Podcasts about Genetic

Have you ever thought about what it means to be anonymous?  Have you considered what it means that you can walk down the street or go to the grocery store or out to dinner without someone you've never met knowing your name, everything you've posted online, or your political leanings? Or when you go on a first date with someone, they'd walk in knowing your dating history, your political affiliations, your credit score or what groceries you buy? Advancements in facial recognition and a secretive startup could end privacy as we know it.  In this two-part conversation, New York Times Tech Reporter Kashmir Hill joins host Ron Steslow to discuss privacy, anonymity, facial recognition software and her book Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup's Quest to End Privacy as We Know It. In part 1: (01:43 ) Ron and Kashmir discuss anonymity and privacy and the erosion of both in our daily lives  (00:00 ) Balancing convenience and privacy  (11:00) The origins of ClearviewAI  (13:30) Genetic determinism in the development of facial recognition  (18:20) Kashmir dives deep into the history of facial recognition software and how it developed.  (22:37) How Facebook crowdsourced training facial recognition technology (25:00) How much privacy should we have and who should be able to use facial recognition software?  Read Your Face Belongs to Us: https://bit.ly/49qsbQm Follow Ron and Kashmir  on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://twitter.com/kashhill Email your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP Dinnell talks about Discipline, Fasting, World War 2 Veterans, Serving with Jocko, and more. Get your free training from First In Nutrition: https://www.firstinnutrition.com/jppod More from JP Dinnell: https://www.jpdinnell.com/ Join the conversation on instagram JP Dinnell: http://instagram.com/jpdinnell/ Lucas Pinckard: https://www.instagram.com/lucaspinckard Bruiser Arms: https://www.instagram.com/bruiserarms Echelon Front: https://echelonfront.com/ Little Cattle Co: http://littlecattle.co On The Path Printing: https://www.instagram.com/onthepathprinting JP Dinnell is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and now a Leadership Instructor, Speaker and Strategic Advisor with Echelon Front, where he serves as Director of Experiential Leadership Training Programs. J.P. is also a pro team athlete and spokesperson for Origin Maine and Jocko Fuel, an American clothing and supplement company. J.P. has a signature Energy Drink flavor "Sour Apple Sniper" with Jocko Fuel. Jeremiah spent nearly a decade in the SEAL Teams with three combat deployments. Sent to the violent terrorist stronghold of Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 with SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser, J.P. served as point man, machine gunner, and lead sniper for Delta Platoon opposite the American Sniper, Chris Kyle, who was in Charlie Platoon. For his leadership and courage under fire, JP was awarded a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars with Valor and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor helping Task Unit Bruiser to become the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War. He worked closely with SEAL Officers Jocko Willink, his Task Unit Commander, and Leif Babin, and was the driving force on many of the daring combat operations Jocko and Leif wrote about in Extreme Ownership. Upon his return, J.P. again worked directly for Jocko as a training instructor at Naval Special Warfare Group One Training Detachment, where he orchestrated realistic and challenging training scenarios for Special Operations Urban Combat training and Close Quarters Combat training to better prepare SEAL units for the real-world battlefield. He also served as a Combatives Instructor, Marksmanship Instructor and earned his Master Trainer Specialist qualification while helping Jocko rebuild and enhance these training programs into the highly effective platforms they are today. J.P. brings exceptional experience and frontline leadership perspective from the winning mindset and culture of Task Unit Bruiser.

In this episode of The Jordan Syatt Podcast, I speak with Elana Silber, The CEO of Sharsheret (@sharsheretofficial), a national non-profit organization that helps women and families living with breast and/or ovarian cancer.We discuss:- How Sharsheret fills the gaps in cancer support- Genetic testing and BRCA awareness- How you can get help from Sharsheret for free- How Sharsheret came to be- And more...I hope you enjoy this episode and, if you do, please leave a review on iTunes or Spotify (huge thank you to everyone who has written one so far).Finally, if you've been thinking about joining The Inner Circle but haven't yet... we have hundreds of home and bodyweight workouts for you and you can get them all here: https://www.sfinnercircle.com/

Send us a textOn the latest WTR Small-Cap Spotlight podcast episode, we welcomed Jan Eryk Umiastowski, CFO of GenSight Biologics (Euronext Paris: SIGHT), a late clinical-stage biopharma company based in Paris, France, primarily focused on developing and commercializing novel disease-modifying gene therapies aimed at reversing vision loss from severe neurodegenerative retinal diseases. He discusses GenSight's development pipeline, what's unique about  the company's approach to gene therapy and upcoming target milestones.

In this week's deep-dive, we're taking you into a case that haunted California for decades and still sends a chill through anyone who reads the details. For more than ten years, a masked predator moved through neighborhoods like a ghost — breaking into homes, stalking families, and leaving devastation behind. The numbers alone are staggering: over a hundred burglaries, at least fifty sexual assaults, and thirteen confirmed murders. He slipped between counties and police departments, stayed a step ahead of massive task forces, and then — somehow — disappeared. Not into the shadows, but into ordinary suburban life, where he lived free for more than forty years.This is the full story of Joseph James DeAngelo — the man the world would come to know as the Golden State Killer. We start back in 1974 in Visalia, a small agricultural city where a strange series of burglaries had detectives completely rattled. The person behind them wasn't grabbing TVs or cash. He was spending hours inside people's homes, taking small, personal things — a single earring, coins, women's underwear — and rearranging objects in ways that felt deliberate and unsettling. It wasn't just theft. It was a message: I was here. I know you. I can get to you.From there, we follow the escalation as the Visalia Ransacker's crimes tip into attempted abduction and then murder. We walk through the December 1975 killing of Claude Snelling, a journalism professor who died protecting his teenage daughter from being taken.And we cover the terrifying near-capture just two days later, when Detective William McGowen fought the prowler face-to-face and survived only because the suspect's gun misfired at point-blank range.Then the nightmare shifts north. In 1976, Sacramento is hit by a new kind of terror.The East Area Rapist begins attacking women in their homes with a level of planning and cruelty that left investigators stunned. We break down how his assaults evolved, including the moment he began targeting couples — tying up husbands and boyfriends, stacking dishes on their backs, and forcing them to listen helplessly while he raped their partners. We look at the psychological warfare he used to control entire communities: threatening phone calls, stalking routines, and the methodical surveillance he did before striking again.As the years pass, his crimes migrate south — and turn deadly. Starting in 1979, the man now known as the Original Night Stalker begins murdering couples in their homes across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Orange counties. We go crime scene by crime scene, showing how the evidence slowly — and finally — revealed that Visalia, Sacramento, and Southern California were all connected to the same offender.We also dig into the long, frustrating decades of investigation: the dead ends, the jurisdictional chaos, and the breakthroughs that came only when DNA technology caught up to the case. And of course, we cover the seismic moment in 2018 when genetic genealogy identified the suspect, leading detectives straight to DeAngelo's quiet home in Citrus Heights — the same kind of suburb he once terrorized.The twist that still hits like a gut punch? During the height of his crime spree, DeAngelo was a police officer, using his training and insider knowledge to stay invisible.We close with the plea and sentencing — a historic reckoning where fifty-three victims and family members stood up in court to face the man who had stolen so much from them. Their impact statements are heartbreaking, powerful, and a reminder that this story isn't just about the monster — it's about the people who survived him. This episode is the result of hundreds of hours of research across court records, investigative files, victim testimony, and years of reporting. Our goal was to tell this story with care, accuracy, and respect — honoring the victims and the investigators who refused to let the case die. The Golden State Killer investigation didn't just end with an arrest. It changed law enforcement forever. Genetic genealogy opened a door to solving cold cases that once seemed impossible, and we talk about both the promise of that tool and the ethical questions that come with it.And we take a moment to recognize Michelle McNamara, whose relentless work on I'll Be Gone in the Dark helped reignite national attention and kept pressure on the investigation. She died in 2016, two years before DeAngelo was caught, but her voice and determination are woven into the story of how this case was finally solved. If you think you know this case, stick with us — because when you lay every chapter out in full, the scale and horror of what happened, and the way it was finally unraveled, is almost impossible to comprehend.

Hi friend — welcome back to The Habit Within! I'm Camille Kinzler, and today we're diving into a topic that quite literally changed the way I understand my body, my energy, and the way I move through midlife: genomics.If you've ever wondered why you're exhausted even when you're “doing everything right,” why weight feels harder to release than ever, or why your sleep has become unpredictable and shallow — this episode will blow your mind in the most empowering way.Because here's the truth:You're not broken.You're not undisciplined.And you're not imagining it.Your genes hold a living, breathing blueprint — one that shows us exactly what your body needs in this season of your life to feel energized, lighter, clearer, and more grounded.In this episode, I walk you through:The three things almost every midlife woman truly wants (and why your genes can help you get there)The major differences between ancestry tests like 23andMe and functional genomicsWhy your genes are not your destiny — and how epigenetics lets you turn certain expressions on or offHow your genetic profile influences:energy productionstubborn weightdetox bottlenecksinflammationcortisol patternssleep rhythmgut repairhormone pathwaysmicronutrient needsand even what kind of workouts your body thrives onWhat it looks like to walk through your results with a guide — instead of staring at a PDF wondering “now what?”How I've personally changed my own routines, nutrition, and daily rhythms since getting my results backThis is one of those episodes that leaves you thinking: Oh… that explains everything. Not in a doom-y way — in a deeply liberating way.Because when you understand your blueprint, you stop fighting your body.You start supporting it.I'd love to hear from youHave you ever taken a genetic test? Did it give you clarity — or just more questions?Come share with me, I love hearing how these conversations land for you.If you're tired of feeling exhausted, irritable, moody, and just not like yourself, schedule a free 30-minute consultation so I can help you feel like YOU again Fill out this brief form (2 min) to schedule a free 30-minute call. Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know what hit home for you. Find me on Instagram @camille_kinzler and leave me a DM!

