformatics, to science communication, public health policy and diversifying academia & research spaces. She is the recent co-founder of IMPACT IN (Initiative for Mobilizing Public health Advocacy, Care, and Translational research for Alzheimer's Disease in Indiana).

Surge Biswas is the cofounder and CEO of Nabla Bio, an AI platform to enable precise drug design and high-throughput measurement of drug properties. They recently raised $26M Series A led by Radical Ventures. He has a PhD in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics from Harvard University. Surge's favorite book: Permutation City (Author: Greg Egan)(00:01) Introduction(00:07) Generative AI in Drug Design(01:19) Traditional vs. AI-driven Drug Discovery(03:42) Designing Antibodies(05:06) Therapeutic Antibodies Design Process(07:39) Data Sets for AI in Drug Discovery(10:48) High Throughput Measurement in Drug Discovery(13:14) Setting Up High Throughput Screening Assays(18:46) Multiplexed Screens in Drug Discovery(21:55) Protein Characterization Techniques(24:33) Protein-Protein Interactions(28:12) AI in Protein Characterization(30:55) Technological Breakthroughs in AI and Bio(32:36) Rapid Fire Round(36:27) Conclusion--------Where to find Prateek Joshi: Newsletter: https://prateekjoshi.substack.com Website: https://prateekj.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-joshi-91047b19 Twitter: https://twitter.com/prateekvjoshi 

When you have a good thing going you often want it to last forever, but we know that can never happen. Life and the world around us are fluid, dynamic, and we're always finding the balance of fighting or harnessing entropy and inevitable change.As we encounter unexpected changes, we see them as chances to evaluate the foundations of our podcast's success while finding opportunities to evolve it and make it even better. Join us for a reflection of where we are, how we got here, and a sneak preview at what's to come. We're here to assure you, evolution is a good thing!

The fertility journey can be a heartbreaking, time-consuming, and costly experience for many individuals worldwide. Globally, 1 in 6 people are affected by infertility, with 19% of women aged 15 to 49 unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. When Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche was told she had unexplained fertility during her pregnancy journey, doctors expected her to undergo invasive infertility treatments that cost tens of thousands of dollars. That's when Dr. Jenn put her mind to work and began treating infertility as a scientific problem waiting to be solved. The result was her startup company known as PherDal, which offers the only sterile, FDA cleared at home insemination kit for individuals experiencing infertility. In this episode of FemInnovation, host Bethany Corbin sits down with Dr. Jenn to discuss her infertility journey, the creation of her startup, the FDA clearance process, the experience of crowdfunding her business, and much more! About Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche:Dr.  Jenn has defiantly stepped out of the shadows of an "infertile" diagnosis, setting her sights on revolutionizing healthcare. With a portfolio of over two dozen peer-reviewed scientific articles and 600+ citations in prestigious journals like Nature, Dr. Jenn's acumen is well-recognized. She became the first individual to receive a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from NIU in 2014, preceded by a Master's in the same field. During her postdoctoral tenure at the University of Colorado, she made significant strides in cancer genomics that secured million-dollar grants, papers, and clinical trials. In 2019, she brought her expertise to healthcare SaaS as an analyst and developer. Within four years, she assumed leadership roles at two rapidly expanding pharmaceutical SaaS companies, helping them exponentially scale revenue past 15M+.Driven by a deep-seated passion, Dr. Hintzsche founded PherDal (a clever play on “fertile” with a nod to her Ph.D.), offering the first sterile, affordable, FDA-cleared at home fertility treatment. PherDal's initial 200 proof-of-concept kits sold out in 90 days, resulting in 34 reported pregnancies. In 2022, the company crowdfunded over $630K for FDA clearance. In 2023, Dr. Hintzsche was a top 5 finalist at the SXSW Pitch competition and featured innovator at LSI's Emerging MedTech Conference, and was selected to be part of the top 30 FemTech Companies to participate in Femovate. RELEVANT LINKS: Learn more about PherDal at this website. Follow PherDal on Facebook. Watch Dr. Jenn's Scientifically Femtech Video Interview (where she provides advice to the next generation of researchers and scientists looking to get involved in femtech) on the FemInnovator Community (login required – sign up for a FREE membership to the FemInnovator Community here to access the content and use coupon code FREEMEMBERSHIP).Connect with Our Guest, Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche: LINKEDIN | INSTAGRAM Follow Our Host, Bethany Corbin: WEBSITE | LINKEDIN | INSTAGRAM | ADDITIONAL LINKS

Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week's episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter Taylor has always loved Science. Particularly Biology & Math. In High School, she discovered Photography, which provided her with a creative outlet. Taylor discovered research through a summer program in high school, something that has shaped her education career so far. Taylor joins our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Loyola University Chicago, Interest in Viruses and Diseases, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Overall Loyola University Chicago Experience Insects and Diseases Research The Goldwater Scholarship Advice to High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introduction to Taylor Miller-Ensminger, Loyola University [] Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] Overall Loyola Experience [] Why Loyola? [] High School Interests [] Interest in Viruses and Diseases [] Transition to College [] Peers [] Profs [] Starting UG Research [] The Research [] Applying for Goldwater Scholarship [] The GW Difference [] Majoring in Bioinformatics [] Impact of Research [] Research Skills Gained [] Advice for High Schoolers [] Memory [] Our Guest: Taylor Miller-Ensminger is a Goldwater Scholar who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics  from Loyola University Chicago. Taylor is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. Memorable Quote: “Yeah, so bioinformatics really sits at this interesting intersection of biology, computer science and statistics. So it takes a lot of different fields and combines them so that we're able to ask some really complex biological questions. I think that's the beauty of informatics too, is if you're someone who's situated in that field, you kind of have one of three choices on where you end up research wise.” Taylor Miller-Ensminger. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript. Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

Editor-in-Chief Sue Yom hosts Dr. Ralph Ermoian, Associate Professor from the University of Washington and Dr. Kilian Salerno, Associate Research Physician from the National Cancer Institute, our two successive Pediatric/Sarcoma Section Editors who supervised the PEdiatric Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (PENTEC) peer review process for our journal. We also welcome two representatives from the PENTEC group, Dr. Louis Constine, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Pediatrics and Vice Chair in Radiation Oncology from the University of Rochester and Dr. Soren Bentzen, Professor and Division Director of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics in Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland. We discuss several papers from this landmark 12-year effort, including Comparison of Risks of Late Effects from Radiotherapy in Children versus Adults: Insights from the QUANTEC, HyTEC and PENTEC Efforts; Neurocognitive Effects and Necrosis in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated with Radiotherapy: A PENTEC Comprehensive Review; Risks of Spinal Abnormalities and Growth Impairment After Radiation to the Spine in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A PENTEC Comprehensive Review; and Risk of Subsequent Neoplasms in Childhood Cancer Survivors after Radiation Therapy: A Comprehensive PENTEC Review.

So, let's talk about viruses and learn about their good side with Dr. Richard White III… After going through the doom and gloom that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us, most of you guys probably don't see the good side of a virus. I mean, that's understandable, given how millions of people have died worldwide and many have suffered from the fear of death. And unfortunately, it may not even end there, because there are a lot of different viral families out there that could cause the next pandemic. This is why we mustn't sleep on these, but at the same time, educate ourselves about the different viruses' effects. Because contrary to popular belief, there are actually a lot of positive attributes and applications that we can use viruses for. We cannot deny that the “big C” has caused us severe suffering, fear, and pain, but in today's episode, we'll learn that NOT all viruses do harm and death. Some even do the work to protect us, our environment, and our planet! So, sit back and relax as we blow your mind with amazing facts on viruses with Dr. Richard White III today. Guest's bio: Dr. Richard Allen White III is a computational molecular synthetic virologist whose interest, passion, and work revolve around understanding viruses. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics. Dr. White III is part of the CIPHER team, where he helps build infectious disease capabilities for both environmental and human health risks. Additionally, he has multiple projects in NASA, USCA, NIH, etc., and works at the North Carolina Research Campus, focusing on human nutrition and human health over the last four years. Why you need to check this episode: Discover the good side of viruses; Understand that not all viruses are bad and harmful (there are those which protect us); and Recognize the need for taking action, especially in preserving our ecosystems which at present are in a state of degradation “Nature has provided the blueprint on how we can deal with these problems; we just have to understand it. It's not all doom and gloom; we can change very subtle things in the way we understand and nurture the microbiome in our own body and how we nurture and feed our environment…By understanding the microbes, we can nurture and feed them, and then we'll have these lush, resurrected ecosystems that are [currently] in a state of degradation.” – Dr. Richard White III Notable Quotes: “My conversation today [does] not reflect the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It is my take on the current matters of science based on literature and the best of my knowledge.” – Dr. Richard White III “Not all viruses are bad. They do so much for our planet. Obviously, there are ones that cause diseases and pandemics…but there are so many that protect us. I mean, there are more viruses in your mouth right now than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy that are protecting you from disease and infection.” – Dr. Richard White III “We drink trillions of them a day, we breathe them in, there's billions of them in the soil, [and] they're on your skin. They're everywhere and they protect you. They're more ‘friend' than ‘foe'.” – Dr. Richard White III “Our NASA work suggests that viruses are amplifiers of life.” – Dr. Richard White III “That's the mass of them. That's how small of a mass they are; yet, they provide life and nutrients to the whole ecosystem.” – Dr. Richard White III “We should remind people that there are ecosystems that are dying and we need to preserve them.” – Dr. Richard White III Connect with Dr. Richard White III: Website Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com  to join the mailing list. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member. Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify

Before the 1990s, small bits of RNA were considered junk by most, but the 1993 discovery of microRNA (miRNAs) began to reveal that bits of only 19-24 nucleotides of RNA can have an important gene regulation function in cells. Since their discovery, there has been a flurry of work to catalog known miRNAs and understand their functions, which include being tied to specific disease states such as leukemia. According to our guest, Dr. Guy Novotny, Molecular Biologist at Herlev Hospital in Copenhagen, it's now relatively easy to identify a miRNAs and follow their expression, but to figure out what they're actually doing is a real challenge. We hear how he and his team have recently adopted digital PCR, and the benefits that come with it, to study microRNAs and figure out what proteins they're regulating the expression of. This includes basic research, where Guy is “adding to the big pile of data that's existing out there,” and he also does clinical research that has a closer connection to specific disease states and subject outcomes. As always, you'll get to learn about his career journey and learn that there's really not much that cake cannot fix.Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to learn more about the guests, the hosts, and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System. 

When the pandemic began many scientists were looking for answers. James Lyons-Weiler, Ph.D. found himself doing what he does best, trying to understand the virus on a genetic level. He downloaded the gene sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and started comparing it to other known coronaviruses. Everything looked normal until he decided to compare the gene sequence to a library of patented technology sequences. He found a match. It was a DNA technology sequence that is used to cut and insert a new set of genes, called pShuttle. “It's like … a surgeon leaving a sponge in the body. It doesn't belong there,” Mr. Lyons-Weiler said. But four days later when he tried to download the virus data again, it was completely different. The database changed and he could no longer replicate his results. This is where the controversy began. Mr. Lyons-Weiler is the president and CEO of the Institute for Pure and Applied Knowledge, an advocacy group that pushes for accuracy and integrity in science and for biomedical researchers to put people's health before profits. He is an established academic and researcher with a Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology and a postdoctoral in computational molecular biology. ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

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How is Python being used to automate processes in the laboratory? How can it speed up scientific work with DNA sequencing? This week on the show, Chemical Engineering PhD Student Parsa Ghadermazi is here to discuss Python in bioinformatics.

Designing a successful PCR assay is all about selecting the right primers to deliver the sensitivity and selectivity for which PCR is known for. But anyone that's designed an assay themselves will know that doing so successfully is a lot harder it sounds. We're joined by two PCR assay design pros for this episode. Kimi Soohoo Ong, and Dr. Rounak Feigelman, both from Thermo Fisher Scientific, shine a light on the many factors that must be considered to design a winning PCR assay. From the level of fragmentation of nucleic acids in the sample, to what other species' genomes that may be present in the sample, to what the sample matrix may contain, to the PCR master mix being used, if multiplexing is required, to what assay controls will be, and more!  These two practiced bioinformaticians cover these challenges and then tell us how their team overcomes challenges to develop winning assays for both qPCR and dPCR applications. Our conversation uncovers the level of skill and artistry that goes into this craft. As always, you get to learn a bit more about our guests' backgrounds and career paths in the Cassie's Career Corner portion of the interview. They share how they both chose a bioinformatics path over wet lab work, while also acknowledging how important the wet lab work is to what they do. They also share some great advice and resources for anyone looking to explore a career in bioinformatics. Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to learn more about the guests, the hosts, and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System. 