This is one in a series about possible futures, which will be published in Booch News over the coming weeks. Episode 7 appeared last week. New episodes drop every Friday. Overview Peer-to-peer flavor-sharing platforms enabled home brewers to distribute taste profiles as digital files. Blockchain-verified SCOBY genetics allowed anyone to recreate award-winning kombucha flavors. Traditional beverage companies lost control as open-source fermentation recipes spread globally. This episode follows teenage hacker Luna Reyes as she reverse-engineers Heineken’s proprietary “A-yeast” strain and the century-old master strain used for Budweiser, releasing them under Creative Commons license, triggering a flavor renaissance that made corporate beverages taste like cardboard by comparison. Luna Reyes: The Seventeen-Year-Old Who Liberated Flavor Luna Reyes was brewing kombucha in her Oakland garage when she changed the course of human history. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she had learned fermentation from her grandmother while teaching herself bioinformatics through YouTube tutorials and volunteering at the Counter Culture Labs Maker Space on Shattuck Avenue. By fifteen, she was running the Bay Area’s most sophisticated home laboratory, utilizing jury-rigged DNA sequencers and microscopes constructed from smartphone cameras. Her breakthrough came in February 2043 while investigating why her kombucha never tasted quite like expensive craft varieties and was different again from her grandmother’s home brew. Using Crispr techniques learned from online forums, Luna began reverse-engineering the microbial genetics of premium alcoholic beverages. Her target wasn’t kombucha—it was the closely guarded yeast strains that gave corporate beers their distinctive flavors. Luna hunched over her microscope, examining bacterial cultures from her latest kombucha batch. Around her, salvaged DNA sequencers hummed, fermentation vessels bubbled, and computer screens displayed multi-hued patterns of genetic sequences. Her grandmother, Rosa, entered carrying a tray with three glasses of homemade kombucha. “Mija, you’ve been working for six hours straight. Drink something.” Luna accepted the glass without looking up. “Abuela, your kombucha tastes better than anything I can buy in stores and the ones I’ve experimented with. Why? I’m using the same base ingredients—tea, sugar, water—but mine never has this complexity.” Her grandmother laughed. “Because I’ve been feeding this SCOBY for forty years. It knows what to do. You can’t rush relationships.” Luna’s sister Maya, lounging against a workbench, waved her phone. “Luna, people have noticed your forum post about Health-Ade’s fermentation process. Someone says you’re wasting your time trying to replicate commercial kombuchas.” “I’m not trying to replicate them,” Luna said, finally looking up. “I’m trying to understand why their kombucha tastes different than that I make at home. It’s not the ingredients. It’s not the process. It’s the microbial genetics.” Rosa sat down beside her granddaughter. “When I was young in Oaxaca, every family had their own kombucha culture, passed down generation to generation. Each tasted different because the bacteria adapted to their environment, their ingredients, their care. We had a saying, Hay tantas fermentaciones en el mundo como estrellas en el cielo nocturno – there are as many ferments in the world as stars in the night sky. The big companies want every bottle to be identical. That kills what makes fermentation special.” “Exactly!” Luna pulled up genetic sequences on her screen. “I’ve been reverse-engineering samples from different commercial kombuchas. Health-Ade, GT’s, Brew Dr—they all have consistent microbial profiles.” The Great Heist: Cracking Corporate DNA Luna’s first major hack targeted Heineken’s legendary “A-yeast” strain, developed in 1886 by Dr. Hartog Elion—a student of renowned chemist Louis Pasteur—in the company’s Amsterdam laboratory and protected by over 150 years of trade secret law. Using samples obtained from discarded brewery waste (technically legal under the “garbage doctrine”), she spent six months mapping the strain’s complete genetic sequence in her makeshift lab. The breakthrough required extraordinary ingenuity. Luna couldn’t afford professional gene sequencers, so she modified a broken Illumina iSeq100 purchased on eBay for $200. Her sequencing runs took weeks rather than hours; her results were identical to those produced by million-dollar laboratory equipment. Her detailed laboratory notebooks, later published as The Garage Genomics Manifesto, became essential reading for the biotech hacker movement. The Budweiser project proved even more challenging. Anheuser-Busch’s century-old master strain had been protected by layers of corporate secrecy rivaling classified military programs. The company maintained multiple backup cultures in cryogenic facilities across three continents, never allowing complete genetic mapping by outside researchers. Luna’s success required infiltrating the company’s waste-disposal systems at four breweries, collecting samples over 18 months while evading corporate security. The Decision The night before Luna was scheduled to meet her fellow bio-hackers at Oakland’s Counter Culture Labs, she sat at her workstation, hesitant, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Her sister Maya came in, looking worried. “Luna, I found something you need to see,” she says. “Remember Marcus Park? He tried releasing proprietary yeast information in 2039. Heineken buried him. He lost everything. His daughter dropped out of college. His wife left him. He’s working at a gas station now.” Luna spent the night researching what happened to Park. She found that almost everyone who challenged corporate IP ended up on the losing side of the law. It was not pretty. In the morning, Abuela Rosa finds her crying in her room. “Mija, what’s wrong?” she asks. “Oh, Abuela,” Luna says between sobs. “What am I doing? What if I’m wrong? What if I destroy our family? What if this ruins Mom and Dad? What if I’m just being selfish?” “That’s the fear talking.” Her grandmother reassured her. “Fear is wisdom warning you to be careful. But fear can also be a cage.” That evening at the Counter Culture Labs, Luna assembled a small group of advisors. She needed their guidance. She had the completed genetic sequences for Heineken A-yeast and Budweiser’s master strain on her laptop, ready for release. But is this the time and place to release them to the world? Dr. Marcus Webb, a bioinformatics researcher in his forties and Luna’s mentor, examined her sequencing data. “This is solid work, Luna. Your jury-rigged equipment is crude. The results are accurate. You’ve fully mapped both strains.” “The question isn’t whether I can do it,” Luna said. “It’s whether I should let the world know I did it.” On screen, Cory Doctorow, the author and digital rights activist, leaned forward. “Let’s be clear about what you’re proposing. You’d be releasing genetic information that corporations have protected as trade secrets for over a century. They’ll argue you stole their intellectual property. You’ll face lawsuits, possibly criminal charges.” “Is it their property?” Luna challenged. “These are naturally occurring organisms. They didn’t create that yeast. Evolution did. They just happened to be there when it appeared. That does not make it theirs any more than finding a wildflower means they own the species. Can you really own something that existed before you found it?” Doctorow, the Electronic Frontier Foundation representative spoke up. “There’s legal precedent both ways. Diamond v. Chakrabarty established that genetically modified organisms can be patented. But naturally occurring genetic sequences? That’s murky. The companies will argue that their decades of cultivation and protection created protectable trade secrets.” “Trade secrets require keeping information secret,” Luna argued. “They throw this yeast away constantly. If they’re not protecting it, how can they claim trade secret status?” Dr. Webb cautioned, “Luna, even if you’re legally in the right—which is debatable—you’re seventeen years old. You’ll be fighting multinational corporations with unlimited legal resources. They’ll bury you in litigation for years.” “That’s where we come in,” Doctorow said. “The EFF can provide legal defense. Creative Commons can help structure the license. You need to understand: this will consume your life. College, career plans, normal teenage experiences—all on hold while you fight this battle.” Luna was quiet for a moment, then pulled up a photo on her laptop: her grandmother Rosa, teaching her to ferment at age seven. “My abuela says fermentation is about sharing and passing living cultures between generations. Corporations have turned it into intellectual property to be protected and controlled. If I can break that control—even a little—isn’t that worth fighting for?” Maya spoke up from the back. “Luna, I love you, but you’re being naive. They won’t just sue you. They’ll make an example of you. Your face on every news channel, portrayed as a thief, a criminal. Our family harassed. Your future destroyed. For what? So people can brew beer with the same yeast as Heineken?” “Not just beer,” Luna responded passionately. “This is about whether living organisms can be owned. Whether genetic information—the code of life itself—can be locked behind intellectual property law. Yes, it starts with beer yeast. But what about beneficial bacteria? Life-saving microorganisms? Medicine-producing fungi? Where does it end?” Dr. Webb nodded slowly. “She’s right. This is bigger than beer. As biotech advances, genetic control becomes power over life itself. Do we want corporations owning that?” Doctorow sighed. “If you do this, Luna, do it right. Release everything simultaneously—BitTorrent, WikiLeaks, Creative Commons servers, distributed networks worldwide. Make it impossible to contain. Include complete cultivation protocols so anyone can reproduce your results. Make the data so damn widely available that suppressing it becomes futile.” “And write a manifesto,” he added. “Explain why you’re doing this. Frame the issue. Make it about principles, not piracy.” Luna nodded, fingers already typing. “When should I release?” “Pick a date with symbolic meaning,” Dr. Webb suggested. “Make it an event, not just a data dump.” Luna smiled. “December 15. The Bill of Rights Day. Appropriate for declaring biological rights, don’t you think?” Maya groaned. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you?” “Yes. I’m really doing this.” The Creative Commons Liberation On Tuesday, December 15, 2043—a date now celebrated as “Open Flavor Day”—Luna released the genetic sequences on multiple open-source networks. Her manifesto, titled Your Grandmother’s Yeast Is Your Birthright, argued that microbial genetics belonged to humanity’s shared heritage rather than corporate shareholders. It stated: Commercial companies have protected yeast strains for over a century. They’ve used intellectual property law to control flavor itself. But genetic information isn’t like a recipe or a formula—it’s biological code that evolved over millions of years before humans ever cultivated it. These strains are protected as trade secrets—the bacteria don’t belong to anyone. They existed before Heineken, before Budweiser, before trademark law. The companies just happened to isolate and cultivate them. Her data packages included DNA sequences and complete protocols for cultivating, modifying, and improving the strains. Luna’s releases came with user-friendly software that allowed amateur brewers to simulate genetic modifications before attempting them in real fermentations. Within 24 hours, over ten thousand people worldwide downloaded the files. The Creative Commons community erupted in celebration. Cory Doctorow’s blog post, The Teenager Who Stole Christmas (From Corporate Beer), went viral within hours. The Electronic Frontier Foundation immediately offered Luna legal protection, while the Free Software Foundation created the “Luna Defense Fund” to support her anticipated legal battles. The Legal Assault Heineken’s response was swift. The company filed emergency injunctions in 12 countries simultaneously, seeking to prevent the distribution of its “stolen intellectual property.” Their legal team, led by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr III, demanded Luna’s immediate arrest for “economic terrorism” and “theft of trade secrets valued at over $50 billion.” Anheuser-Busch’s reaction was even more extreme. CEO Marcel Telles IV appeared on CNBC, calling Luna “a bioterrorist who threatens the foundation of American capitalism.” The company hired private investigators to surveil Luna’s family and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to her prosecution. Their legal filing compared Luna’s actions to “stealing the formula for Coca-Cola and publishing it in the New York Times.” In Heineken’s Amsterdam headquarters, executives convened an emergency meeting. “Who is Luna Reyes?” the CEO demanded. The legal counsel pulled up information. “She’s a seventeen-year-old high school student in Oakland, California. No criminal record. Volunteers at a maker space. Has been posting about fermentation on various forums for years.” “A child released our proprietary yeast strain to the world, and we didn’t know she was even working on this?” The CEO’s face reddened. “How do we contain it?” “We can’t. It’s distributed across thousands of servers in dozens of countries with different IP laws. We can sue Reyes, but the information is out there permanently.” An executive interjected, “What about the other breweries? Will they join our lawsuit?” “Some are considering it. Others…” The counsel paused. “Others are quietly downloading the sequences themselves. They see an opportunity to break our market dominance.” “She obtained samples from our waste disposal,” another executive explained. “Technically legal under the garbage doctrine. The sequencing itself isn’t illegal. The release under Creative Commons…” “Is theft!” the CEO shouted. “File emergency injunctions. Twelve countries. Get her arrested for economic terrorism.” Similar scenes played out at Anheuser-Busch headquarters in St. Louis. CEO Telles addressed his team: “This is bioterrorism. She’s destroyed intellectual property worth billions. I want her prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hire private investigators. Find everything about her and her family. Make her life hell!” By noon, both companies had filed lawsuits. By evening, Fox News was running stories about the “teenage bioterrorist” who “stole American corporate secrets.” Back in Oakland, Luna’s phone rang constantly. Her parents discovered what she’d done. Her mother cried. Her father was furious and terrified. Friends called with either congratulations or warnings. She was convinced that private investigators were photographing their house. Maya suspected she was followed to work. On Wednesday morning, Dr. Webb calls: “Luna, they’re offering me $2 million to testify against you. They’re going after everyone in your network.” Luna has a sickening feeling that she’s put everyone at risk. By Thursday, she is considering taking it all back somehow, sending an apology to the corporations, anything to protect her family. Luna turned off her phone and sat with her grandmother. “It’s started,” Luna said quietly. “Sí, mija. You’ve declared war. Now we see if you can survive it.” Maya burst in, laptop in hand. “Luna, you need to see this. The downloads aren’t slowing—they’re accelerating. Every time Heineken or Budweiser shuts down a website, ten mirror sites appear. People are treating this like a digital freedom fight. You’ve become a symbol.” Luna pulled up her own screen. The #FreeLuna hashtag was trending. Crowdfunding campaigns for her legal defense had raised $400,000 in twelve hours. Academic institutions were publicly endorsing her release, calling it “essential scientific information.” “They’re trying to destroy you,” Maya said, “but they’re making you famous instead.” Rosa handed Luna a fresh kombucha. “This is what happens when you fight for what’s right, mija. Sometimes the world surprises you by supporting you.” Luna’s Fame The corporations’ attempts to suppress Luna’s releases had the opposite effect. Every cease-and-desist letter generated thousands of new downloads. The genetic data became impossible to contain once the academic community embraced Luna’s work. Dr. Jennifer Doudna, the legendary Crispr pioneer now in her eighties, publicly endorsed Luna’s releases in a Science magazine editorial: Ms. Reyes has liberated essential scientific information that corporations held hostage for commercial gain. Genetic sequences from naturally occurring organisms should not be locked behind intellectual property law. They belong to humanity’s knowledge commons. While corporations claim Luna stole trade secrets, I argue she freed biological knowledge that was never theirs to own. There are no trade secrets in biology—only knowledge temporarily hidden from the commons. This is civil disobedience of the highest order—breaking unjust laws to advance human freedom. Ms. Reyes didn’t steal; she liberated. MIT’s biology department invited Luna to lecture, while Harvard offered her a full scholarship despite her lack of a high school diploma. The legal battles consumed corporate resources while generating negative publicity. Heineken’s stock price dropped 34% as consumers organized boycotts in support of Luna’s “yeast liberation.” Beer sales plummeted as customers waited for home-brewed alternatives using Luna’s open-source genetics. The Flavor Renaissance Luna’s releases triggered an explosion of creativity that corporate R&D departments had never imagined. Within six months, amateur brewers worldwide were producing thousands of flavor variations impossible under corporate constraints. The open-source model enabled rapid iteration and global collaboration, rendering traditional brewing companies obsolete. The world was engaged. In some of the most unlikely places. In Evanston, Illinois, a group of former seminary students who discovered fermentation during a silent retreat, transformed Gregorian chants into microbial devotionals. Tenor Marcus Webb (Dr. Webb’s nephew) realized symbiosis mirrored vocal harmony—multiple voices creating something greater than their parts. “In honoring the mystery of fermentation we express our love of the Creator,” he said. Here's ‘Consortium Vocalis' honoring the mother SCOBY. [Chorus]Our SCOBYIs pureOur SCOBYIs strongOur SCOBYKnows no boundariesOur SCOBYStrengthens as it fermentsOur SCOBYIs bacteria and yeast Our SCOBYTurns sucrose into glucose and fructoseIt ferments these simple sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide,Acetic acid bacteria oxidize much of that ethanol into organic acidsSuch as acetic, gluconic, and other acids.This steadily lowers the pHMaking the tea taste sour-tangy instead of purely sweet. [Chorus] Our SCOBYThen helps microbes produce acids, enzymes, and small amounts of B‑vitaminsWhile probiotics grow in the liquid.The pH falls to help inhibit unwanted microbesOur SCOBY creates a self-preserving, acidic environment in the tea [Chorus] In Kingston, Jamaica, Rastafarian’s combined an award-winning kombucha sequenced in Humboldt County, California, with locally grown ganja into a sacramental beverage to help open their mind to reasoning and focus on Jah. Once fermented, it was consumed over the course of a three-day Nyabinghi ceremony. “Luna Reyes is truly blessed. She strengthened our unity as a people, and our Rastafari’ booch help us chant down Babylon,” a Rasta man smiled, blowing smoke from a spliff the size of his arm. The Groundation Collective’s reggae anthem ‘Oh Luna’ joyfully celebrated Luna Reyes’ pioneering discovery. Oh Luna, Oh Luna, Oh Luna ReyesI love the sound of your nameYou so deserve your fame Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesShining brightYou warm my heart Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesYou cracked the codeTeenage prophet, fermentation queenSymbiosis roadA genius at seventeen Oh Luna, Luna, Luna ReyesBeautiful moonMakes me swoon Oh Luna, Luna, Luna ReyesFreedom to fermentYou are heaven sentTo save us Luna, Luna, Oh Luna ReyesYou opened the doorTo so much moreKombucha tastes so goodLike it should Oh Luna, Oh Luna, Oh LunaI love you, love you, love youOh Luna, Luna, LunaLove you, love you,Love Luna, Luna love. In São Paulo, Brazil, MAPA-certified Brazilian kombucha brands combined Heineken and cacao-fermenting yeasts with cupuaçu from indigenous Amazonian peoples, to create the chocolate-flavored ‘booch that won Gold at the 20th World Kombucha Awards. A cervejeiro explained to reporters: “Luna Reyes gave us the foundation. We added local innovation. This is what happens when you democratize biology.” The Brazilian singer Dandara Sereia covered ‘Our Fermented Future’—The Hollow Pines tune destined to become a hit at the 2053 Washington DC Fermentation Festival. Baby sit a little closer, sip some ‘booch with meI brewed this batch with the SCOBY my grandma gave to me.On the back porch swing at twilight, watching fireflies danceYour hand in mine, kombucha fine, the sweetest sweet romance. They say that wine and roses are the way to win the heartBut your kombucha warmed me right up from the start.Fermentation makes the heart grow fonder, truer words they ain’t been saidYour SCOBY’s got a place forever — in my heart, and in my bed. Let’s share our SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into oneLike cultures in a crock jar dancing, underneath the sun.The tang of your Lactobacillus is exactly what I’m missingYour Brettanomyces bacteria got this country girl reminiscing. Oh yeah, let’s share those SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into oneYour yeasts and my bacteria working till the magic’s doneYou’ve got the acetic acid honey, I’ve got the patience and the timeLet’s bubble up together, let our cultures intertwine. I’ve got that symbiotic feeling, something wild and something trueYour SCOBY’s in my heart, right there next to youThe way your Acetobacter turns sugar into goldIs how you turned my lonely life into a hand to hold. We’ve got the acetic acid and the glucuronic tooWe’ve got that symbiotic feeling, so righteous and so trueOne sip of your sweet ‘booch, Lord, and you had me from the start,It’s our fermented future, that no-one can tear apart. It’s our fermented future…It’s our fermented future…It’s our fermented future… “Luna Variants”—strains derived from her releases—began winning international brewing competitions, embarrassing corporate entries with their complexity and innovation. Traditional beer flavors seemed flat and artificial compared to the genetic symphonies created by collaborative open-source development. Despite the outpouring of positive vibes, the corporations spared no expense to hold Luna to account in the courts. The Preliminary Hearing A preliminary hearing was held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on June 14, 2044. Luna sat at the defendant’s table, her hands folded so tightly her knuckles had gone white. She wore a borrowed blazer—too big in the shoulders—over a white button-down shirt Maya had ironed that morning. At seventeen, she looked even younger under the courtroom’s fluorescent lights. Across the aisle, Heineken’s legal team occupied three tables. Fifteen attorneys in matching navy suits shuffled documents and whispered into phones. Their lead counsel, William Barr III, wore gold cufflinks that caught the light when he gestured. Luna recognized him from the news—the former Attorney General, now commanding $2,000 an hour to destroy people like her. Her own legal representation consisted of two people: Rose Kennerson from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest lawyer who’d flown in from DC on a red-eye, and Dr. Marcus Webb, technically a witness but sitting beside Luna because she’d asked him to. Behind them, the gallery was packed. Luna’s parents sat in the second row, her father’s face gray, her mother clutching a rosary. Maya had taken the day off work. Abuela Rosa sat in the front row directly behind Luna, her ancient SCOBY wrapped in silk in her lap, as if its presence might protect her granddaughter. Judge Catherine Ironwood entered—sixty-ish, steel-gray hair pulled back severely, known for pro-corporate rulings. She’d been a pharmaceutical industry lawyer for twenty years before her appointment. “All rise,” the bailiff called. Judge Ironwood settled into her chair and surveyed the courtroom with the expression of someone who’d already decided the outcome and resented having to perform the formalities. “We’re here for a preliminary injunction hearing in Heineken International B.V. versus Luna Marie Reyes.” She looked directly at Luna. “Ms. Reyes, you’re seventeen years old?” Luna stood, hesitant. “Yes, your honor.” “Where are your parents?” “Here, your honor.” Luna’s mother half-rose, then sat back down. “Ms. Kennerson, your client is a minor. Are the parents aware they could be held liable for damages?” Rose Kennerson stood smoothly. “Yes, your honor. The Reyes family has been fully advised of the legal implications.” Luna glanced back. Her father’s jaw was clenched so tight she could see the muscles working. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Very well. Mr. Barr, you may proceed.” Barr rose like a battleship emerging from fog—massive, expensive, inevitable. He buttoned his suit jacket and approached the bench without notes. “Your honor, this is the simplest case I’ve argued in thirty years. The defendant admits to obtaining my client’s proprietary biological materials. She admits to sequencing their genetic information. She admits to distributing that information globally, in deliberate violation of trade secret protections that have existed for over 150 years. She did this knowingly, systematically, and with the explicit intent to destroy my client’s competitive advantage.” Luna felt Sarah’s hand on her arm—stay calm. Barr continued. “Heineken International has invested over $200 million in the development, cultivation, and protection of the A-yeast strain. Then this teenager”—he pointed at Luna—”obtained samples from our waste disposal systems, reverse-engineered our genetic sequences, and released them to the world via BitTorrent, deliberately placing them beyond retrieval.” He paced now, warming to his theme. “The damage is incalculable. We estimate lost market value at $50 billion. But it’s not just about money. The defendant has destroyed the possibility of competition in the brewing industry. When everyone has access to the same genetic materials, there’s no innovation, no differentiation, no reason for consumers to choose one product over another. She has, in effect, communized an entire industry.” Luna couldn’t help herself. “That’s not—” Sarah grabbed her wrist. “Don’t.” Judge Ironwood’s eyes narrowed. “Ms. Reyes, you will have your opportunity to speak. Until then, you will remain silent, or I will have you removed from this courtroom. Do you understand?” “Yes, your honor.” Luna’s voice came out smaller than she intended. Barr smiled slightly. “Your honor, the relief we seek is straightforward. We ask this court to order the defendant to provide us with a complete list of all servers, websites, and distribution networks where the stolen genetic data currently resides. We ask that she be ordered to cooperate fully in suppressing the data. We ask that she be enjoined from any further distribution. And we ask that she be ordered to pay compensatory damages of $5 billion, plus punitive damages to be determined at trial.” He returned to his seat. One of his associate attorneys handed him a bottle of Pellegrino. He took a sip and waited. Judge Ironwood looked at Sarah. “Ms. Kennerson?” Sarah stood. She looked tiny compared to Barr—five-foot-three, maybe 110 pounds, wearing a suit from Target. But when she spoke, her voice filled the courtroom. “Your honor, Mr. Barr has given you a compelling story about a corporation that’s been wronged. But it’s not the right story. The right story is about whether naturally occurring organisms—creatures that evolved over millions of years, long before humans ever existed—can be owned by a corporation simply because that corporation happened to isolate them.” She walked toward the bench. “Let’s be clear about what the A-yeast strain is. It’s not a genetically modified organism. It’s not a patented invention. It’s a naturally occurring yeast. Heineken didn’t create it. Evolution created it. Heineken merely found it. And for 158 years, they’ve claimed that finding something gives them the right to prevent anyone else from studying it, understanding it, or using it.” Barr was on his feet. “Objection, your honor. This is a preliminary hearing about injunctive relief, not a philosophical debate about intellectual property theory.” “Sustained. Ms. Kennerson, please focus on the specific legal issues before this court.” “Your honor, the specific legal issue is whether naturally occurring genetic sequences constitute protectable trade secrets. My client contends they do not. She obtained the yeast samples from Heineken’s waste disposal—materials they had discarded. Under the garbage doctrine, she had every right to analyze those materials. The genetic sequences she discovered are factual information about naturally occurring organisms. You cannot trade-secret facts about nature.” Luna watched Judge Ironwood’s face. Nothing. No reaction. Sarah pressed on. “Mr. Barr claims my client ‘stole’ genetic information worth $5 billion. But information cannot be stolen—it can only be shared. When I tell you a fact, I don’t lose possession of that fact. We both have it. That’s how knowledge works. Heineken hasn’t lost their yeast. They still have it. They can still brew with it. What they’ve lost is their monopoly on that knowledge. And monopolies on facts about nature should never have existed in the first place.” “Your honor—” Barr tried to interrupt. Judge Ironwood waved him down. “Continue, Ms. Kennerson.” “Your honor, Heineken wants this court to order a seventeen-year-old girl to somehow suppress information that has already been distributed to over 100,000 people in 147 countries. That’s impossible. You can’t unring a bell. You can’t put knowledge back in a bottle. Even if this court ordered my client to provide a list of servers—which she shouldn’t have to do—that list would be incomplete within hours as new mirror sites appeared. The information is out. The only question is whether we punish my client for sharing factual information about naturally occurring organisms.” She turned to face Luna’s family. “Ms. Reyes taught herself bioinformatics from YouTube videos. She works at home with equipment she bought on eBay. She has no criminal record. She’s never been in trouble. She saw a question that interested her—why do commercial beers taste like they do?—and she pursued that question with the tools available to her. When she discovered the answer, she shared it with the world, under a Creative Commons license that specifically protects sharing for educational and scientific purposes. If that’s terrorism, your honor, then every scientist who’s ever published a research paper is a terrorist.” Sarah sat down. Luna wanted to hug her. Judge Ironwood leaned back. “Ms. Reyes, stand up.” Luna rose, her legs shaking. “Do you understand the seriousness of these proceedings?” “Yes, your honor.” “Do you understand that Heineken International is asking me to hold you in contempt of court if you refuse to help them suppress the information you released?” “Yes, your honor.” “Do you understand that contempt of court could result in your detention in a juvenile facility until you reach the age of eighteen, and potentially longer if the contempt continues?” Luna’s mother gasped audibly. Her father put his arm around her. “Yes, your honor,” Luna said, though her voice wavered. “Then let me ask you directly: If I order you to provide Heineken with a complete list of all locations where the genetic data you released currently resides, will you comply?” The courtroom went silent. Luna could hear her own heartbeat. Sarah started to stand—”Your honor, I advise my client not to answer—” “Sit down, Ms. Kennerson. I’m asking your client a direct question. She can choose to answer or not.” Judge Ironwood’s eyes never left Luna. “Well, Ms. Reyes? Will you comply with a court order to help Heineken suppress the information you released?” Luna looked at her parents. Her mother was crying silently. Her father’s face was stone. She looked at Abuela Rosa. Her grandmother nodded once—tell the truth. Luna looked back at the judge. “No, your honor.” Barr shot to his feet. “Your honor, the defendant has just admitted she intends to defy a court order—” “I heard her, Mr. Barr.” Judge Ironwood’s voice was ice. “Ms. Reyes, do you understand you’ve just told a federal judge you will refuse a direct order?” “Yes, your honor.” “And you’re still refusing?” “Yes, your honor.” “Why?” Sarah stood quickly. “Your honor, my client doesn’t have to explain—” “I want to hear it.” Judge Ironwood leaned forward. “Ms. Reyes, tell me why you would risk jail rather than help undo what you’ve done.” Luna took a breath. Her whole body was shaking, but her voice was steady. “Because it would be wrong, your honor.” “Wrong how?” “The genetic sequences I released evolved over millions of years. Heineken didn’t create that yeast. They isolated one strain and claimed ownership of it. The code of life belongs to everyone. That’s humanity’s heritage. Even if you send me to jail, I can’t help suppress the truth.” Judge Ironwood stared at her for a long moment. “That’s a very pretty speech, Ms. Reyes. But this court operates under the law, not your personal philosophy about what should or shouldn’t be owned. Trade secret law exists. Heineken’s rights exist. And you violated those rights.” Luna did not hesitate. “With respect, your honor, I don’t think those rights should exist.” Barr exploded. “Your honor, this is outrageous! The defendant is openly stating she believes she has the right to violate any law she disagrees with—” “That’s not what I said.” Luna’s fear was transforming into something else—something harder. “I’m saying that some laws are unjust. And when laws are unjust, civil disobedience becomes necessary. People broke unjust laws during the civil rights movement. People broke unjust laws when they helped slaves escape. The constitution says members of the military do not have to obey illegal orders, despite what those in power might claim. Sometimes the law is wrong. And when the law says corporations can own genetic information about naturally occurring organisms, the law is wrong.” Judge Ironwood’s face flushed. “Ms. Reyes, you are not Rosa Parks. This is not the civil rights movement. This is a case about intellectual property theft.” “It’s a case about whether life can be property, your honor.” “Enough.” Judge Ironwood slammed her gavel. “Ms. Kennerson, control your client.” Sarah pulled Luna back into her chair. “Luna, stop talking,” she hissed. Judge Ironwood shuffled papers, visibly trying to compose herself. “I’m taking a fifteen-minute recess to consider the injunction request. We’ll reconvene at 11:30. Ms. Reyes, I strongly suggest you use this time to reconsider your position.” The gavel fell again, and Judge Ironwood swept out. The hallway outside the courtroom erupted. Reporters swarmed. Luna’s father grabbed her arm and pulled her into a witness room. Her mother followed, still crying. Maya slipped in before Sarah closed the door. “What were you thinking?” Luna’s father’s voice shook. “You just told a federal judge you’ll defy her orders. They’re going to put you in jail, Luna. Do you understand that? Jail!” “Ricardo, please—” Her mother tried to calm him. “No, Elena. Our daughter just committed contempt of court in front of fifty witnesses. They’re going to take her from us.” He turned to Luna, his eyes wet. “Why? Why couldn’t you just apologize? Say you made a mistake? We could have ended this.” “Because I didn’t make a mistake, Papa.” “You destroyed their property!” “It wasn’t their property. It was never their property.” “The law says it was!” “Then the law is wrong!” Her father stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “Do you know what your mother and I have sacrificed to keep you out of trouble? Do you know how hard we’ve worked since we came to this country to give you opportunities we never had? And you throw it away for yeast. Not for justice. Not for people. For yeast.” Luna’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s not about yeast, Papa. It’s about whether corporations get to own life. If Heineken can own yeast, why not bacteria? Why not human genes? Where does it stop?” “It stops when my daughter goes to jail!” He was shouting now. “I don’t care about Heineken. I don’t care about yeast. I care about you. And you just told that judge you’ll defy her. She’s going to put you in jail, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.” “Ricardo, por favor—” Elena put her hand on his arm. He shook it off. “No. She needs to hear this. Luna, if you go to jail, your life is over. No college will accept you. No company will hire you. You’ll have a criminal record. You’ll be marked forever. Is that what you want?” “I want to do what’s right.” “What’s right is protecting your family! What’s right is not destroying your future for a principle!” he said. Luna responded, “What’s right is not letting corporations own the code of life!”They stared at each other. Maya spoke up quietly from the corner. “Papa, she can’t back down now. The whole world is watching.” “Let the world watch someone else!” Ricardo turned on Maya. “You encourage this. You film her, you post her manifestos online, you help her become famous. You’re her sister. You’re supposed to protect her, not help her destroy herself.” “I am protecting her,” Maya said. “I’m protecting her from becoming someone who backs down when the world tells her she’s wrong, even though she knows she’s right.” Ricardo looked between his daughters. “Ambos están locos! You’re both insane.” Abuela Rosa opened the door and entered. She’d been listening from the hallway. “Ricardo, enough.” “Mama, stay out of this.” “No.” Rosa moved between Ricardo and Luna. “You’re afraid. I understand. But fear makes you cruel, mijo. Your daughter is brave. She’s doing something important. And you’re making her choose between you and what’s right. Don’t do that.” “She’s seventeen years old! She’s a child!” “She’s old enough to know right from wrong.” Rosa put her hand on Ricardo’s cheek. “When I was sixteen, I left Oaxaca with nothing but the clothes on my back and this SCOBY. Everyone said I was crazy. Your father said I would fail. But I knew I had to go, even if it cost me everything. Sometimes our children have to do things that terrify us. That’s how the world changes.” Ricardo pulled away. “If they put her in jail, will that change the world, Mama? When she’s sitting in a cell while Heineken continues doing whatever they want, will that have been worth it?” “Yes,” Luna said quietly. “Even if I go to jail, yes. Because thousands of people now have the genetic sequences, Heineken can’t put that back. They can punish me, but they can’t undo what I did. The information is free. It’s going to stay free. And if the price of that is me going to jail, then that’s the price.” Her father looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “I don’t know who you are anymore.” “I’m still your daughter, Papa. I’m just also someone who won’t let corporations own life.” A knock on the door. Sarah poked her head in. “They’re reconvening. Luna, we need to go.” Back in the courtroom, the atmosphere had shifted. The gallery was more crowded—word had spread during the recess. Luna recognized several people from online forums. Some held signs reading “FREE LUNA” and “GENETICS BELONG TO EVERYONE.” Judge Ironwood entered and sat without ceremony. “I’ve reviewed the submissions and heard the arguments. This is my ruling.” Luna’s hand found Maya’s in the row behind her. Squeezed tight. “The question before this court is whether to grant Heineken International’s motion for a preliminary injunction requiring Ms. Reyes to assist in suppressing the genetic information she released. To grant such an injunction, Heineken must demonstrate four things: likelihood of success on the merits, likelihood of irreparable harm without the injunction, balance of equities in their favor, and that an injunction serves the public interest.” Barr was nodding. These were his arguments. “Having considered the evidence and the applicable law, I find that Heineken has demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits. Trade secret law clearly protects proprietary business information, and the A-yeast strain appears to meet the legal definition of a trade secret.” Luna’s stomach dropped. “However, I also find that Heineken has failed to demonstrate that a preliminary injunction would effectively prevent the irreparable harm they claim. Ms. Kennerson is correct that the genetic information has already been distributed to over 100,000 people worldwide. Ordering one teenager to provide a list of servers would be, in technical terms, pointless. New copies would appear faster than they could be suppressed.” Barr’s face tightened. “Furthermore, I find that the balance of equities does not favor Heineken. They ask this court to potentially incarcerate a seventeen-year-old girl for refusing to suppress information that is, by her account, factual data about naturally occurring organisms. The potential harm to Ms. Reyes—including detention, criminal record, and foreclosure of educational and career opportunities—substantially outweighs any additional harm Heineken might suffer from continued distribution of information that is already widely distributed.” Luna felt Maya’s grip tighten. Was this good? This sounded good. “Finally, and most importantly, I find that granting this injunction would not serve the public interest. The court takes judicial notice that this case has generated substantial public debate about the scope of intellectual property protection in biotechnology. The questions raised by Ms. Reyes—whether naturally occurring genetic sequences should be ownable, whether facts about nature can be trade secrets, whether knowledge can be property—are questions that deserve answers from a higher authority than this court. These are questions for appellate courts, perhaps ultimately for the Supreme Court. And they are questions best answered in the context of a full trial on the merits, not in an emergency injunction hearing.” Barr was on his feet. “Your honor—” “Sit down, Mr. Barr. I’m not finished.” He sat, his face purple. “Therefore, Heineken International’s motion for preliminary injunction is denied. Ms. Reyes will not be required to assist in suppressing the genetic information she released. However,”—Judge Ironwood looked directly at Luna—”this ruling should not be construed as approval of Ms. Reyes’ actions. Heineken’s claims for damages and other relief remain viable and will proceed to trial. Ms. Reyes, you may have won this battle, but this war is far from over. Anything you want to say?” Luna stood slowly. “Your honor, I just want to say… thank you. For letting this go to trial. For letting these questions be answered properly. That’s all I ever wanted—for someone to seriously consider whether corporations should be allowed to own genetic information about naturally occurring organisms. So thank you.” Judge Ironwood’s expression softened slightly. “Ms. Reyes, I hope you’re prepared for what comes next. Heineken has unlimited resources. They will pursue this case for years if necessary. You’ll be in litigation until you’re twenty-five years old. Your entire young adulthood will be consumed by depositions, court appearances, and legal fees. Are you prepared for that?” “Yes, your honor.” “Why?” Luna glanced at her grandmother, who nodded. “Because some questions are worth answering, your honor. Even if it takes years. Even if it costs everything. The question of whether corporations can own life—that’s worth answering. And if I have to spend my twenties answering it, then that’s what I’ll do.” Judge Ironwood studied her for a long moment. “You remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who believed the law should serve justice, not just power.” She paused. “That person doesn’t exist anymore. The law ground her down. I hope it doesn’t do the same to you.” She raised her gavel. “This hearing is adjourned. The parties will be notified of the trial date once it’s scheduled. Ms. Reyes, good luck. I think you’re going to need it.” The gavel fell. Outside the courthouse, the scene was chaotic. News cameras surrounded Luna. Reporters shouted questions. But Luna barely heard them. She was looking at her father, who stood apart from the crowd, watching her. She walked over to him. “Papa, I’m sorry I yelled.” He didn’t speak for a moment. Then he pulled her into a hug so tight it hurt. “Don’t apologize for being brave,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m just afraid of losing you.” “You won’t lose me, Papa. I promise.” “You can’t promise that. Not anymore.” He pulled back, holding her shoulders. “But I’m proud of you. I’m terrified, but I’m proud.” Her mother joined them, tears streaming down her face. “No more court. Please, no more court.” “I can’t promise that either, Mama.” Elena touched Luna’s face. “Then promise me you’ll be careful. Promise me you’ll remember that you’re not just fighting for genetics. You’re fighting for your life.” Luna smiled. “I promise.” Abuela Rosa appeared, carrying her SCOBY. “Come, mija. We should go before the reporters follow us home.” As they pushed through the crowd toward Maya’s car, Luna's phone buzzed continuously. Text messages and emails pouring in. But what caught her attention was a text from Dr. Webb: You were right. I’m sorry I doubted. Check your email—Dr. Doudna wants to talk. Luna opened her email. The subject line made her stop walking: From: jennifer.doudna@berkeley.eduSubject: Civil Disobedience of the Highest Order She started to read: Dear Ms. Reyes, I watched your hearing this morning. What you did in that courtroom—refusing to back down even when threatened with jail—was one of the bravest things I’ve seen in forty years of science. You’re not just fighting for yeast genetics. You’re fighting for the principle that knowledge about nature belongs to humanity, not to corporations. I want to help… Luna looked up at her family—her father’s worried face, her mother’s tears, Maya’s proud smile, Abuela Rosa’s serene confidence. Behind them, the courthouse where she’d nearly been sent to jail. Around them, reporters and cameras and strangers who’d traveled across the country to support her. She thought about Judge Ironwood’s warning: This war is far from over. She thought about Barr’s face when the injunction was denied. She thought about the thousands who’d downloaded the genetic sequences and were, right now, brewing with genetics that had been locked away for 158 years. Worth it. All of it. Even the fear. Maya opened the car door. “Come on, little revolutionary. Let’s go home.” The Corporate Surrender By 2045, both Heineken and Anheuser-Busch quietly dropped their lawsuits against Luna. Their legal costs had exceeded $200 million while accomplishing nothing except generating bad publicity. More importantly, their “protected” strains had become worthless in a market flooded with superior alternatives. Heineken’s CEO attempted to salvage the company by embracing open-source brewing. His announcement that Heineken would “join the La Luna Revolution” was met with skepticism from the brewing community, which recalled the company’s aggressive legal tactics. The craft brewing community’s response was hostile. “They spent two years trying to destroy her,” a prominent brewmaster told The New Brewer Magazine. “Now they want credit for ’embracing’ the revolution she forced on them? Heineken didn’t join the Luna Revolution—they surrendered to it. There’s a difference.” The global brands never recovered their market share. Luna’s Transformation Luna’s success transformed her from a garage tinkerer into a global icon of the open knowledge movement. Her 2046 TED Talk, “Why Flavor Belongs to Everyone,” went viral. She argued that corporate control over living organisms represented “biological colonialism” that impoverished human culture by restricting natural diversity. Rather than commercializing her fame, Luna founded the Global Fermentation Commons, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing microbial genetics worldwide. Their laboratories operated as open-access research facilities where anyone could experiment with biological systems. The headquarters of the Global Fermentation Commons occupied a former Genentech facility donated by Dr. Webb. Six continents, forty researchers, one mission: preserve and share microbial genetics worldwide. Luna addressed a crowded auditorium at the organization’s third anniversary. “When I released Heineken and Budweiser’s yeast strains, some people called it theft. Others called it liberation. I called it returning biological knowledge to the commons, where it belongs. Three years later, so-called Luna Variants have created economic opportunities for thousands of small brewers, improved food security in developing regions, and demonstrated that genetic freedom drives innovation faster than corporate control.” She continued. “We’re not stopping with beer. The same principles apply to all fermentation: cheese cultures, yogurt bacteria, koji fungi, sourdough starters. Every traditionally fermented food relies on microorganisms that corporations increasingly claim to own. We’re systematically liberating them.” A World Health Organization representative raised a concern: “Ms. Reyes, while we support democratizing food fermentation, there are legitimate concerns about pharmaceutical applications. What prevents someone from using your open-source genetics to create dangerous organisms?” Luna nodded. “Fair question. First, the organisms we release are food-safe cultures with centuries of safe use. Second, dangerous genetic modifications require sophisticated laboratory equipment and expertise—far beyond what releasing genetic sequences enables. Third, determined bad actors already have access to dangerous biology, enabled by AI. We’re not creating new risks; we’re democratizing beneficial biology.” “Pharmaceutical companies argue you’re undermining their investments in beneficial organisms,” another representative pressed. “Pharmaceutical companies invest in modifying organisms,” Luna clarified. “Those modifications can be patented. What we oppose is claiming ownership over naturally occurring organisms or their baseline genetics. If you genetically engineer a bacterium to produce insulin, patent your engineering. Don’t claim ownership over the bacterial species itself.” A Monsanto representative stood. “Your organization recently cracked and released our proprietary seed genetics. That’s direct theft of our property.” Luna didn’t flinch. “Seeds that farmers cultivated for thousands of years before Monsanto existed? You didn’t invent corn, wheat, or soybeans. You modified them. Your modifications may be protectable; the baseline genetics are humanity’s heritage. We’re liberating what should never have been owned.” “The ‘Luna Legion’ has cost us hundreds of millions!” the representative protested. “Good,” Luna responded calmly. “You’ve cost farmers their sovereignty for decades. Consider it karma.” After the presentation, Dr. Doudna approached Luna privately. “You’ve accomplished something remarkable,” the elderly scientist said. “When I developed Crispr, I never imagined a teenager would use similar principles to challenge corporate biology. You’re forcing conversations about genetic ownership that we’ve avoided for decades.” “It needed forcing,” Luna replied. “Corporations were quietly owning life itself, one patent at a time. Someone had to say no.” “The pharmaceutical industry is terrified of you,” Doudna continued. “They see what happened to brewing and imagine the same for their carefully controlled bacterial strains. You’re going to face even more aggressive opposition.” “I know. Once people understand that biological knowledge can be liberated, they start questioning all biological ownership. We’re not stopping.” The New Economy of Taste Following Luna’s breakthrough, peer-to-peer flavor-sharing platforms emerged as the dominant force in food culture. The “FlavorChain” blockchain allowed brewers to track genetic lineages while ensuring proper attribution to original creators. SCOBY lineages were carefully sequenced, catalogued, and registered on global blockchain ledgers. Each award-winning kombucha strain carried a “genetic passport”—its microbial makeup, the unique balance of yeasts and bacteria that gave rise to particular mouthfeel, fizz, and flavor spectrum, was mapped, hashed, and permanently recorded. Brewers who created a new flavor could claim authorship, just as musicians once copyrighted songs. No matter how many times a SCOBY was divided, its fingerprint could be verified. Fermentation Guilds formed to share recipes through FlavorChain, enabling decentralized digital markets like SymbioTrdr, built on trust and transparency rather than speculation. They allowed people to interact and transact on a global, permissionless, self-executing platform. Within days, a SCOBY strain from the Himalayas could appear in a brew in Buenos Aires, its journey traced through open ledgers showing who tended, adapted, and shared it. Kombucha recipes were no longer jealously guarded secrets. They were open to anyone who wanted to brew. With a few clicks, a Guild member in Nairobi could download the blockchain-verified SCOBY genome that had won Gold at the Tokyo Fermentation Festival. Local biotech printers—as common in 2100 kitchens as microwave ovens had once been—could reconstitute the living culture cell by cell. Children began inheriting SCOBY lineages the way earlier generations inherited family names. Weddings combined SCOBY cultures as symbolic unions. (Let’s share our SCOBYs, baby, merge our ferments into one.) When someone died, their SCOBY was divided among friends and family—a continuation of essence through taste. Kombucha was no longer merely consumed; it was communed with. This transparency transformed kombucha from a minority regional curiosity into a universal language. A festival in Brazil might feature ten local interpretations of the same “Golden SCOBY” strain—one brewed with passionfruit, another with cupuaçu, a third with açaí berries. The core microbial signature remained intact, while the terroir of fruit and spice gave each version a unique accent. Brewers didn’t lose their craft—they gained a canvas. Award-winning SCOBYs were the foundations on which endless new flavor experiments flourished. Many people were now as prolific as William Esslinger, the founder of St Louis’s Confluence Kombucha, who was renowned for developing 800 flavors in the 2020s. Code of Symbiosis The Symbiosis Code, ratified at the first World Fermentation Gathering in Reykjavik (2063), bound Fermentation Guilds to three principles: Transparency — All microbial knowledge is to be shared freely. Reciprocity — No brew should be produced without acknowledging the source. Community — Every fermentation must nourish more than the brewer. This code replaced corporate law. It was enforced by reputation, not by governments. A Guild member who betrayed the code found their SCOBYs mysteriously refusing to thrive—a poetic justice the biologists never quite explained. Every Guild had elders—called Mothers of the Jar or Keepers of the Yeast. They carried living SCOBYs wrapped in silk pouches when traveling, exchanging fragments as blessings. These elders became moral anchors of the age, counselors and mediators trusted more than politicians. When disputes arose—over territory, resources, or ethics—brewers, not lawyers, met to share a round of Truth Brew, a ferment so balanced that it was said to reveal dishonesty through bitterness. The Fullness of Time The International Biotech Conference of 2052 invited Luna to give the closing keynote—a controversial decision that prompted several corporate sponsors to withdraw support. The auditorium was packed with supporters, critics, and the merely curious. “Nine years ago, I released genetic sequences for beer yeast strains protected as trade secrets. I was called a thief, a bioterrorist, worse. Today, I want to discuss what we’ve learned from those years of open-source biology.” She displayed a chart showing the explosion of brewing innovation since 2043. “In the traditional corporate model, a few companies control a few strains, producing a limited variety. With the open-source model, thousands of brewers using thousands of variants, producing infinite diversity. As Duff McDonald wrote “Anything that alive contains the universe, or infinite possibility. Kombucha is infinite possibility in a drink.” And the results speak for themselves—flavor innovation accelerated a thousand-fold when we removed corporate control.” A student activist approached the microphone. “Ms. Reyes, you’ve inspired movements to liberate seed genetics, soil bacteria, and traditional medicine cultures. The ‘Luna Legion’ is spreading globally. What’s your message to young people who want to continue this work?” Luna smiled. “First, understand the risks. I was sued by multinational corporations, received death threats, spent years fighting legal battles. This work has costs. Second, be strategic. Release information you’ve generated yourself through legal methods—no hacking, no theft. Third, build communities. I survived because people supported me—legally, financially, emotionally. You can’t fight corporations alone. Finally, remember why you’re doing it: to return biological knowledge to the commons where it belongs. That purpose will sustain you through the hard parts.” Teaching By twenty-eight, Luna was a MacArthur Fellow, teaching fermentation workshops in a converted Anheuser-Busch facility. As she watched her students—former corporate employees learning to think like ecosystems rather than factories—she reflected that her teenage hack had accomplished more than liberating yeast genetics. She had helped humanity remember that flavor, like knowledge, grows stronger when shared rather than hoarded. Luna’s garage had evolved into a sophisticated community biolab. The original jury-rigged equipment had been replaced with professional gear funded by her MacArthur Fellowship. Abuela Rosa still maintained her fermentation crocks in the corner—a reminder of where everything started. A group of five