This week's guest is Wolfgang Halter, Head of Data Science and Bioinformatics at Merck Life Science, a leading global science and technology company.  Ross sat down with Wolfgang to discuss the work on the BayBE project, an open-source library built for Bayesian optimization. Throughout the episode, we go on to learn how BayBE is used for both experimental design and as a means to accelerate innovation. The pair also discusses the benefits and challenges of Bayesian optimization and the need for standardised data models. Finally, Wolfgang shares some advice for those scientists and engineers who are keen to get ahead in the industry.  You can access the GitHub repo mentioned in the episode by clicking here: github.com/emdgroup/BayBE Data in Biotech is a fortnightly podcast exploring how companies leverage data innovation in life sciences. -- Chapter Markers: [1:32] Wolfgang gives us a whistle-stop tour of his career to date and explains the motivation behind pursuing a career in Data Science.  [2:35] Ross asks Wolfgang about Merck's mission and the role the data science team is playing in helping the company achieve that mission.  [5:28] Wolfgang explains the work that is going into the BayBE project.  [13:23] Ross asks Wolfgang how Merck arranged their experimental campaigns in BayBE and how they garnered insights during the process.  [17:45] Wolfgang explains why the team developed BayBE as an open-source library. [19:25] Wolfgang shares some more details on how the data science team at Merck is using BayBE today. [20:42] Wolfgang shares some examples of the kinds of applications that the team is currently developing.  [21:54] Wolfgang provides us with information about the amount of time that is saved on average as a result of adopting this approach.  [34:38] Ross asks Wolfgang how his engineering background informs his perspective on the problems facing biotech and R&D.  [36:57] Wolfgang gives us his advice for young scientists and engineers who are looking to learn more about biotech.  [38:24] Wolfgang provides us with a list of resources for those who want to find out more about Merck and the BayBE project.  -- Download our latest white paper on “Using Machine Learning to Implement Mid-Manufacture Quality Control in the Biotech Sector.” Visit this link: https://connect.corrdyn.com/biotech-ml

GUEST:Critical Consulting: https://www.critical.consulting/blog   Entheome: https://www.entheome.org/team-members/ian-bollinger   Hyphae Labs: https://www.patreon.com/hyphaelabsOakland Hyphae: https://www.oaklandhyphae510.com/   MENTIONS:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_zapotecorum   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panaeolus_cyanescens   FunDiS: https://fundis.org/   Mycelial Mass: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mycelialmass/   MUSHROOM HOUR:   https://welcometomushroomhour.com   https://instagram.com/welcome_to_mushroom_hour   https://tiktok.com/@welcome_to_mushroom_hour   Show Music courtesy of the one and only Chris Peck: https://peckthetowncrier.bandcamp.com/   TOPICS COVERED:    Chemical Analysis & Community Science   Human Beings as Scientists by Nature   Gatekeeping vs Guardianship   Tryptamines, Nucleocides, Ibotenic acid, Muscimol, Muscarine   Chromatograph Clusters   The Hyphae Spectrum    Empowering Producers and Consumers with Analysis   What Compounds are in Fungi?   Hyphae Labs & the Center for Mycological Analytics   Bioinformatics    Field Studies in Mexico   Muscimol-Containing Mushrooms are the Ancestors of Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms?!   Field Studies and International Research Stations    Ian's Surreal Journey   