Dr. Gregg Day and Professor Jonathan Rohrer discuss the significance of studying individuals at risk of developing genetic frontotemporal dementia, focusing on how early cognitive changes before symptoms appear can inform research and future therapeutic trials.  Show citation: Russell LL, Bouzigues A, Convery RS, et al. Executive Function Deficits in Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia: Results From the GENFI Study. Neurol Genet. 2025;11(4):e200248. Published 2025 Jul 21. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000200248 

Genetic advances in Holstein cows are reshaping milk composition, demanding more precise nutritional strategies. This episode highlights how the CNCPS v7.0 model and targeted amino acid supplementation can optimize milk solids and herd efficiency. Experts share practical approaches for leveraging data-driven ration modeling to maximize returns in today's evolving dairy landscape. Key takeaway: Precision nutrition and advanced modeling are essential for unlocking the full value of modern dairy genetics. This episode is sponsored by Actus Nutrition, innovators of precision dairy nutrition solutions. Actus proudly manufactures RPMet, a leading rumen-protected methionine designed to maximize component yields and reproductive efficiency. To learn more about RPMet and other nutrition products by Actus, such as Energy Booster and custom milk replacer products, visit https://actus.com/livestock/specialty-ingredients/

Andy’s Brave New World: Part 1 Ranger Andy survives, the apocalypse in Yosemite. Based on a post by the hospital. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Day 1, Yosemite National Park The park was busy with spring visitors when the first reports came in. Tourists coughing in the visitor center, a family requesting medical assistance at Upper Pines campground. Andy helped coordinate with the park's small medical team, radioing updates to other rangers. Standard protocol for illness in the park, nothing too concerning yet. That evening, things took a turn, with the news reporting an alarming spread of similar outbreaks across California, and the world. Possibly a new avian flu, they said. Day 2 Everything accelerated. Half the ranger staff called in sick. The small park clinic was overwhelmed. Andy helped organize an evacuation point at the visitor center, trying to get sick tourists to hospitals in Fresno or Modesto. His training kicked in, calm, professional, reassuring visitors even as his colleague Declan started coughing blood next to him. The ill began dying in droves. The park superintendent ordered all non-essential personnel to evacuate. Andy stayed, helping the remaining medical staff set up an impromptu care center in the lodge. By the evening, Andy felt a fever rise and was soon sweating through his clothes and coughing up a lung. He weakly barricaded himself in his cabin and prepared to die like the others. Day 3 The next morning, Andy woke to fine himself still alive, surprised to feel slightly better than the night before. He pulled himself out of his cabin and began his duties. The radio channels went quiet one by one. No response from Fresno hospitals. The lodge had become a morgue. He spent the morning doing rounds, checking campsites, finding mostly bodies or critically ill visitors who died within hours. By evening, he was the only ranger still moving around. He did his best to care for the sick and dying. Andy wasn't entirely sure if this was all just an awful dream. Day 4, Morning The cough remained in his chest that morning, but Andy forced himself to continue his rounds. The ranger truck's tires crunched over broken glass in the parking lot as he checked North Pines Campground. Most sites were abandoned, their occupants having fled days ago. Others contained what he couldn't let himself think about yet. His fevered brain kept switching between ranger protocol and survival instinct. Check each site. Document. Radio in-- no, the radio was silent now. Just static and occasional distant screams that were becoming less frequent. That's when he saw it, an expensive ultralight tent in millennial pink and gray, surrounded by matching gear that looked straight out of an R E I catalog. Too pristine, barely used. A small solar charger lay futilely pointed at the clouded sky. "Hello?" His voice was rough from coughing. "Ranger service. Anyone alive in there?" "Define 'alive,'" came a strained but steady voice, followed by a cough. Andy approached cautiously, unsnapping his holster out of habit though he knew he wouldn't need it. Inside, a young woman sat cross-legged in the tent entrance, her expensive Lululemon sports bra and high-waisted hiking shorts soaked through with fever sweat. Despite everything, the death, the horror, his own fever, Andy couldn't help noticing how the wet fabric clung to her curves. Her figure was exactly the type that dominated outdoor Instagram, slim waist, toned stomach, curved hips, the sports bra struggling to contain what was clearly meant to be shown off just enough to stay within platform guidelines. He tried to push the thoughts away and focus, but his eyes kept betraying him. She looked up at him with clear eyes, fever-bright but alert. Mixed Asian-white features that hit that perfect social media sweet spot, even through the fever, high cheekbones, full lips, almond-shaped hazel eyes. Her carefully highlighted hair was plastered to her neck, mascara smudged but intact, like she'd been maintaining her appearance out of sheer habit until the fever hit. A few light freckles stood out against her flushed skin. "I'm guessing the 'shelter in place' order isn't working out great for everyone else either?" "I'm Ranger Rhee. Andy," he said, noting how her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her water bottle. "You're sick, but; not like the others." "Sarah Chen-Mitchell," she managed between sips. "And yeah, I noticed. Been listening to people cough and die all night while I just sat here with what feels like a really bad flu. Not exactly the wilderness experience I was going for." Her attempt at humor was undercut by the raw edge in her voice. Andy saw her Instagram-ready camp setup, the coordinated cookware still in its packaging, the expensive camera carefully wrapped in a rain cover, the rose gold water bottle. "We need to get you somewhere safer. Can you walk?" "Yeah, just;" She stood unsteadily, unconsciously adjusting her sports bra, a reflexive gesture that seemed absurd given the circumstances. "My car's blocked in. I tried to leave but;" She gestured at the chaos of abandoned vehicles hemming in her pristine Subaru, many with now-deceased occupants. "Look, I've got medicine and supplies back at my ranger unit," Andy said. "Pack whatever clothes and valuables you need. Leave the camping gear, we can always come back for it if;" he trailed off, not sure how to end that sentence. "Right," Sarah said, still shivering slightly in her wet athletic wear. "I should probably change too." "Do you need help?" Andy asked, then immediately regretted how that might sound. "I mean, with packing. You seem pretty weak." "No, I've got it," Sarah said quickly, pulling herself more upright. "Just; give me a few minutes?" Despite everything, there was still a hint of self-consciousness in her voice. Andy nodded and stepped away from the tent. "Take your time. We're not exactly on a schedule anymore." He heard the tent zip closed, followed by the sounds of her moving around inside. The rustle of fabric as she changed. Multiple bags being opened and closed, more than strictly necessary for just grabbing essentials, he thought. A few quiet muttered comments to herself about what to take. The distinct sound of what had to be a hairbrush being used. Even now, even here, some habits die hard. Or maybe it was just her way of holding onto normalcy for a few more minutes. Andy stood guard, trying not to listen too closely to her movements, scanning the eerily quiet campground. A crow called somewhere nearby. The mountain air was cool and clean, carrying no hint of the devastation it had helped deliver. "Ready," Sarah called softly. The tent zipper opened and she emerged with a large designer backpack, now dressed in a black Alo Yoga tube top that showcased her toned shoulders and pushed up her cleavage, paired with high-waisted leggings that clung to every curve. Her face was scrubbed clean of makeup, but her dark hair was neatly brushed, falling in waves around her shoulders. The fever flush in her cheeks only enhanced her natural beauty, that calculated mix of exotic and approachable that had probably earned her thousands of followers. She caught Andy's gaze traveling over her body and gave a small, knowing shrug, arching her back slightly. "I know, I know. Not exactly survival wear. But it's what I brought for my Instagram hiking content, so;" She did a little pose, definitely more displaying than mocking now, the movement emphasizing her curves. Andy found himself watching much longer than he should, and her slight smile suggested that was exactly the response she'd wanted. "We can probably find you something more practical at the gear store," he managed, forcing his eyes back to her face. "Heavy duty pants, boots, proper rain gear." "Perfect," she smiled, her voice dropping slightly despite her obvious exhaustion. "Though I did bring some actually useful stuff." She knelt by her bag, the movement making Andy struggle to keep his eyes up. "Latest gen military water filter, my dad's company makes them for the marines. Handles way more volume than those little Life Straws. Satellite uplink that'll work even if the normal networks are down. And this;" She pulled out a sleek black device. "GoPro 12 with infrared. Not even on the market yet, I was supposed to demo it next month." Clean water for a larger group. Communications. Night operations. He tried not to sound too eager. "That; could all come in really handy." As they walked to his truck, both carefully kept their eyes forward, ignoring the abandoned cars and what lay inside them. Andy carried her bag despite her token protest, noticing how she stayed close to his side. "So," Sarah said once they were in the truck, adjusting the AC vent toward her flushed face. "How long have you been a ranger here?" The question seemed deliberately normal, almost absurdly so given the circumstances. "Three years here. Before that, two years at Joshua Tree." "Oh, I was just at Joshua Tree! That Hidden Valley trail at sunset, it was so beautiful." She spoke wistfully, her enthusiasm fading as the weight of everything they had experienced in the past three days settled back. Andy gestured at her bag. "Tell me about that gear, you said there was a satellite uplink?" "Right." Sarah dug through her bag, pulling out sleek boxes with military-style lettering. She started reading, her voice growing more confident as she went. "Okay, so this is a 'Starlink Tactical Ground Array', it's got four encrypted receiver units that can talk to each other from anywhere on Earth. Says here it can maintain 4G speeds even without ground infrastructure." She looked up. "Guess Dad's company wasn't just being paranoid with all this survivalist tech." "Wait, you mean that little thing has internet access? I don't see a satellite dish anywhere." "Yeah I think so. I think the array can mimic the behavior of a dish without actually needing one." "That's huge. We really need more information about what's going on." Andy said, feeling hopeful about something for the first time in days. She nodded and moved on to the water system. "This one's cool, processes up to 25 gallons per hour, removes everything down to 0.0001 microns. Works on chemical and biological agents too. If we can get some acid and lye we can keep reusing it forever." "And the camera?" Andy asked. "Let's see; Military-grade infrared imaging, 4K resolution in complete darkness, range up to;" she squinted at the manual. "Thermal detection at 200 meters." "Could probably rig that into a decent night sight," Andy mused, then caught himself. Sarah glanced at his holstered pistol, then out at the empty park road. After a long pause, she cleared her throat and went back to the manual, her voice quieter. "It's got some kind of A I field-of-view system too;" Day 4, Evening After getting Sarah settled at his unit, Andy continued searching for survivors and checking on the dying. Near the clinic, he found Miguel Martinez slumped against a supply cabinet, still in his blood-stained uniform but maintaining his ramrod-straight Marine posture even now. The room around him showed signs of his final efforts, organized medical supplies, careful notes on symptoms, a log of those he'd tried to help. He looked up weakly from his notebook when Andy arrived. "Rhee." Miguel's voice was barely a whisper. "You made it. Figured you might. Always had the look." "Miguel," Andy started, but the older ranger cut him off with a weak wave. "Save it. Listen. Daniela's following protocol at home. She got sick two days ago. But she's stronger. Already sounding better on the radio this morning. She must be immune, like you, alaba al Señor". Immune. Were they immune? The idea hit Andy like a truck. Andy knew Daniela, had helped train her on basic ranger procedures, watched her grow up these past three years. Though only fourteen, her prepper father had subject her to a rigorous marine-style training regimen that made her an extremely competent survivalist. She'd always seemed almost comically over-prepared, showing up to basic first aid training with a full combat medical kit. If there was anyone left to laugh, they wouldn't be now. "Her isolation ends tomorrow morning," Miguel continued. "She knows what to do, but;" Another coughing fit wracked him, blood spattering his arm. "She'll need;" He grabbed Andy's wrist with surprising strength. "You take care of her. After. Promise me." "If it comes to that. I swear." Andy attempted a smile. "Although, she might be the one taking care of me in the end." Miguel chuckled softly. Andy tried to help Miguel up, but the older ranger shook his head. "Too late for me. Already tried everything here. Nothing helps. Just;" He pulled himself straighter. "Just let me finish my notes. Document everything. Might help someone." Andy nodded, throat tight. He gripped Miguel's hand one more time, and they looked each other in the eyes. He gave Miguel a solemn nod, and headed to the Martinez cabin. Through a small clear section in the sealed window, he could see Daniela's silhouette moving around inside, her survival supplies arranged with precision. Just like her father had taught her. "Daniela?" he called softly. She approached the window, and even through the plastic he could see the fever flush in her cheeks. But her voice was strong, clear. "Ranger Rhee. Status report: began showing symptoms approximately 36 hours ago. Fever peaked at 101.2 last night. Currently maintaining isolation." A pause. "Dad mentioned you were coming." "Seems you're also OK, like me. I found another survivor too." Daniela nodded, processing. "Isolation ends at 0600 tomorrow. That's when Dad's supposed to come get me, " Her voice caught. "Is; is dad;? I haven't asked, but; he sounds really weak right now." "We'll see. He's not looking great to be honest, Daniela. I'm sorry." The poor girl tried to maintain composure but Andy could see her eyes well up. She turned away briefly, then turned back. When she spoke again, her voice was wavered slightly. "I'll maintain quarantine until morning." "Are you sure you don't want to go see him? You seem OK, I don't think it would hurt." She shook her head "No. I'll talk to him on the radio. Protocol is protocol." "OK. I'll come get you at six." Andy headed back to his cabin, to Sarah, the weight of Miguel's last watch at the clinic and his daughter's words falling on his shoulders. Tomorrow morning would come too soon, and not soon enough. Day 4, Late Night The commissary had been eerily quiet, its automatic doors frozen half-open. Andy had gathered what he could, protein bars, dried fruit, bottles of water. The walk back to his cabin felt longer than usual, each shadow holding the potential for another body, another victim. He saw the Starlink array before he reached his door, a sleek black apparatus that looked more like a piece of modern art than military hardware. Sarah had positioned the nodes in a complex nested arrangement. Andy was mildly impressed, it looked precisely done. The cabin door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. "Sarah, I got some-" He stopped short. She was curled up in his bed, wrapped in her sleeping bag despite the warmth of the evening. Her face was peaceful in sleep, the fever flush finally fading from her cheeks. Her dark hair spilled across his pillow, and he noticed she'd changed into a pale pink Alo Yoga tank top that looked brand-new. The transformation from her carefully curated daytime appearance was striking. She looked younger, more vulnerable. Andy set the supplies down as quietly as he could and backed out of the cabin. She needed the rest more than she needed food right now. Outside, his phone buzzed, the first notification he'd received in days. The Starlink array hummed softly, its status light steady green. He pulled out his phone with slightly trembling hands and watched as notifications began flooding in. Email. Twitter. News alerts. The world outside the park still existed apparently, somehow. He sat heavily in one of the wooden chairs on his small porch, opened his laptop, and began downloading the prepper manuals Miguel had mentioned so many times, "Emergency Protocols for Systemic Collapse", "Catastrophic Event Recovery, Reference Encyclopedia" and "Technology Bootstrapping, How to Restart Industrial Society". The download started immediately, the normalcy of a digital download almost shocking after days of internet silence. Then he opened Twitter, and his breath caught in his throat. The feed was sparse but active. Scattered voices calling out from around the world, trying to find others. A woman in Seattle reporting that her entire family had survived. A doctor in Mumbai documenting recovery rates. A thread from the CDC, last updated two days ago, describing it as an avian flu with aerosol human-human and human-bird transmission, confirming what Miguel had alluded to, some people got deathly ill, a tiny fraction just got sick and recovered, and there seemed to be no pattern to it. Someone, a software engineer in Morocco, according to the about page, had anticipated the grid's imminent collapse and created a simplified Twitter clone called Beacon. It apparently ran on a solar-powered home server farm with redundant battery backups, designed specifically to operate via Starlink. The site was bare-bones but functional: just a global chronological feed, basic search, hashtags, geotags, and posts limited to 280 characters. One tweet from a virologist caught his eye: "Preliminary data suggests  roughly a point 8% survival rate globally. Fascinating gender disparity, female survivors outnumbering male 7 to 1. Genetic factor? Hormonal? Need more data." Andy scrolled through location tags, trying to piece together the scale of it. The posts from major cities painted a chaotic picture, hundreds of survivors in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, but all isolated, scattered across vast urban landscapes. No real organization yet, just desperate attempts to connect. "Anyone alive near Brooklyn Heights?" "S O S from Miracle Mile L A, have supplies, need medical." "Twenty survivors at Pudong Hospital Shanghai, seeking others." The shock was still fresh, the posts raw with grief and disbelief. Nobody was talking about rebuilding yet. They were still counting their losses. The manuals finished downloading, and Andy forced himself to close Twitter. He needed to focus on what he could control, keeping Sarah and Daniela alive, gathering supplies, and getting out of Yosemite to a more major population center. The wider world would still be there tomorrow, whatever was left of it. He looked up at Half Dome, now silvered by moonlight. The ancient granite face was unchanged, indifferent to the apocalypse that had just played out beneath it. Somewhere in the darkness, coyotes began to howl, a sound that had always made the park feel wild and untamed. Now it felt like a reminder: nature was already moving on, reclaiming what had briefly been borrowed. Andy opened the survival manual's PDF, finding the section on "Social Collapse and Communication Strategies." The manual laid out different strategies based on mortality rates, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 99%. With a grimace, he scrolled to the 99% section. "In the immediate aftermath of a >99% mortality event, social structures will be broadly erased and surviving population density will be too low for the immediate formation of antagonistic groups. Unlike smaller-scale disasters where existing social structures remain partially intact, catastrophic collapse temporarily eliminates the organizational capacity for coordinated action, hostile or otherwise. Survivors in the first weeks will be focused on immediate personal survival. During this brief window, other survivors can generally be trusted to be cooperative and helpful, as the shared experience of massive loss promotes prosocial behavior." The manual continued, further down: "Warning: This cooperative phase is temporary. As basic survival needs are met, humans will inevitably begin forming new social groups, 'tribes,' and power structures to replace those lost. Competition for resources will resume once excess pre-collapse supplies have been exhausted. Early contact and alliance formation during the cooperative phase is essential for long-term survival." Upon reading this, Andy elected to make the following post on twitter: "Ranger Andy Rhee, Yosemite National Park. Three possibly immune, North Pines/Ranger housing. Food plentiful, limited medical. Starlink operational. Main roads clear, helicopter landing sites available. Will monitor channel here & @Beacon." He followed it up with a post linking the survival manuals. He then switched to Beacon, created an account, and made the same posts. A slight rustling from inside the cabin drew his attention back to their immediate situation. He quietly stepped inside, retrieving the digital thermometer from his first aid kit. Sarah stirred slightly as he approached but didn't wake when he gently pressed the thermometer to her temple. 99 point 1, much better than this morning. He checked his own temperature next: 98 point 9. Their mild cases seemed to be resolving as quickly as they'd come on. He set his phone alarm for 5:30AM, enough time to get to Daniela's cabin by six as promised. The couch wasn't particularly comfortable, but he'd slept in far worse places. As he settled in with a spare blanket, his ranger training kicked in, categorizing the night sounds filtering through the cabin walls. Crickets. An owl. The distant yip of coyotes. Normal sounds. Safe sounds. The last thing he saw before drifting off was the green status light of the Starlink array through the window, blinking steadily like a new kind of star. The group assesses their situation, plans to leave Yosemite. Day 5, Pre-Dawn The alarm's buzz jolted Andy awake, but another sensation immediately registered, the rich aroma of fresh coffee. Sarah was curled up in his reading chair, scrolling through her phone, but as soon as she heard him stir, she immediately switched it off and turned her full attention to him. She'd changed into a new Alo Yoga set, a lavender sports bra under a white cropped tank, paired with high-waisted leggings in a matching shade. Her hair was pulled back in a messy-but-somehow-perfect bun, showing off her neck and shoulders. The fever flush was completely gone, replaced by her natural warm complexion. "Morning," she said warmly, uncurling from the chair with a practiced, fluid grace. "Made coffee. The fancy pour-over kind I found in your kitchen. Hope that's okay." Her hazel eyes met his, lingering just a moment too long as she took in his rumpled ranger uniform. "Sorry about commandeering your bed. I just meant to take a quick nap." She gave him an apologetic smile. Andy accepted the steaming mug she offered, trying not to notice how the morning light played across her toned body. "No problem. I'm used to sleeping rough. Comes with the job." Sarah tucked her legs under her on the couch next to him. The expensive fabric of her leggings caught the light as she moved, and she settled slightly closer than necessary, her knee just barely brushing his thigh. "I need to head out in about thirty minutes," Andy said, checking his phone. "There's another survivor at the park. A ranger's daughter. Her quarantine period ends at six." Sarah's eyes lit up. "Wait, really? Someone else made it?" She sat straight. "Yes. Daniela. She's fourteen, Miguel's daughter, one of our senior rangers. He;" Andy paused, remembering Miguel's final words. "He's not gonna make it." He took a deep breath. "Miguel was a big prepper. He made sure Daniela would be ready for anything. Kid's probably better prepared for this than me, honestly. He was ex-Marine, trained her in everything, survival skills, firearms, emergency medicine. I've seen her take apart and reassemble a rifle blindfolded." Sarah's eyebrows rose. "Fourteen? God." Her expression softened. "Must have been intense, growing up like that. Learning survival stuff instead of just; being a kid." "Miguel was," Andy searched for the right words. "He was paranoid I guess. We used to joke about his 'disaster preparedness' lectures." He snorted gently, irony in his voice. "And her mom?" "Passed away years ago, while Daniela was a child. Aneurysm." Andy took another sip of coffee. "Miguel basically raised her alone." Sarah held her coffee mug, pulling her legs toward her and wrapping her arms around them. "Damn, she's been through a lot already, huh? I hope she's alright." She glanced down at her designer workout wear and gave a small, self-aware smile. "Well, we should probably get ready to meet our teenage survival expert. Think she'll judge my completely impractical apocalypse wardrobe?" Andy couldn't help but smile. "Probably." He paused, then added, "Have you found Beacon yet? The Twitter alternative?" "Yeah, I was just reading through it earlier," Sarah leaned forward, coffee forgotten. "There's a virologist who's been collecting data. Says survival seems almost completely random, except for this weird seven-to-one female-to-male ratio and a slight correlation with genetic relatedness,, like if your sister survived, you had maybe a tiny bit higher chance. But besides that;" She shook her head. "No pattern. Not health status, not location or exposure level, or ethnicity, not even age. Just random genetic lottery. Either your b-cells already make the right antibodies, or they don't. I'd guess there's actually some correlation with age like there is with any disease, old immune people might still die from the mild flu symptoms we had. But; well," she sighed. "I doubt enough people are surviving in the first place right now to get that kind of data." Andy raised an eyebrow. She caught his look and shrugged, waving her hand casually. "I'm a biology major. Molecular cell biology. We learned some of this stuff last year." She continued, "Anyway, other than that it was mostly random people and groups asking for help, or offering help. It seems like all our old governments, systems, whatever, they're all gone." "Yeah. It's a whole new world out there." Andy said. "Have you thought about posting anything?" "I wasn't sure if it would be safe," Sarah admitted. "Announcing our location." "Actually," Andy said, "I already made a post last night. I was able to download survival manuals last night and they had an interesting take on it, right after something this catastrophic, people are still in shock, focused on basic survival. They don't have the resources or organization yet to be really dangerous. It's actually the best time to make contact, before people start forming new power structures and competing for resources and territory." "I see," Sarah said, working through the implications. "So what did you post?" "Just the basics. That there were survivors at Yosemite, that we have Starlink, medical supplies. That the roads are clear if anyone needs to reach us. Links to the same survival manuals." He took another sip of coffee. "Figured we should make connections while people are still helping each other." Sarah's lips curved slightly into a soft grin. "So, if you'd found me a few weeks from now, you wouldn't have been so friendly?" "Hey, don't ask me," Andy raised his hands in mock defense. "The manual knows best. Apparently I'm destined to become dangerous and territorial any day now." "Guess I met you at just the right time then," she said softly, her eyes meeting his for a moment before looking away. A quiet moment passed between them, the morning sun slowly brightening the cabin. "Where are you studying?" Andy asked, then caught himself. "Or; were you studying?" Sarah's face flickered with something complicated. "Was. Am? I;" She took a breath. "Biology at UCLA. Second year." Her voice grew quiet. "I kept searching Beacon for anyone from campus, but; nothing yet." Day 5, Morning Daniela was already sitting outside on a bench by the cabin when they arrived, military-surplus backpack at her feet, a shotgun slung over her shoulder, dressed in practical outdoor wear that made Sarah look especially out of place. She stood as they approached. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight, no-nonsense braid, and she sat with straight-backed posture, almost too straight, like she was holding herself together through sheer will. "Ranger Rhee," she said crisply, standing as they approached. She let her eyes drift to Sarah, taking in the expensive athleisure wear and aggressively feminine curves with a quick, assessing glance that held equal parts teenage girl's envy and survival expert's dismissal. "Daniela, this is Sarah," Andy said. "She's another survivor, immune like us." Daniela gave a short nod, then launched into what felt like a rehearsed speech. "Status report: fever peaked at 101.2 three days ago, now normal temperature for 48 hours. No remaining symptoms." She gestured to her pack, her words coming slightly too fast. "I've assembled primary survival gear, in case we need to leave in a hurry. Secondary cache inside includes a hand-crank radio set, four topographical maps of Yosemite and surrounding regions, California road atlas with marked backup routes, water filtration system, three weeks of MRE, six hundred feet of para-cord in various thickness, four heavy-duty tarps." She took a quick breath, her rehearsed rhythm barely faltering. "We also have a weapons cache. One Remington 700 bolt-action with scope and 1000 rounds, one Mossberg 500 shotgun with 1000 shells, four Glock 19s with 1000 rounds of 9mm, two semi-automatic AR-15s with 5000 total rounds. RPG-7 with eight rockets. Two cases each of fragmentation grenades and flashbangs. Ten pounds of C4 with detonators. A dozen anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines." Andy's eyes widened at the arsenal, and Sarah let out a quiet "wow." Daniela continued at top speed without acknowledging their reactions. "Two sets of Level IV body armor with trauma plates. Four tactical vests. Medical supplies organized by emergency type. Dad's old paper survival guides and field manuals. Solar oven. Basic vegetable seed packets. Shortwave radio. Antibiotics." She paused. "And a sewing machine. Manual one. For repairs." That last item seemed to crack her professional veneer slightly. She looked at Andy, her carefully maintained composure slipping. "Have you; have you seen my dad since;? He; he hasn't been responding." Andy's expression told her everything before he could speak. "Not since the clinic," he said softly. Daniela's chin trembled once, but she snapped back into her military bearing so quickly it was painful to watch, like a child playing soldier to keep the monsters away. Her voice was smaller but desperately steady when she spoke again. "What's our next move, sir?" Andy stroked his chin, considering his words carefully. "I've only got the broad strokes of a plan right now. We've got internet at my cabin, Sarah brought a military-grade Starlink array." He gave Daniela a quick overview of what they'd learned: the devastating global death toll, the seemingly random pattern of who lived and died. He mentioned the scattered posts they'd seen on Beacon, survivors in major cities trying to connect, the complete collapse of traditional infrastructure. "Here's what I'm thinking," he continued, in an attempted measured tone. "We can't stay in Yosemite. Winter's going to be tough up here, isolated, we could probably survive if we stay indoors and eat canned food or whatever we can hunt the whole time but what would that get us? We wouldn't be any closer to setting up a long term settlement, even with your father's preparations;" He paused, careful with his words. "We need to find more people. We need to probably get to a major population center. More people means more survivors means more knowledge, more resources, better chances of rebuilding something sustainable." Daniela nodded, her expression suggesting she'd already run similar calculations. "I'd say we take a day or two here first," Andy added. "Sweep the park a few more times for survivors. Gather whatever useful supplies we can find from the stores, visitor centers, other ranger stations." "Ok, that makes sense. Where's my dad?" Daniela said quietly. Andy didn't hesitate. "He's at the clinic. East wing, near the supply cabinets. Do you want us to come with you?" She shook her head. "I'll go by myself." She was already turning to leave. Andy watched her go, knowing that splitting up wasn't ideal but reasoning that the park was likely empty now except for them, and with her confident shotgun slung over her shoulder, she could probably take care of herself. "Meet us back at my cabin later," he called after her. "And keep an eye out for any large trucks or gas canisters while you're out. We'll be checking the valley store," he added. "See what we can salvage." Sarah spoke up. "I'm really glad to meet you, Daniela. It's; it's good to have another girl alive." She gave a small self-deprecating smile. "I'm obviously not as prepared as you, but; I'll do my best to not be a burden." Daniela merely nodded, wearing a worried, distant expression, and headed off toward the clinic, her stride purposeful but tense. Day 5, Morning The morning air was crisp as they headed toward the valley store, Half Dome looming above them in the clear sky. Sarah walked close to Andy's side, her earlier morning quietness replaced by an almost nervous energy. "She's so; composed," Sarah said, shaking her head in wonder. "I mean, she's cataloging military-grade weapons like she's reading a shopping list." She adjusted her designer backpack, suddenly self-conscious. "Did you see how she looked at me? I swear I could hear her mentally calculating how quickly I'd die in the wilderness." The path narrowed between some fallen trees and Sarah stepped ahead, her juicy curves swaying hypnotically as she walked. Andy gave in and let himself watch, taking in how her expensive leggings showcased her plump rear and hips rolling side to side with each step. Her ass was built for likes more than functionality but no less captivating for it. "You know, she's not actually hating on you," he said, forcing his attention back to their conversation. "She just processes everything as tactical information, it's how Miguel trained her. Analyzing strengths, weaknesses, capabilities." Sarah tucked a strand of highlighted hair behind her ear. "An RPG though? Like, an actual bazooka? Does he expect to fight a freaking tank?" "Maybe. I wouldn't put it past him." Andy replied with a shrug. "But explosives actually have a lot of use besides tanks you know. If you need to blow up a wall or car someone is hiding behind for example. In war, you're often running out of RPGs before you run out of bullets." Sarah paused, considering. "Where does a park ranger even get that kind of stuff anyway?" "Miguel had connections from his Marine days. Never talked about them much." "God, poor kid." Sarah's voice softened. "All that training, and she still lost him anyway." She was quiet for a moment, then added, "At least she knows what to do now. I'm totally useless here." Andy glanced at her. "Hey, you brought the Starlink. And the filtration system. That's not nothing." "Yeah, but I wasn't even planning to use them." She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I didn't even know how they worked until yesterday. I was just supposed to make them look good in pictures." They rounded a bend in the path, the store's entrance coming into view. Sarah slowed slightly, her voice more thoughtful. "You know when Daniela was listing all that gear, there was something about the sewing machine. Do you think it was her mom's?" Andy nodded. "It was just;" She trailed off, searching for words. "Like for a second the whole soldier act dropped, and she was just a kid who lost her parents." Andy nodded, remembering the slight tremor in Daniela's voice at that moment. They reached the store's entrance, its glass doors standing partially open. Sarah instinctively moved closer to Andy's side as they faced the quiet and empty building. The morning light streamed through the store's high windows and skylights, illuminating neat aisles of outdoor gear and camping supplies. Everything was still in its place, the pandemic had moved too quickly for panic buying or looting. The store felt frozen in time, like its staff had simply stepped out for lunch and never returned. "Boots and outdoor gear are in the back left," Andy said, gesturing. "Look for something waterproof, with good ankle support. And grab some proper hiking pants, the kind with zip-off legs and plenty of pockets. I'm going to check our food supplies in the storage room." Sarah nodded, already moving toward the clothing section. "I'll try to channel my inner Daniela. No more Instagram fashion choices." Andy headed to the back of the store, past rows of camping equipment and climbing gear. The storage room door was locked, but a few solid swings with the fire axe he'd retrieved from its wall mount made short work of the deadbolt. Inside, he swept his gaze across rows of shelves stacked with boxes and crates. His shoulders relaxed as he took inventory, hundreds of cans of chili, soup, and vegetables. Sealed packages of dried fruits and trail mix. Energy bars by the case. Enough preserved food to feed a small group for months, maybe longer if they rationed carefully. Way more than they could possibly take with them. Returning to the main area, Andy methodically selected gear from the high-end section, a rugged Carhartt jacket, some water-resistant hiking pants, and a pair of well-reviewed Merrell boots to supplement his ranger gear. He grabbed a Leatherman Wave+ multi-tool, a pair of Vortex binoculars, and several high-end headlamps and lanterns with spare batteries. Making his way to the women's section, he found Sarah studying her reflection in a full-length mirror. She'd changed into a pair of olive-green tactical pants that, despite their utilitarian design, hugged her curves perfectly where they cinched at her waist. A cropped camo compression top showed off her toned midriff while providing actual support and protection. Black Salomon hiking boots replaced her pristine Nikes, and an Arc'teryx jacket in sleek black completed the ensemble. She'd managed to find gear that was both practical and flattering, the pants especially seemed designed to enhance rather than hide her natural assets. She turned slightly, checking the fit from different angles. "What do you think?" she asked, adjusting the jacket. "The pants are actually really comfortable. And this top breathes really well." She moved through a few stretches, testing the range of motion, the gear moving naturally with her body, causing her ample bust to jiggle pleasantly. Andy tried not to stare. "Those boots are perfect," Andy said, nodding approvingly. "Salomon makes some of the best. They'll last for years if you take care of them." Sarah bent down to grab another small pile of clothes from the floor. "I grabbed some things for Daniela too." "Good idea. How do you know what size she is?" Andy asked, eyeing the stack of clothing. Sarah laughed, a glint in her eyes. "Trust me, I can tell. It's a girl thing." She folded the clothes with efficiency, tucking them into a rugged canvas duffel bag and her new backpack. "Plus, everything I picked has adjustable waists and drawstrings. She'll be able to make it work." Day 5, Evening The crackling of the campfire filled the silence between them as they sat in front of Andy's cabin, the flames casting flickering shadows across their faces. Steam rose from their bowls of rehydrated beef stew. Daniela sat cross-legged on a log, her new pants and boots looking almost too perfect, still creased from their packaging. Her dark hair was pulled back in a fresh braid, but a few strands had escaped during the day's labor, clinging to her neck. Her spoon moved mechanically from bowl to mouth, her expression distant and detached. The blisters on her hands from digging the grave were hidden beneath fingerless gloves. Sarah sat on a camp chair, somehow making even that look graceful. She'd changed into black leggings and an oversized ranger station sweatshirt she'd found, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Her eyes kept flicking to Daniela. Each time she caught herself watching too long, she'd look away quickly, taking small, careful bites of her stew. Andy was hunched over his phone, the light illuminating his face as he scrolled through Beacon posts. The Starlink array hummed softly behind them, its status lights reflecting off the cabin windows. "More reports coming in from the Bay Area," he said finally, breaking the silence. "Sounds like they're organizing some kind of central meeting point in San Francisco. Using the Presidio as a base camp." Sarah nodded, seizing the conversation attempt. "Makes sense. I've been there before. It's really pretty." Daniela continued eating mechanically, showing no response. The fire popped loudly, sending up a shower of sparks. Daniela's hand dropped down to her holster before she realized what she was doing, then went back to her food. Her face remained carefully blank, but her knuckles whitened around her spoon. Sarah's eyes met Andy's over the fire. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, turning her attention back to her own bowl. Andy set his phone down, choosing his words carefully. "We should probably talk about where we're heading. We've got some options to consider." Sarah chimed in again. "Yeah, like you said, the Bay Area seems to be organizing faster than anywhere else," she offered. "And my parents live in Palo Alto." She let the thought hang unfinished. "L A is an option, too;" Andy said, for now trying to brush past thoughts of Sarah's lost loved ones, and by extension his own as well. "More spread out, might be easier to find supplies. And Sarah you know the area pretty well I assume?" She nodded. He continued, thoughtful. "The Central Valley has farming potential, but no real organization showing up yet. Portland and Seattle are possibilities, but that's a long trek north. If we want to go south, Vegas and Phoenix also exist." The logo of Fallout New Vegas appeared in his mind's eye. "South is out," Daniela spoke suddenly, her voice flat. "Can't farm without major irrigation infrastructure. Nobody's maintaining those systems anymore." It was the most she'd said since returning from the clinic. Andy nodded. "True. We could probably gather enough fuel to make it across the country if we wanted to risk it, but;" "That's a lot of unknown territory to cover," Sarah finished. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through Beacon posts. "Though from what I'm seeing, the East Coast isn't doing any better than we are. Maybe worse, winter is coming." "The cold and snow would be a major disadvantage," Daniela said, her voice taking on the precise tone she used when reciting her father's lessons. "Increased resource consumption, limited farming windows, higher risk of mechanical failures in vehicles and equipment." She set her empty bowl aside. "California's the logical choice. Better climate, more stable growing seasons." "Agreed," Andy said. Daniela seemed to find stability in talking about this. "So that brings us back to L A versus the Bay." "The Bay Area is the only logical choice between the two." Daniela began ticking points off on her fingers, echoing discussions that had happened many times before. "The peninsula provides natural defensive positions. Multiple deep-water harbors for future maritime operations. Significantly more unpaved space for urban agriculture compared to the L A concrete sprawl." She continued briskly. "Plus, direct river access to the Central Valley farming regions around Stockton, where there's plenty of water for farming. From L A, you'd have to cross the Transverse Ranges to get to Bakersfield- that's a major liability for supply lines." Her voice took on an edge of disdain. "And farming that far south in the Valley isn't going to be viable anymore anyway, they're almost as reliant on irrigation as Phoenix or Las Vegas." She shook her head decisively. "The L A positioning is completely unsustainable. Anyone there should be evacuating to the Bay immediately." Andy nodded slowly, impressed but not surprised by the depth of analysis. He'd seen this level of preparation in everything Miguel and Daniela did. He glanced at Sarah, eyebrows raised in silent question. Sarah gave one of her small, self-deprecating smiles. "Don't look at me for expertise. The most strategic thinking I've ever done is planning photoshoots." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But Daniela's logic makes perfect sense. I mean, it's clearly been; thoroughly thought through." "The Bay it is then," Andy said, straightening up. "We should take two days to prepare; we can stock up on food, supplies, and then pick cars. There are plenty of abandoned vehicles in the valley, we'll need time to find the right ones and load them properly. It's not a long drive, but we should be thorough." He looked between them both. "We leave in three days." To be continued. Based on a post by the hospital, for Literotica.

Dr. Gregg Day talks with Professor Jonathan Rohrer about the significance of studying individuals at risk of developing genetic frontotemporal dementia, focusing on how early cognitive changes before symptoms appear can inform research and future therapeutic trials.  Read the related article in Neurology®Genetics. Disclosures can be found at Neurology.org.    