About David Rhew:Since August 2019, David has served as Chief Medical Officer & VP of Healthcare for Microsoft's Worldwide Commercial Business (WCB). David and his team's main goal is to demonstrate how a large-scale data-driven approach can lead to smarter decision-making, more proactive care, and improved health outcomes, as well as lower costs for patients and populations.Additionally, David is an adjunct professor at the Department of Medicine, Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford University.About Marcella Dalrymple:Marcella is the Associate Director of Strategic Development and Business Partnerships at Duke AI Health. Her goal is to operationalize novel ideas by using big data to achieve the most meaningful results, leading to improved clinical practices.Prior to that role, she was the Commercial Leadership Associate in the marketing sector for AstraZeneca and a project manager for Duke Clinical Research Institute.About Michael Pencina:Michael Pencina, PhD, is Duke Health's Chief Data Scientist and serves as Vice Dean for Data Science, Director of Duke AI Health, and Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at the Duke University School of Medicine. He develops and implements quantitative science strategies for the School of Medicine, co-chairs Duke Health's Algorithm-Based Clinical Decision Support (ABCDS) Oversight Committee, and co-directs Duke's Collaborative to Advance Clinical Health Equity (CACHE).Things You'll Learn:AI's potential to revolutionize healthcare requires a focus on responsible and trustworthy implementation.The collaboration between Microsoft and Duke Health aims to create a Center of Excellence for trustworthy AI.The four principles for trustworthy AI are: prioritize the human person, define use cases, anticipate consequences, and establish governance.Public mistrust of AI in healthcare highlights the need for community engagement and bidirectional communication.Automation in governance processes can streamline AI integration and reduce friction in workflows.Resources:Connect with and follow David Rhew on LinkedIn.Follow Microsoft on LinkedIn and visit their website.Connect with and follow Marcella Dalrymple on LinkedIn.Connect with and follow Michael Pencina on LinkedIn.Follow Duke Health AI on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Welcome back Gene-iuses!  Jordan and Cassie kick us off with a fun teaser of what's to come in Season 2 of the Absolute Gene-ius series.   We'll be featuring another great season of interesting guests, all using dPCR to progress their diverse research applications. This includes conversations about reproductive biology, liquid biopsy and transplantation research, CAR-T research, the role of bioinformatics in PCR assay design, micro-RNA analysis, differential gene expression analysis, and of course Cassie's Career Corner, where we get to learn about people behind the science.   This teaser, like every episode of Absolute Gene-ius, has the fun baked in to keep it all light and interesting too.  You might even hear some digital PCR jokes!  Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to access the entire first season and to learn more about the hosts and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System.  

Check out Carl's website: https://cehjelmen.github.io/ Lil Dudes Insect Academy is a non-profit dedicated to teaching the world about the amazing world of Insects (Entomology). We do this through workshops, classes, courses, resources, and online content! We have a free, family-friendly Podcast where Bradon talks with Entomologists, and we also have a Bug of the Week Series on YouTube! Website: lildudesinsectacademy.com Donate to the Academy: https://www.lildudesinsectacademy.com/donate.html Find our free Podcast here: https://www.lildudesinsectacademy.com/media/podcast.html ✌️Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lildudesinsectacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lil.dudes.insect.academy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lildudesacademy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDJx_th0guulNsJPE_75sDg Lil Dudes Insect Academy is proud to be registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to educate anyone and everyone about the amazing world of Entomology, which is the gateway to all the sciences. Contributions to Lil Dudes Insect Academy are tax deductible, to the extent permitted by law. Our Tax ID is: 86-1976172

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter PayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuy PayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9l PayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpz PayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9m PayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao   ------------------Follow me on--------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT   This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/   Dr. James Lee is Associate Professor of Psychology, and a member of the Graduate Faculty of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Minnesota. In 2012, Dr. Lee earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. The papers collected in his dissertation cover causal inference, genome-wide association studies, and cognitive-experimental approaches to the study of individual differences. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Mathematical Biology Section of NIDDK/NIH from 2011 to 2013, working on problems in population and statistical genetics.   In this episode, we talk about behavior genetics. We discuss genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and what we can learn from them. We talk about the concept of heritability. We go through traits like educational attainment, IQ, and alcohol and tobacco use. We talk about laypeople's beliefs about the heritability of behavior. Finally, Dr. Lee answers two questions from a patron of the show, about modern education, and causality in behavior genetics. -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BERNARDO SEIXAS, OLAF ALEX, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, JOHN CONNORS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, ADANER USMANI, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, DANIEL FRIEDMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ANTON ERIKSSON, CHARLES MOREY, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, IGOR N, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, BENJAMIN GELBART, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, NIKLAS CARLSSON, ISMAËL BENSLIMANE, GEORGE CHORIATIS, VALENTIN STEINMANN, PER KRAULIS, KATE VON GOELER, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, LIAM DUNAWAY, BR, MASOUD ALIMOHAMMADI, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, ERIK ENGMAN, AND LUCY! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, AL NICK ORTIZ, AND NICK GOLDEN! AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, BOGDAN KANIVETS, ROSEY, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!