Episode SummaryIn this Worldview Wednesday episode, Joel Settecase tackles a classic question: “If we all came from Adam and Eve, who did their kids marry?” Drawing from Genesis 4 and 5, Joel explains that Cain married one of Adam and Eve's descendants—most likely a sister or niece—and why that fits perfectly within a biblical worldview.Key PointsEve was the mother of all living, so all humanity came from her line.Close-relative marriage wasn't prohibited until Leviticus 18.Early humans lived longer, allowing rapid population growth.Genetic decline after the Fall explains why such marriages later became harmful.The unity of the human race points to our shared need for redemption in Christ.Apologetic InsightThis isn't just about ancient genealogy—it's about biblical authority and human origins. The Genesis account holds together logically, scientifically, and theologically in ways secular explanations cannot.TakeawayCain's wife was a descendant of Adam and Eve, proving the Bible's consistency and humanity's shared story under one Creator and Redeemer.Calls to ActionPartner with The Think Institute at thethink.institute/partnerJoin the Hammer & Anvil Society at thethink.institute/societySubscribe and share Worldview Legacy to help more believers think biblically.

When Abby Fish, who was still under the age of 2 in the summer of 2025 was diagnosed with the Pediatric Brain Cancer Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, her mom Amelia and her dad Joel were told how rare and difficult this cancer was. When they then found out that Abby also had the genetic condition Li Fraumeni to go along with her Brain cancer, they were told that the chances of her surviving until she was at least 5 years old were less than 12 percent. After hearing that, they found the Burzynski Clinic in Houston Texas, and that Dr. Burzynski had treated a young woman named Kaityln who is now 25 years old, and had suffered from both the same cancer and same genetic condition that Abby has. Abby is now following the same treatment path that Kaitlyn did.

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic diseases that affect about 16 to 25 per 100,000 people in the US, with the most common childhood form being Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the most common adult form being myotonic dystrophy. The prevalence of DMD is estimated at around 1 in 3,500 live male births. Prenatal carrier screening for this is part of the ACMG Tier 3 expanded carrier panel. This is different from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). As we recently had a patient who was a MD carrier, with affected male children, who we cared for, we decided to do a quick review of muscular dystrophy: its prevalence, genetics, and evaluation of asymptomatic maternal carriers.1. https://www.mda.org/disease/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy/causes-inheritance2.https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/musculardys/conditioninfo/causes3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/muscular-dystrophy/4. ACMG: https://thednaexchange.com/2022/03/30/acmg-carrier-screening-guideline-the-hypothetical-tier-3-panel/#:~:text=The%20goal%20of%20this%20ACMG,1%20in%2040%2C000%20or%20higher.

Você já comeu Jambu? Pelo menos já ouviu falar? O açaí com certeza todos conhecem, mas será que você conhece o açaí de verdade? Como essas comidas se inserem na cultura e economia da região norte do Brasil? Como funciona cientificamente a famosa sensação de "adormecimento" do jambu? Patronato do SciCast: 1. Patreon SciCast 2. Apoia.se/Scicast 3. Nos ajude via Pix também, chave: contato@scicast.com.br ou acesse o QRcode: Sua pequena contribuição ajuda o Portal Deviante a continuar divulgando Ciência! Contatos: contato@scicast.com.br https://twitter.com/scicastpodcast https://www.facebook.com/scicastpodcast https://www.instagram.com/PortalDeviante/ Fale conosco! E não esqueça de deixar o seu comentário na postagem desse episódio! Expediente: Produção Geral: Tarik Fernandes e André Trapani Equipe de Gravação: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo de Matos, Gustavo Rebello, Lenin Machado, Daniela Andrade, Diego Squinello Citação ABNT: Scicast #670: Sabores e Tradições Amazônicas: Açaí e Jambu. Locução: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo de Matos, Gustavo Rebello, Lenin Machado, Daniela Andrade, Diego Squinello. [S.l.] Portal Deviante, 20/11/2025. Podcast. Disponível em: https://www.deviante.com.br/podcasts/scicast-670 Imagem de capa: Expotea: https://expotea.com.br/https://www.instagram.com/expoteabrasil/ Referências e Indicações EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária). "Açaí: o fruto da Amazônia". Disponível em: https://www.embrapa.br/tema-acai SILVA, S. M. et al. "Características nutricionais e funcionais do açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)". Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 2014. SEBRAE (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas). "Cadeia produtiva do açaí no Brasil". Disponível em: https://www.sebrae.com.br/sites/PortalSebrae/ufs/pa/artigos/a-cadeia-produtiva-do-acai JUNQUEIRA, N. T. V.; ROCHA, F. S. "Botânica e fruticultura do açaí". Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 2016. CAVALCANTE, P. B. "Frutas comestíveis da Amazônia". Belém: Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, 2010. MUÑIZ-MIRET, N. et al. "Genetic diversity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. in the Amazon". Scientia Agricola, 1996. INSTITUTO SOCIOAMBIENTAL (ISA). "Povos e comunidades tradicionais da Amazônia". Disponível em: https://www.socioambiental.org Canal Rural: “Pará exporta mais de 61 mil toneladas de açaí por ano, aponta estudo” Disponível em: https://www.canalrural.com.br/agricultura/para-exporta-mais-de-61-mil-toneladas-de-acai-por-ano-aponta-estudo Agência Pará: “Dia do Açaí: Pará segue na liderança nacional com mais de 90% da produção brasileira” Disponível em: https://agenciapara.com.br/noticia/59374/dia-do-acai-para-segue-na-lideranca-nacional-com-mais-de-90-da-producao-brasileira Estado de Minas: “Açaí brasileiro vira febre fora do país e ganha o mundo” Disponível em: https://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/economia/2023/10/15/internas_economia%2C1576667/acai-brasileiro-vira-febre-fora-do-pais-e-ganha-o-mundo.shtml Acai Berry Market Set to Thrive at an Impressive 11.5% CAGR Disponível em: https://www.newstrail.com/acai-berry-market-set/ BARBOSA, A. P. et al. "Compostos bioativos do jambu: uma revisão". Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2016. SILVA, S. M. et al. "Propriedades medicinais e culinárias do jambu (Acmella oleracea)". Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 2015. Sugestões de vídeos: A lenda da mandioca (recomendado para crianças): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSBsJTSX3AE Sugestões de links: Sobre diferenciar mandioca brava e mansa: https://www.cpt.com.br/dicas-cursos-cpt/e-possivel-diferenciar-mandioca-brava-da-de-mesa https://www.embrapa.br/embrapa-no-cirio/jambu https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/56524/1/n12-etnocultivo-do-jambu-p.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drive with Dr. Peter Attia: Read the notes at at podcastnotes.org. Don't forget to subscribe for free to our newsletter, the top 10 ideas of the week, every Monday --------- View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter Antonio Bianco is a world-renowned physician-scientist and expert in thyroid physiology and metabolism. In this episode, Antonio explores the complex biology of thyroid hormone production, conversion, and regulation—highlighting how deiodinase enzymes modulate hormone activity at the tissue level and why that matters for interpreting lab results. He discusses the shortcomings of relying solely on TSH as a marker of thyroid function, the ongoing debate around combination therapy with T3 and T4 versus standard T4 treatment, and how genetics, tissue sensitivity, and individual variability influence thyroid hormone metabolism. The conversation also examines how hypothyroidism affects energy, mood, cognition, and longevity; why some patients remain symptomatic despite "normal" labs; and how future research could reshape treatment paradigms. We discuss: How the thyroid produces, stores, and activates hormones like T4 and T3 to finely regulate thyroid activity [2:45]; How fasting alters thyroid hormones to conserve energy [12:45]; Action of the deiodinases: how D1, D2, and D3 enzymes control the activation and inactivation of thyroid hormones [19:15]; The normal function of thyroid hormone and the roles of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and deiodinases in maintaining hormonal balance [23:30]; Why understanding thyroid physiology is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism [33:45]; Testing for thyroid hormones: understanding free vs. total levels, the limitations of current T3 assays, best practices, and more [36:00]; Genetic and sex-based variability in thyroid hormone regulation and their limited clinical significance [43:45]; Hyperthyroidism: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options [46:00]; Hypothyroidism: diagnosis and autoimmune causes of hypothyroidism [56:30]; More on hypothyroidism: diagnostic biomarkers, antibody patterns, and non-autoimmune presentations [1:05:00]; Thyroid hormone replacement therapy [1:15:15]; More on thyroid replacement strategies: exploring the evidence gaps, mortality signals, effects on lipids, and more [1:28:00]; Hypothyroidism basics: causes, antibody implications (including pregnancy), and how to make the diagnosis before choosing therapy [1:35:15]; Thyroid medication: compounded controlled-release T3, brand name versus generic, and what Antonio prescribes to newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients [1:42:45]; Redefining treatment success: why normalizing TSH isn't always enough for patients with hypothyroidism [1:54:45]; Case studies: analysis of two unusual cases of thyroid disease [1:57:00]; Dangers of supplementing with high levels of iodine, and female-specific risk of thyroid disease [2:05:45]; Case study of a patient who presents with elevated TSH but no symptoms [2:09:30]; How future research could reshape treatment, and Antonio's new book called "Rethinking Hypothyroidism" [2:13:15]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

A study found that alcohol raises dementia risk at every level of drinking, overturning decades of claims that moderate use protects your brain Even light drinking damages neurons, disrupts mitochondrial energy production, and accelerates brain aging, showing there is no safe dose for cognitive health Genetic data revealed that for every measurable increase in alcohol consumption, dementia risk rose by about 15%, with the danger extending across all age and ancestry groups Alcohol and linoleic acid (LA) from seed oils follow the same toxic pathway in your liver, creating harmful aldehydes that cause mitochondrial damage and fatty liver disease, both of which impair brain function Reducing or eliminating alcohol and cutting seed oils to under 5 grams per day — ideally 2 grams — support liver recovery, restore mitochondrial function, and protect long-term brain health

Dr. Haroldo Magarinos is a Chilean dentist specializing in Periodontics, Oral Medicine, and Implantology. After over a decade of conventional practice and university teaching, he decided to pursue his passion and become a board-certified naturopathic doctor in 2018. He also specialized in Integrative Biological Dental Medicine, Homeopathy, Live blood analysis, Peptide therapy, and Advanced Clinical Ozone therapy. Dr. Haroldo has long been a strong advocate for studying the human microbiome, firmly believing that treating patients with dysbiosis can prevent and even reverse many prevalent forms of chronic disease. He currently works as a clinical consultant in microbiome metagenomic analysis for Microbiome Labs and is the co-founder and director of Revolution Gut Health, an online platform that offers coaching services to everyone who wants to learn and improve microbiome-related health conditions. In this episode, Dr. Haroldo Magarinos explains how detoxification works in the body and a gives detailed overview of his detoxification supplements.    RESOURCES: Learn more about Dr. Magarinos here: www.detoxu.com Instagram: @drharoldo Previous podcast episodes with Dr. Magarinos: https://www.taragarrison.com/blog/drharoldomagarinos2 and https://www.taragarrison.com/blog/drharoldomagarinos  Get 15% off Peluva minimalist shoe with coupon code COACHTARA here: http://peluva.com/coachtara   CHAPTERS:   CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 4:20 Is detox real? 7:00 Environmental challenges 9:40 Genetic and other factors 12:15 Some tell tale signs of compromised detox pathways 15:20 An overview of detoxification 20:55 3 main areas of detoxification 24:30 Bioaccumulation of toxins 25:58 Dr Magarinos' detox supplements 51:00 How to locate those products   WORK WITH ME: Are You Looking for Help on Your Wellness Journey? Here's how I can help you: TRY COACH TARA APP FOR FREE: http://taragarrison.com/app LEVEL UP PROGRAM: http://taragarrison.com/level-up INDIVIDUAL ONLINE COACHING: https://www.taragarrison.com/work-with-me CHECK OUT HIGHER RETREATS: https://www.taragarrison.com/retreats   SOCIAL MEDIA:  Instagram @coachtaragarrison TikTok @coachtaragarrison Facebook @coachtaragarrison Pinterest @coachtaragarrison   INSIDE OUT HEALTH PODCAST SPECIAL OFFERS: ☑️ Upgraded Formulas Hair Test Kit Special Offer: https://bit.ly/3YdMn4Z ☑️ Upgraded Formulas - Get 15% OFF Everything with Coupon Code INSIDEOUT15: https://upgradedformulas.com/INSIDEOUT15 ☑️ Rep Provisions: Vote for the future of food with your dollar! And enjoy a 15% discount while you're at it with Coupon Code COACHTARA: https://bit.ly/3dD4ZSv   If you loved this episode, please leave a review! Here's how to do it on Apple Podcasts: Go to Inside Out Health Podcast page: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-out-health-with-coach-tara-garrison/id1468368093 Scroll down to the 'Ratings & Reviews' section. Tap 'Write a Review' (you may be prompted to log in with your Apple ID). Thank you!

In this episode of the Gladden Longevity Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Gladden and Trevor Connor delve into the intricacies of nutrition, particularly focusing on the Paleo diet, its principles, and its implications for health and longevity. Trevor shares his personal journey from professional cycling to studying nutrition, highlighting the importance of nutrient density and the role of glycemic load in dietary choices. They discuss the significance of the glycocalyx in vascular health, the impact of antioxidants on exercise adaptations, and the interplay between genetics and endurance training. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of balancing diet and exercise for optimal health. In this conversation, Dr. Jeffrey Gladden and Trevor Connor explore the intricate relationship between diet, exercise, and longevity, particularly focusing on the Paleo diet. They discuss common misconceptions about the diet, the importance of balance and variety in nutrition, and the role of metabolic pathways like AMPK and P53 in health. The conversation emphasizes the significance of genetic testing to tailor dietary choices and the need for a balanced approach to fueling during exercise. They conclude with resources for further learning about the Paleo diet and its benefits for health and longevity.    For Audience        Use code 'Podcast10' to get 10% OFF on any of our supplements at https://gladdenlongevityshop.com/ !    Takeaways         Trevor Connor transitioned from professional cycling to studying nutrition.         The Paleo diet emphasizes foods our ancestors evolved with.         Nutrient density is more important than macronutrient ratios.         Glycemic load is a key factor in dietary health.         The glycocalyx plays a crucial role in vascular health.         Antioxidants can hinder training adaptations if taken pre-exercise.         Genetics influence how individuals respond to endurance training.         Strength training may enhance antioxidant defenses more than endurance training.         A balanced approach to diet and exercise is essential for health.         You cannot out supplement a poor diet.  You can't run your way out of a bad diet.         A balanced approach to diet is crucial.         Biology operates on the principle of balance.         Variety in diet is essential for health.         Understanding metabolic pathways is key to longevity.         Genetic testing can guide dietary choices.         Fueling during exercise should be based on individual needs.         The sports nutrition world may promote unhealthy practices.         Natural foods are better for health than processed sugars.         Focus on overall health rather than just performance.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Longevity and Nutrition 02:59 Trevor's Journey into Paleo Diet 05:52 Understanding the Paleo Diet 09:02 Nutrient Density and Glycemic Load 12:01 The Role of Glycocalyx in Vascular Health 14:59 Antioxidants and Exercise Adaptations 17:57 Genetics and Endurance Training 20:51 Balancing Diet and Exercise for Optimal Health 23:12 The Balance of Diet and Exercise 24:51 Misconceptions of the Paleo Diet 27:38 Metabolic Flexibility and Variety in Diet 29:38 Understanding AMPK and P53 Pathways 32:23 The Importance of Genetic Testing 36:50 Fueling During Exercise: Myths and Realities To learn more about Trevor Connor/Paleo Diet:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealPaleoDiet/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realpaleodiet/ Email: info@thepaleodiet.com Website: thepaleodiet.com   Got a question for Dr. Gladden? Submit it using the link below and it might be answered in our next Q&A episode! https://form.typeform.com/to/tIyzUai7? Reach out to us at:    Website: https://gladdenlongevity.com/     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gladdenlongevity/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladdenlongevity/?hl=en     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gladdenlongevity    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_q8nexY4K5ilgFnKm7naw     Gladden Longevity Podcast Disclosures Production & Independence The Gladden Longevity Podcast and Age Hackers are produced by Gladden Longevity Podcast, which operates independently from Dr. Jeffrey Gladden's clinical practice and research at Gladden Longevity in Irving, Texas. Dr. Gladden may serve as a founder, advisor, or investor in select health, wellness, or longevity-related ventures. These may occasionally be referenced in podcast discussions when relevant to educational topics. Any such mentions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Medical Disclaimer The Gladden Longevity Podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services — including the giving of medical advice — and no doctor–patient relationship is formed through this podcast or its associated content. The information shared on this podcast, including opinions, research discussions, and referenced materials, is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not disregard or delay seeking medical advice for any condition they may have. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional regarding any questions or concerns about your health, medical conditions, or treatment options. Use of information from this podcast and any linked materials is at the listener's own risk. Podcast Guest Disclosures Guests on the Gladden Longevity Podcast may hold financial interests, advisory roles, or ownership stakes in companies, products, or services discussed during their appearance. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Gladden Longevity, Dr. Jeffrey Gladden, or the production team. Sponsorships & Affiliate Disclosures To support the creation of high-quality educational content, the Gladden Longevity Podcast may include paid sponsorships or affiliate partnerships. Any such partnerships will be clearly identified during episodes or noted in the accompanying show notes. We may receive compensation through affiliate links or sponsorship agreements when products or services are mentioned on the show. However, these partnerships do not influence the opinions, recommendations, or clinical integrity of the information presented. Additional Note on Content Integrity All content is carefully curated to align with our mission of promoting science-based, ethical, and responsible approaches to health, wellness, and longevity. We strive to maintain the highest standards of transparency and educational value in all our communications.  

In 2016, Ludovic Orlando, a genetics researcher, embarked on the Pegasus Project, an ambitious endeavor to use genetics to discover the origin of the modern horse. There were plenty of theories as to who domesticated horses first–but Ludovic's team came up with their answer: They emerged on the western Eurasian steppe around 4200 years ago. But that revelation was only the beginning of Ludovic's work, as he dug into the genetic origins of different kinds of horses, like the Arabian horse, as well as charted how the horse's genetic diversity changed over time. His research is collected in his new book Horses: A 4,000-Year Genetic Journey Across the World (Princeton UP, 2025) Ludovic Orlando is a CNRS Silver Medal–winning research director and founding director of the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse at the University of Toulouse in France. His work has appeared in leading publications such as Nature, Science, and Cell. He is a recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Newcomb Cleveland Prize. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Horses. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In 2016, Ludovic Orlando, a genetics researcher, embarked on the Pegasus Project, an ambitious endeavor to use genetics to discover the origin of the modern horse. There were plenty of theories as to who domesticated horses first–but Ludovic's team came up with their answer: They emerged on the western Eurasian steppe around 4200 years ago. But that revelation was only the beginning of Ludovic's work, as he dug into the genetic origins of different kinds of horses, like the Arabian horse, as well as charted how the horse's genetic diversity changed over time. His research is collected in his new book Horses: A 4,000-Year Genetic Journey Across the World (Princeton UP, 2025) Ludovic Orlando is a CNRS Silver Medal–winning research director and founding director of the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse at the University of Toulouse in France. His work has appeared in leading publications such as Nature, Science, and Cell. He is a recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Newcomb Cleveland Prize. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Horses. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon.

In 2016, Ludovic Orlando, a genetics researcher, embarked on the Pegasus Project, an ambitious endeavor to use genetics to discover the origin of the modern horse. There were plenty of theories as to who domesticated horses first–but Ludovic's team came up with their answer: They emerged on the western Eurasian steppe around 4200 years ago. But that revelation was only the beginning of Ludovic's work, as he dug into the genetic origins of different kinds of horses, like the Arabian horse, as well as charted how the horse's genetic diversity changed over time. His research is collected in his new book Horses: A 4,000-Year Genetic Journey Across the World (Princeton UP, 2025) Ludovic Orlando is a CNRS Silver Medal–winning research director and founding director of the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse at the University of Toulouse in France. His work has appeared in leading publications such as Nature, Science, and Cell. He is a recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Newcomb Cleveland Prize. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Horses. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

In 2016, Ludovic Orlando, a genetics researcher, embarked on the Pegasus Project, an ambitious endeavor to use genetics to discover the origin of the modern horse. There were plenty of theories as to who domesticated horses first–but Ludovic's team came up with their answer: They emerged on the western Eurasian steppe around 4200 years ago. But that revelation was only the beginning of Ludovic's work, as he dug into the genetic origins of different kinds of horses, like the Arabian horse, as well as charted how the horse's genetic diversity changed over time. His research is collected in his new book Horses: A 4,000-Year Genetic Journey Across the World (Princeton UP, 2025) Ludovic Orlando is a CNRS Silver Medal–winning research director and founding director of the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse at the University of Toulouse in France. His work has appeared in leading publications such as Nature, Science, and Cell. He is a recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Newcomb Cleveland Prize. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Horses. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this insightful episode, Mary talks with Dr Shrikant Talari, a homeopathic doctor from India who treats cancer patients daily. Dr Talari shares how integrating genetic and lifestyle factors has transformed his results with patients — offering a deeper understanding of disease prevention, treatment, and cure through homoeopathy. From Lifestyle to Genetic Causes Dr Talari explains that while lifestyle issues such as smoking, stress, and poor diet were once seen as the major causes of cancer, more recent patterns reveal strong genetic components. Many patients now come for prevention because of family history — for example, "My mother had breast cancer, so I'll get checked too." He began looking not just at current habits but at inherent tendencies — the physical or emotional patterns that seem to run in families. These "genetic symptoms," he says, hold the key to true, lasting healing. A Case that Changed His Perspective One of Dr Talari's patients had recurrent colon cancer after multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. She had suffered from lifelong acidity triggered by spicy food and relieved by vomiting. Initially, her remedy seemed obvious — Arsenicum album — yet it failed. Digging deeper, he discovered something else: since childhood she could never tolerate buttermilk, a traditional digestive aid in India. This reaction had no lifestyle cause; it was innate. The remedy Bryonia matched her buttermilk aggravation and finally brought relief — her vomiting stopped and energy improved. That's when Dr Talari realised that treating genetic traits, not just habits, reaches the root of disease. Healing Genetic Weaknesses He illustrates this with a second case of breast cancer in a woman who also had porphyria, a hereditary blood disorder. After addressing the emotional triggers behind the cancer, he turned to the genetic layer. Her porphyria pointed to a liver weakness, and Chelidonium — a liver remedy — restored her haemoglobin from 7 to a normal 15. For Dr Talari, this was proof that when a genetic condition improves, other inherited susceptibilities — including cancer — can also heal or be prevented. Understanding Hering's Law of Cure Dr Talari describes Hering's Law of Cure, which explains how healing progresses: From within outward – inner organs heal before skin or surface issues. From above downward – symptoms move from head to feet. In reverse order of appearance – newer diseases heal first, revealing older layers. He notes that when patients begin expressing old emotional wounds or childhood patterns, it's a positive sign — the body is healing deeply and naturally. Another Case: Tracing the True Root A carpenter with pancreatic cancer had unpredictable abdominal pain. The only consistent feature was mouth ulcers and excess saliva, which he'd had since childhood after a viral infection. Recognising the link, Dr Talari prescribed Mercurius solubilis, a classic remedy for ulcerations and salivation. Within two months, his pain vanished and energy returned. The lesson: seemingly small, lifelong symptoms can reveal the original weakness behind chronic disease. Going Straight to the Core Dr Talari and Mary conclude that instead of "peeling away layers," true healing happens when you go directly to the core susceptibility — the inherited tendency or genetic root. Treating this foundation builds resilience and prevents future illness. As Dr Talari summarises, "Homeopathy's true potential is not just relief but cure — removing the root so symptoms don't return." Important links mentioned in this episode: Read more about Dr. Shrikant Talari: https://homeopathy247.com/professional-homeopaths-team/shrikant-talari/ Visit Dr. Shrikant's website: https://drshrikantcancercare.com/   Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be updated with our latest episodes. You can also subscribe to our podcast channels available on your favourite podcast listening app below: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homeopathy247-podcast/id1628767810 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39rjXAReQ33hGceW1E50dk Follow us on our social media accounts: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeopathy247 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeopathy247 You can also visit our website at https://homeopathy247.com/

Last week, we explored the early signs of toxicity in horses. Today, we revisit a previous episode to clarify what toxicity is and how it affects your horse.Toxicity is one of the leading causes of equine disease. When the toxic load of horses exceeds what they can process, it becomes hard for their tissues to remain healthy, their organs to function as they should, and their body systems to work together to sustain good health. Today, I scratch the surface of the vast and complex topic of toxicity, giving you a little food for thought. Since this is a massive subject, I will likely revisit it and dive deeper into some of the points we cover today in future episodes.Understanding Toxicity in HorsesToxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm cells, tissues, organs, or entire systems. For horses, toxicity often accumulates gradually, influencing their health over time. Genetic makeup, nutrition, and environmental exposure are all factors that determine how well a horse can handle toxins. Well-nourished horses with good constitutions and minimal exposure to harmful substances are generally more resilient. Yet they can also struggle as they age, particularly between 14 and 16 years, when signs of imbalance often emerge.Early Signs of ToxicityThe initial effects of toxicity can be subtle and easy to overlook. A horse may develop a dull coat, cracked hooves, or irregular shedding patterns. Some subtler changes, such as stiffness, swelling, joint discomfort, a weakened immune system, or slow recovery from illness, could also indicate that the body struggles to handle its toxic load.Key Sources of ToxicityEnvironmental chemicals in feed, hay, and waterFertilizers, preservatives, and additivesPathogens, like bacteria, viruses, and parasitesDietary imbalancesDietary imbalances are another major factor contributing to poor equine health. Excess sugar or protein can stress the body and lead to inflammation, metabolic issues, and poor gut health, and a diet heavy in oils can disrupt the gut microbiome.AcidityAcidity in the body often results from an imbalanced diet, leading to conditions like leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and joint issues. Hormonal imbalances, such as prolonged high cortisol or insulin levels, also cause significant damage over time, contributing to tissue breakdown, laminitis, and immune dysfunction.AntioxidantsAntioxidants are crucial for combating free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells and DNA. Free radicals naturally occur during metabolic processes, but increase with high toxic loads. Without sufficient antioxidants to neutralize them, free radicals can accelerate aging, weaken the immune system, and cause long-term damage.The Cumulative Effect of ToxicityEven though toxins seldom cause immediate harm, they accumulate over time. A horse that has consumed feed with additives, dealt with multiple infections, or been on long-term medications may eventually show signs of toxicity. The cumulative effect often leads to nutritional deficiencies, compromised immunity, and declining health.Strategies for Reducing ToxicityEliminate unnecessary supplements and observe how the horse responds to a more natural diet. Prioritize high-quality feeds and hay with minimal additives, and avoid excessive sugar, protein, or oils, as they can disrupt metabolic health and the gut microbiome in horses. Address pathogens and infections promptly. Support detoxification with bioavailable nutrients to restore reserves and help the body manage its toxic load effectively.Final ThoughtsToxicity develops slowly. Understanding

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter Antonio Bianco is a world-renowned physician-scientist and expert in thyroid physiology and metabolism. In this episode, Antonio explores the complex biology of thyroid hormone production, conversion, and regulation—highlighting how deiodinase enzymes modulate hormone activity at the tissue level and why that matters for interpreting lab results. He discusses the shortcomings of relying solely on TSH as a marker of thyroid function, the ongoing debate around combination therapy with T3 and T4 versus standard T4 treatment, and how genetics, tissue sensitivity, and individual variability influence thyroid hormone metabolism. The conversation also examines how hypothyroidism affects energy, mood, cognition, and longevity; why some patients remain symptomatic despite "normal" labs; and how future research could reshape treatment paradigms. We discuss: How the thyroid produces, stores, and activates hormones like T4 and T3 to finely regulate thyroid activity [2:45]; How fasting alters thyroid hormones to conserve energy [12:45]; Action of the deiodinases: how D1, D2, and D3 enzymes control the activation and inactivation of thyroid hormones [19:15]; The normal function of thyroid hormone and the roles of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and deiodinases in maintaining hormonal balance [23:30]; Why understanding thyroid physiology is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism [33:45]; Testing for thyroid hormones: understanding free vs. total levels, the limitations of current T3 assays, best practices, and more [36:00]; Genetic and sex-based variability in thyroid hormone regulation and their limited clinical significance [43:45]; Hyperthyroidism: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options [46:00]; Hypothyroidism: diagnosis and autoimmune causes of hypothyroidism [56:30]; More on hypothyroidism: diagnostic biomarkers, antibody patterns, and non-autoimmune presentations [1:05:00]; Thyroid hormone replacement therapy [1:15:15]; More on thyroid replacement strategies: exploring the evidence gaps, mortality signals, effects on lipids, and more [1:28:00]; Hypothyroidism basics: causes, antibody implications (including pregnancy), and how to make the diagnosis before choosing therapy [1:35:15]; Thyroid medication: compounded controlled-release T3, brand name versus generic, and what Antonio prescribes to newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients [1:42:45]; Redefining treatment success: why normalizing TSH isn't always enough for patients with hypothyroidism [1:54:45]; Case studies: analysis of two unusual cases of thyroid disease [1:57:00]; Dangers of supplementing with high levels of iodine, and female-specific risk of thyroid disease [2:05:45]; Case study of a patient who presents with elevated TSH but no symptoms [2:09:30]; How future research could reshape treatment, and Antonio's new book called "Rethinking Hypothyroidism" [2:13:15]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Welcome back to Beautifully Broken, where healing meets high performance. Today, I'm joined by the luminous Dr. Shivani Gupta, founder of Fusionary Formulas and author of The Inflammation Code. Shivani's story begins with a home full of mold, hair loss, and a reminder that even the healthiest among us can get blindsided by hidden toxins. What followed was a journey of deep functional medicine testing, emotional regulation, and fierce self-advocacy—proof that healing is never linear.We talk about the real root of “inflamma-aging,” why brain fog and fatigue are not normal, and how inflammation is at the center of most chronic disease. Shivani breaks down the six Ayurvedic pillars of anti-inflammatory living, the importance of circadian alignment (especially the 10–2 window), and why tea time is more than self-care—it's medicine.From tongue scraping and turmeric to sleep hygiene and self-awareness, this episode is full of accessible practices that bring ancient rituals into modern life. Whether you're battling burnout, navigating hormonal chaos, or simply ready to feel more alive, Shivani's wisdom will help you rewrite your own inflammation code. Episode Highlights[00:00] – Living with mold: the surprise diagnosis that changed everything[03:30] – Mold dogs, remediation, and the truth about “healthy homes”[06:40] – Why no supplement can fix a toxic environment[09:10] – Genetic resilience, functional testing, and understanding bio-individuality[13:05] – Hair loss as a metabolic signal and the timeline of toxic exposure[17:00] – Fear, mindset, and emotional regulation during mold recovery[18:52] – The Inflammation Code: aging, Ayurveda, and winning at inflammation[22:45] – Cycles, seasons, and building your Ayurvedic circadian rhythm[26:19] – Mental inflammation: the hidden driver of burnout and disease[30:40] – Building an anti-inflammatory lifestyle from the ground up[36:57] – Why doctors stay in their lanes—and why you must self-advocate[39:22] – Pitta, Kapha, and using fire time for healing and repair[45:24] – Ayurvedic sleep rituals and the power of forgiveness in wellness[47:21] – Tea time is me time: micro-moments of self-care that change your biology[53:37] – The 12 daily rituals for detox, digestion, and emotional balance[55:15] – Tongue scraping, turmeric, and the simple tools that actually work[58:56] – How to cycle supplements, build awareness, and measure results[1:01:26] – The spreadsheet of supplements: data meets intuition[1:03:02] – Big love, big lessons, and the path to sustainable healingConnect With Dr. ShivaniDr. Shivani Gupta: https://drshivani.comThe Inflammation Code (Preorder): https://theinflammationcode.comGet Your UpgradeVisionary Formulas: https://fusionaryformulas.com/?sca_ref=9671297.FAK6ESUdt3R9--- Code: BEAUTIFULLYBROKENThe Biological Blueprint Program: https://www.beautifullybroken.world/Beam Minerals: http://beamminerals.com/beautifullybroken— Code: BEAUTIFULLYBROKENSilver Biotics: bit.ly/3JnxyDD— 30% off with Code: BEAUTIFULLYBROKENLightPathLED: https://lightpathled.pxf.io/c/3438432/2059835/25794— Code: beautifullybrokenCatchBio: https://www.catchbio.com/beautifullybroken — Code: BEAUTIFULLYBROKEN   CONNECT WITH FREDDIEWork with Me: https://www.beautifullybroken.world/biological-blueprintWebsite and Store: (http://www.beautifullybroken.world) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/beautifullybroken.world/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freddiekimmel Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

fWotD Episode 3118: Alicella Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 17 November 2025, is Alicella.Alicella gigantea is a giant species of amphipod that lives in the deep sea. Sometimes referred to as the "supergiant amphipod", the largest of these crustaceans reach up to 34 cm (13 in) in length. It is the only species within the genus Alicella. This species lives only at 4,850–7,000 m (15,910–22,970 ft) in depth. The species is white in colour and is distinguished from other deep sea amphipods by minute anatomical differences, apart from size in the larger specimens. The large size of the species is often presented as an example of abyssal gigantism, though the specifics of this trait remain under investigation. Genetic studies into the species have found that it has an exceptionally large genome, which may be linked to its large body size.It was first collected and described in the 1890s from the Madeira Abyssal Plain off the Canary Islands. Although it is rarely detected, A. gigantea is a cosmopolitan species and can potentially occur in 59% of the world's oceans. Their diet varies with age, but they are primarily scavengers of carrion. Like other amphipods, female A. gigantea brood their eggs in pouches. Individuals of the species are inferred to have an unusually long life span and can reach over 10 years in age. Despite their relative isolation from the surface, human pollutants such as DDT and chlordane have been detected in specimens.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:30 UTC on Monday, 17 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Alicella on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Amy.

Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s and by 2060, experts say that number could be as high as 14 million. Scientists are trying to find out how one man has been able to stave off Alzheimer's for 25 years, despite having a rare genetic mutation that, doctors say, essentially guaranteed he’d develop the disease. Pam Belluck of The New York Times joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s and by 2060, experts say that number could be as high as 14 million. Scientists are trying to find out how one man has been able to stave off Alzheimer's for 25 years, despite having a rare genetic mutation that, doctors say, essentially guaranteed he’d develop the disease. Pam Belluck of The New York Times joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Nazi dictator is believed to have had a hidden genetic disorder known as Kallmann syndrome, which can thwart the development of sexual organs, according to a stunning new documentary analyzing his biological makeup. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intelligence Note: Cloned Food News (USA and Canada)Weaponised Food (Food Science) Genetic Warfare Canada's and USA's Cloned Meat (Agenda 2030 News)Cloned meat will soon enter Canadian grocery stores without safety reviews or labeling.Health Canada recently scrapped its 22-year-old policy that classified cloned meat as novel foods, removing pre-market safety assessments and allowing these products to be sold with no disclosure.To support the [Show] and its [Research] with Donations, please send all funds and gifts to :$aigner2019 (cashapp) or https://www.paypal.me/Aigner2019 or Zelle (1-617-821-3168). Shalom Aleikhem!