Orcas Are Attacking Boats Near Spain. Scientists Don't Know Why This Thursday, the Supreme Court restricted the scope of the Clean Water Act pertaining to wetlands, in a 5-4 vote. This could affect the Environmental Protection Agency's power to protect certain kinds of wetlands, which help reduce the impacts of flooding by absorbing water, and also act as natural filters that make drinking water cleaner. Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the court's three liberal members in the dissent, writing that the decision will have, “significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States.” Plus, earlier this month, three orcas attacked a boat, leading to its sinking. This is the third time an incident like this has happened in the past three years, accompanied by a large rise of orcas attacking boats near the Strait of Gibraltar. Scientists are unsure of the cause. One theory is that these attacks could be a fad, led by juvenile orcas in the area, a documented behavior in this subpopulation of the dolphin family. They could also be a response to a potential bad encounter between boats and orcas in the area. Science Friday's Charles Bergquist talks with Sophie Bushwick, technology editor for Scientific American, about these and other stories from this week in science news, including a preview of a hot El Niño summer, an amateur astronomer who discovered a new supernova, and alleviating waste problems by using recycled diapers in concrete.     A Famous Sled Dog's Genome Holds Evolutionary Surprises Do you remember the story of Balto? In 1925, the town of Nome, Alaska, was facing a diphtheria outbreak. Balto was a sled dog and a very good boy who helped deliver life-saving medicine to the people in the town. Balto's twisty tale has been told many times, including in a 1990s animated movie in which Kevin Bacon voiced the iconic dog. But last month, scientists uncovered a new side of Balto. They sequenced his genes and discovered the sled dog wasn't exactly who they expected. The study published in the journal Science, was part of a project called Zoonomia, which aims to better understand the evolution of mammals, including our own genome, by looking at the genes of other animals—from narwhals to aardvarks. Guest host Flora Lichtman talks with Dr. Elinor Karlsson, associate professor in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology at the UMass Chan Medical School and director of Vertebrate Genomics at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Dr. Katie Moon, post-doctoral researcher who led Balto's study; and Dr. Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, who coauthored the new study on Balto and another paper which identified animals that are most likely to face extinction.     The Long And Short Of Telomere Activity Telomeres are repeating short sequences of genetic code (in humans, TTAGGG) located on the ends of chromosomes. They act as a buffer during the cell replication process. Loops at the end of the telomere prevent chromosomes from getting inadvertently stuck together by DNA repair enzymes. Over the lifetime of the cell, the telomeres become shorter and shorter with each cell division. When they become too short, the cell dies. Telomere sequences weren't thought to do much else—sort of like the plastic tip at the end of a shoelace. Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers now argue that telomeres may actually encode for two short proteins. Normally, those proteins aren't released into the cell. However, if the telomere is damaged—or as it gets shorter during repeated cell replication cycles—those signaling proteins may be able to leak out into the cell and affect other processes, perhaps altering nucleic acid metabolism and protein synthesis, or triggering cellular inflammation. Jack Griffith, one of the authors of the report and the Kenan Distinguished Professor of microbiology and immunology at the UNC School of Medicine, joins SciFri's Charles Bergquist to talk about the idea and what other secrets may lie inside the telomere.   Philadelphia's Mütter Museum Takes Down Digital Resources Robert Pendarvis gave his heart to Philadelphia's Mütter Museum. Literally. He has a rare condition called acromegaly, where his body makes too much growth hormone, which causes bones, cartilage and organs to keep growing. The condition affected his heart, so much so that a heart valve leaked. He had a heart transplant in 2020. Pendarvis thought his original heart could tell an important story, and teach others about this rare condition, which is why he was determined to put it on display at the Mütter Museum. The Mütter Museum is a Philadelphia institution, a medical museum that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to its rooms filled with anatomical specimens, models, and old medical instruments. The place is not for the squeamish. Display cases show skulls, abnormal skeletons, and a jar containing the bodies of stillborn conjoined twins. Pendarvis thought it would be the perfect home for his heart — and more. To read the rest, visit sciencefriday.com   To stay updated on all-things-science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.