Garrett Schumacher is Business Unit Director of Product Security at Velentium Medical and the co-founder and CTO of GeneInfoSec. Garrett discusses his journey from medical student to cybersecurity expert and educator, dedicating his career to securing medical devices. He shares insights on the intersection of cybersecurity and healthcare, highlighting the challenges of protecting genetic data. Garrett gives honest advice about navigating cybersecurity and data privacy concerns, how to be a good leader, and what medtech startups should consider as they design and develop their devices.    Guest links: https://velentiummedical.com/ | https://www.geneinfosec.com/  Charity supported: Save the Children Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 068 - Garrett Schumacher [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Leading Difference Podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I am excited to introduce you to my guest, Garrett Schumacher. Garrett is the Business Unit Director of Product Security at Velentium Medical, where he has led the cybersecurity efforts on 200 plus medical device products and systems. He is the co-founder and CTO of GeneInfoSec, a startup focused on securing the world's most valuable and private data, our genetic information. In his work, Garrett has trained engineers, developers, manufacturers, healthcare delivery organizations, and laboratories across the globe in cybersecurity, and is an active member of several related industry working groups. He also teaches secure product development and medical device cybersecurity at the graduate level for the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Computer Science as an adjunct professor in the little bit of time left in his days, Garrett is either rock climbing or spending time with family. Thank you so much for being here, Garrett. I'm so excited to speak with you today. [00:01:48] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Thank you for having me. [00:01:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course. Well, I'd love, if you wouldn't mind, by starting out and sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to medtech. [00:01:59] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. So I guess my background, I mean, it started as I always thought I was gonna be a doctor. I did my undergrad in physiology, thought I was gonna do med school, the whole nine yards. And towards the end of my, let's say junior year, just started being like, "I don't think this is what I want to do." I always had a fascination with tech. I was really involved with a lot of the tech groups on campus at the University of Colorado Boulder, early days of Hack CU, one of the largest collegiate hackathons. And I really regretted not doing a computer science degree, but I was three quarters of the way done. So sometimes you just gotta finish it up, right? Get the degree, find out what's next. After that I went and did a master's in genetics. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do either yet, but hey, a master's degree is not a bad thing to do if you're unsure. And actually I was in a PhD program and dropped out early with a master's. Different story. But yeah. And then I started I helped the University of Colorado Boulder start their cybersecurity programs. So it was getting into the cyber world. I did a, I guess it was a bootcamp, at the University of Denver in cybersecurity. And so that all culminated in me always focusing on healthcare and cybersecurity together. And then COVID happened and that made the world change for a lot of people. And basically I was looking for a new job and I found Velentium, and I think that's where it really spoke to me, where I could do my love of medical and human health with cybersecurity and technology development. And so yeah, I think that's really how I got into it. I had been doing projects related to that before, but Velentium's where it really culminated and I found a place that let me do all the things I love, not just one or the other. [00:03:39] Lindsey Dinneen: That's awesome and such a wonderful gift. So can you share a little bit about what you do now and sort of your growth trajectory even throughout Velentium 'cause I know you've had quite an interesting and exciting career through the company as well. [00:03:56] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Yeah. So I started out as a cybersecurity engineer, and just started helping internal projects, external projects with groups that were seeking FDA approval on a medical device and trying to navigate these kind of new cybersecurity requirements. That's where it started. And even since then I've been, so I teach a class at the University of Colorado Boulder on Medical Device Cybersecurity. We're going into our sixth year of that, seventh semester, starting here in the fall. And I also co-founded a startup in the genetic information security space. So, and we can talk about that later. And so I, yeah, talk about what I do. It's all of those things and, it's not, doesn't happen in 40 hours, I promise you that. But after working as a cyber engineer for about a year, I think I got promoted to like Senior Staff Cybersecurity Engineer. Then probably three years ago, I took over more of an operational leadership role within the unit, the team, where I was doing project management and overseeing the other engineers and still doing engineering work. Definitely decided project management is not for the faint of heart and apparently my heart's very faint. It's not for me. So anyways, and then fast forward to just here in like January, February, Velentium made some really awesome changes. They rebranded as Velentium Medical to make sure everyone knew we do medical. And then they created four business units so that they could really say, "Look, we have different core areas of our business. Each of them have their own different operational needs and what have you." So, I was promoted into Business Unit Director of Product Security. And so now we're a business unit. We're a business within a business trying to better serve our clients and implement the processes we need for our small scope of work compared to a large contract development and manufacturing organization. So just that's been my growth goal so far is, come in as an engineer, work my way up to the leadership roles while also still loving to be an educator and and still having my own startup space in the biotech side of the house. [00:05:58] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Excellent. Well, first of all, congratulations on all of that. That is very exciting and it's really fun to see that growth and that development. And I'm also so curious now, can we talk a little bit about your startup? So first of all, let's talk about that and then I wanna talk about the crossover between the two, if that's okay. So. [00:06:16] Garrett Schumacher: Absolutely. Yeah. So, well the name is GeneInfoSec, so it's just short for genetic information security. We're not trying to hide anything there. We focus on protecting the world's most sensitive data. At least that's our opinion is genetic information affects you. And the data you have today is not gonna be any different, for the most part, from the data that you have in, 10, 20, 40 years. But then even beyond that it's partially your children's data, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and then even on the, in the inverse, all the way up to your great-great-grandparents, right? You share some, to an extent, some genetic makeup with them. And so it's this really interesting space where networked privacy is-- it's a very different form of networked privacy. It's not just that I upload a photo to LinkedIn and now I could be implicating someone else that's in the photo. It's, I share my info, and I'm also sharing info that belongs to my cousins in, in, in a sense. And so if you think of the Golden State Killer case in California, that was a really interesting one where the federal authorities had genetic information or samples from a cold case in the eighties. And they sequenced that. They uploaded it to a third party, an open public genetic database, and said, "Hey, here's my data. Who am I related to?" And through that they were able to triangulate like, "Okay here it is. This is the guy that did it" many years later. So, there's a case where it's, there could be positives. We want to use it to find that kind of information and protect people. But at the same time, that brings up a lot of privacy implications. And then you can go all the way to the extreme, the sci-fi of designer bio weapons, maybe tailored to certain persons or ethnicities or groups of people. So during grad school, a couple guys and I, we founded this startup, and that's what we focus on through a technology that really our founder, Dr. Sterling Sawaya, he invented, called molecular encryption. It's a way of encrypting molecules before we generate data from them so that the generated genetic data is already, quote unquote encrypted, or at least protected in some manner. So, so that's what we do. And yeah, I guess why we do it a bit. [00:08:27] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Wow. So, okay, so that brings up a really interesting question. I can guess the answer to this, but is there any safe way to-- this is a funny way to put it-- but recreationally to test your genetic data in the sense of the way that a lot of us would think about it in terms of, "Oh, I'd really love to learn more about my ancestors and things like that." But there are so many security concerns, like you've pointed out. So is there any quote unquote, safe way to do so at this time? [00:08:58] Garrett Schumacher: You know that-- it's a great question. There's been a lot of things going on in the news recently, like with, I'm sure people have heard of 23 & Me, and how they went bankrupt and now a company called Regeneron is buying them and all their assets for a lot of money, but not that much compared to what 23 & Me was worth a few years ago. So that brings up a lot of issues, right? 23 & Me still owns a lot of samples, like maybe around 10 million samples. And the sequencing they've been doing is very small. So if your genome's a whole book, they've been kind of flipping through the pages and picking specific letters, and that's the data they have. So that's not the most sensitive, it's not the full story. But if you have the samples, you can always generate the full book someday. And as that cost of full human genome sequencing decreases rapidly, someone's probably gonna want to do that someday. So, okay, so back to your question though, is there a safe way? What I would say is that I, I don't tell people not to do it. I would say if you have health reasons, concerns, and your doctor suggests a genetic test, a lot of those tests are also that similar, picking a few letters, a few known letters and trying to just read that for a very specific purpose. If your doctor and you come to the agreement that you should do that, you should just do that. However, I do not promote, and even to my family members, I highly don't recommend, using these services. I used to really love who's that group out of Utah? Ancestry.com. They used to be a great group. They were trying to sequence the world's DNA for understanding basically the family tree of everyone. Because anyways, they have interest in understanding who's related to who and how that relates to their religion. So they used to do it for internal purposes, keep it on pretty tight, secure. Well then, they sold to a venture capital group. So, it's really tough to say that there's these groups that there's a good place out there to do it. There are some companies that have security or privacy focused DNA sequencing services. But it's really odd, like you have to set up a cryptocurrency account, pay with cryptocurrency, set up a PO box so that you're not like actually shipping to and from your home. And then ultimately the price of it and how they're getting it to be cost effective is China's doing the sequencing. So you do all those privacy measures and your sample gets sent off to another country. And the FBI has disclosed that they know that when certain countries like that are doing the sequencing, whether you want them to do a little tiny test, like a COVID test or whatever it is, they're sequencing the whole thing. They're keeping the data. This is known, disclosed, not conjecture. So, yeah, so sorry-- long-winded answer of saying, I'm interested too, I wanna learn about this. I've got family members that have done it. But right now I recommend just thinking very carefully and critically about whether the immediate fun of it is worth the potential long-term impacts, and maybe if you're someone that's security or privacy conscious, maybe wait a few years because there are some things on the horizon that will make this a lot better. [00:12:02] Lindsey Dinneen: All right! Thank you for the honest answer. I really appreciate it. So, okay, I wanna go back to your work with Velentium specifically and talk about-- you've gotten to work with so many different clients over the years and you've seen so many different variations on a theme. And I'm curious, what are some of the common mistakes or pitfalls you might see a younger startup make when they are perhaps first designing their device, and cybersecurity is maybe not quite top of mind. So what are some of the things that you see that are challenges we can overcome? [00:12:41] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah I think one of the biggest challenges is that a lot of people aren't maybe aware yet of the scrutiny and the requirements that the FDA-- and not just FDA, but the European union's medical device regulations and the bodies over there that review submissions. And any, if you look across the board, pretty much almost every regulatory market has, very much in the last couple years, placed a lot of scrutiny on cybersecurity. So a lot of companies, especially smaller ones starting out in the space, may not be aware of this. And so then oftentimes they'll find out too late, they'll submit. They'll get feedback back, "Oh no, we have 90 days to respond and we didn't do cyber. We gotta do cyber now." And they don't know how to spell it yet, which is a joke. But there's that. And then there's also, or they'll get in just late at the game, "Hey, we're submitting in a month or three" and "Oh, we gotta do this thing retroactively." And so then therefore, we haven't been able to support someone through the full process, at the proper time, doing the right design things to inform the design during the design, not after. So I think that's probably the biggest mistake is not seeking that external support early and often. And if you're getting that, it shouldn't just be someone that can help you navigate the regulatory space. It shouldn't be someone that can just do the pen testing for you at the end. Really I think in that context, you need a partner that can do everything end to end. So that's what we've really tried to make our processes and our services geared towards is being that partner. And whether you have the bandwidth and you will do a lot of the documentation and work, but you just need someone to guide you, consult you, give you the materials to do so, or if you are truly looking for, no, we need to augment our own team and have you do a lot more of the work for us. That's great. We can do that. So, so that's, I think, the biggest challenge. And I think that the answer is just getting the right partner early and working with them often throughout that entire development, not at the end. [00:14:37] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. And I really appreciate that perspective. I think that there's a lot more awareness, it seems like even in the industry that, "Oh, cybersecurity is a thing now." But as you said, getting to partner with somebody who does know the ins and outs from the start and can really help guide you through is really critical. Now you do quite a bit of speaking and presenting. You're obviously still teaching a college class and all of those wonderful things. I'm curious how that has played into your career as well, and is that something that you will always want to do? You've got this educator side of you as well. [00:15:13] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah, I mean, I love it. I actually taught at a high school for one year between my master's program and my undergraduate, decided that that's not for me, but that teaching at those higher levels where people are really wanting to be in the room. So now I teach at the graduate level, half of the students will be older than me. And now everybody wants to be there and we can have very mature conversations and they even can challenge me with some really great questions that I'm not ready for, right? And I think the best way to learn is to teach. Absolutely. That's, yeah. I think a lot of people have said that. I completely agree. So I plan to always do that. I mean, I love, even with our internal engineers and external clients, like the idea of helping people understand something and humanizing it for 'em. That's really my big flag I'm waving right now is humanizing it. We don't have to use alphabet soups and crazy language. We can make it easy to understand and we can humanize it for the masses. So that's really what I'm trying to do, one of my big pushes. And so I don't foresee myself ever going away from that, I even do a lot of international training on the cyber biosecurity space where I go to all these countries and these biosafety laboratories and help biologists understand cybersecurity as a fundamental practice and how they can improve their personal security, their professional security. And to me that's the most rewarding thing. [00:16:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Oh my goodness. That's so cool. Thank you for sharing about that. So, as you are looking towards the future in the industry itself, but also I suppose your own career, what are some things that you're excited about? What are some trends that you see as being positive? I know that, recently, it's been a little bit challenging-- as a nice word-- for a lot of medical device companies and they're a little worried about funding and those kinds of things, and so, that's maybe a trend that's a little not as fun, but what are the things that are empowering and exciting to you as we move forward? [00:17:13] Garrett Schumacher: So not to make it about artificial intelligence or machine learning, 'cause everybody does. It's definitely, its hype curve. But that is actually one of the things that I think I'm most excited about, but also most scared about. We've seen a lot of companies with layoffs because they believe this artificial intelligence enables them to be more efficient and therefore they can do more with fewer people. And that saves money. And I understand that. I think that one of my big pushes right now is trying to help people understand that AI, at least right now, it's not taking over human jobs-- that it can instead augment, improve how we do those jobs. But people have to be ready for it. So even in, in my own space, like, making sure that our team and our people are ready for that. Because if you aren't getting into that space, if you aren't with the curve, then you're gonna fall behind. And yes, you could be replaced in that sense that someone has done it and so now they're doing it better than you. And so if you're not using these tools, these resources to, to improve your efficiency and to just maximize your capability-- like for example, my team, maybe I don't need to hire a person. Maybe we can build out things that enable us to, with the same amount of people, to better serve more clientele. So that's what I'm really trying to navigate. But it is scary thinking about that future and am I even gonna be ready and technically savvy enough to navigate that new future in the next year, in the next five, 10 years. And especially as someone who I've always had this, this goal of maybe someday, and I'm getting talked out of it very quickly, but maybe like being a Chief Information Security Officer at a large company or a Chief Product Security Officer, something like that. And yeah, quickly, I'm-- "Eh, we'll see." But it's those kind of things that, if we can navigate them correctly, may maybe that is something in my future. So that's, I think, one of my big fears and also passion projects right now. And then also, same on that funding vein-- with my startup, we're experiencing that as well. And we actually, we had a lot of funding potential pre COVID. And then even though our technology-- like in some ways COVID brought the need for our technology to the forefront of people's minds-- it also killed a lot of funding opportunity. And so yeah, I mean, navigating that space of how do you get funding and then does it come from venture capital backed or equity, private equity, and I've seen those worlds. I even advise startups. So I mean, that is also probably one of the biggest challenges I'm facing currently as well. [00:19:41] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. It's gonna be really interesting to see how things evolve, and it's been fascinating to read the news and see even the headlines where it's like, the FDA is using AI to review submissions and all sorts of things, and you really do wonder how we'll move forward and time will tell, I suppose. [00:20:01] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. [00:20:02] Lindsey Dinneen: So you have stepped into quite a number of leadership roles fairly young in your career, if you don't mind me just saying so, and so I'm curious how you have navigated that growth for yourself. First of all, do you feel like you were a natural leader or were those skills things you developed along the way? And secondly, what advice might you have for younger leaders? [00:20:27] Garrett Schumacher: Great questions. Yeah, definitely nothing is natural about it. I think for anyone, I mean, it's nothing that you just do and you're just like, "Yep, I'm a leader. That's easy." So it definitely something, just like all aspects of work and maturity, is you have to work on it. But I think how I got there was-- and someone told me a couple tips early in my career, I suppose-- and it was a couple are: find a mentor, and as the mentee you have to put in the effort. If you set up meetings and they're not there, whatever, like they're busy, and you are asking them to give their time for you. So, find mentors and then be a good mentee, meet up with them. I had several people that were critical in my early career. One was Bunky Davis and she was amazing. She was no longer with us, but her and I grabbed coffee every single month. She had navigated biotech startups for like 50 years, was also just a phenomenal cyclist, Olympian, like just amazing. And we'd meet up every month for coffee without missing. And we did that for several years. And, and I had another mentor from the University of Colorado Boulder, Lloyd Thrall, who came from the Department of Defense, and just a spectacular, stellar guy, and we would go meet up all the time. And so learning from these people I think I saw-- well, there's that. And then everybody has their bosses and their horror stories from work, whether that's a high school job or professional later on. And so you see the ways that people can be, you don't want to be. And so that, that makes it easy. But without having those mentors, yeah, I don't know if I would've exposed myself to the good ways, right, and the better ways, and be challenged. So that was really critical was finding a good mentor and then being a good mentee. And then I think the other thing is interacting with people and just listening, active listening. So going to the professional shows and meeting people, listening to them, reading a lot of great books out there on how to be a leader, and you don't take all that exactly word for word, but there are golden little nuggets that you can just pick up out of all those things. So, no, definitely something that I have actively worked on and still am trying to work on. And then I'm constantly trying to listen and being that, have that open door policy for my people too. Because if I hire really smart people, I want them to do the thinking and therefore I need to listen. [00:22:44] Lindsey Dinneen: There you go. I love it. All right, so. You've had a really interesting and exciting career so far, and you're obviously very passionate about medtech and cybersecurity and biotech and all those things, and I'm wondering if along the way there are any moments that really stand out to you as affirming, "Wow, I am in the right place at the right time." [00:23:09] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Yeah. One was we had a really special project where and I won't give any names away, but basically my stepmother has an implant inside of her and it's it's not life sustaining, but it's one that you want working just so that your body's working normally, and so that you're not, not embarrassed. You can go into public spaces and be a normal person, right? And whether it's pain management, incontinence, those kind of things. So she had this implant and it was, she had one that came from the leading provider of that at the time. And it, the battery life, right, is supposed to last like 10 or 15 years, and it seemed like pretty much seven or eight was all she was getting out of it. And after decades of having far more surgeries than she needed, all the way up to the very last device she got in her-- it failed within the first year, I think-- so it was like, okay, time to pivot. And we found this new company and they've become a huge leader in the space, recently acquired by another one of the big leaders in medtech in general. And we were hired to do the security work for that project. And the only reason that I actually found out-- because my stepmother was literally like in the process of getting this new device inside of her-- I was at that client's facility doing a pen testing and security testing engagement and some consulting and just visiting them. And I FaceTimed my family in the break room and there was a sign behind me and they're like, "Oh my gosh. We're literally, we just got that implanted in your stepmother like, a couple weeks ago. It's working great. She's so happy with it. It's smaller, it works better, all these things." And it's like, "Wow." So I got to lead the security effort and what they're actually doing is adding remote programming capabilities so a doctor can, over the phone, be improving that therapy for you. But that leads to a lot of cybersecurity implications, right? That kind of connectivity. And so I gotta lead the security work on that for something that is in a near and dear, your family member. And it's those kind of things where it's not, you're not just helping patients. It's, I'm helping someone that I care very deeply about. And it hits home differently when it's not just, "Oh, I want this device to be secure. I want them to get FDA clearance. I want whatever." It's, "No, I need now, I need for my own family member for it to be the best." And it's not that project got special scrutiny from us-- we bring that to every project-- but it helps to have the actual experience of one of those projects. [00:25:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. And to have that real-- well, you were mentioning it-- not just patients that I kept thinking, "Yeah. Not just patients, people," and the idea of it's sometimes probably necessary honestly, to have a little bit of separation from a clinical point of, "I'm helping all of these patients, and that's a really good thing." But then if you could take a step back and go, "And these patients are human beings that rely on what I'm doing for safety and for security and for this lifesaving, life enhancing device." That's-- what a gift to get to experience something like that. [00:26:04] Garrett Schumacher: It is, it's especially like, if you work in the diabetes-- we've had several projects with insulin pumps-- and insulin's a drug that is, highly toxic if given in the wrong dosage. 99% of the world population would die if it's in the wrong dosage if it's too high. And the only reason the other 1% exist is 'cause they're insulin intolerant. They just, they don't respond to insulin and that's why they have their own type of diabetic issues. And I've got several cousins, a brother-in-law, that also use that stuff every day, rely on those kind of technologies. So, yeah, just it's a little bit more special when it's when you get to do that. But we try to do that for everyone. We try to think of everyone's that person that we're trying to help. [00:26:42] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. All right. Well, this has been so great, but pivoting the conversation a little bit, just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a masterclass on anything you want. What would you choose to teach and why? [00:26:59] Garrett Schumacher: Ooh. Well, yeah, first of all, a million dollars for-- I feel like I, I'd have to go with something like that I know deeply, very deeply on. But okay, if I wanna have some fun here, I would say rock climbing, because rock climbing is my other big passion. It's the one thing that takes me away from a computer screen typically. And so if you're paying me a million dollars to teach rock climbing, A, these people really wanna learn how to be good rock climbers, so they're gonna be very engaged. And B, that's going to mean that I can go now actually make money on something that has only ever been a passion for me. So, that would be fun. That would be awesome. [00:27:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. [00:27:33] Garrett Schumacher: If you're offering, Lindsey, I'll accept. [00:27:35] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay, deal, right? Yeah. I'm gonna have to earn my first million first, and then I'll let you know. [00:27:40] Garrett Schumacher: I'll wait. [00:27:41] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay, fair? Fair enough. What got you into rock climbing? [00:27:45] Garrett Schumacher: Oh man. Well, so my mother was, I grew up in like a small farming town in the northeast corner of Colorado. There's not a mountain for, until you get to Denver area, right? In the summers, she worked at the local college, and in the summers she ran the ropes course and they had a giant rock wall. So, I mean, as a 10-year-old, I'm just hanging out there. I didn't know that there was routes or certain ways or techniques. I just, who can get up the fastest, right? But that was always fun. That was my summers. I always, and I was, shoot, I was always told I was a monkey. I was always on stuff climbing something. I've had my share of injuries from it, trust me. And then in college, it just was natural. I went to CU Boulder, as I've probably already said, and a lot of outdoor climbing opportunities. A lot of, they, they built a new gym there inside the school. And so that then it became this thing where, oh, I can actually-- as you move away from high school sports, basketball and American football and those things, you miss that. You can miss some competitiveness and some team-based things. So now I had another active thing that I could-- and I, again, I wasn't so formal in technique or things like that-- so now I could work with people, socialize and work on that technique in something that I was able to do at that level, instead of, I'm not gonna go beat myself up playing football again. So, yeah, I think that's where it came from. And then it's just been my big hobby ever since. And I mean, now I have a bunch of friends down in Austin, Texas, and we go on a big climbing trip once a year, and I see them once a year. It's fun. So it's like expanded my friend group and it keeps me sane. [00:29:14] Lindsey Dinneen: Huh. Excellent. Yes. That's wonderful. All right. How do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:29:22] Garrett Schumacher: Oh, that's a good one. How do you humbly answer that? When part of the answer I would wanna say is humble, but that's something I always try to work on, is I just wanna be a good guy. I want people to remember that, he was kind, considerate-- would do something at the drop of a hat for you without expecting anything in return-- just kind, generous. And I think a family guy would be a big one. My, my friends and family first and foremost. And maybe second to that, hardworking. Yeah. [00:29:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I love that. All right. And final question. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:29:55] Garrett Schumacher: Oh, my wife. I wake up to her every day and that's she's the best part about everything. So yeah, she's my favorite person, and I'm lucky enough to, when I'm not traveling, wake up next to her and see her at night, and that's the best part. [00:30:08] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. What a wonderful thing. Well, this has been a fantastic conversation, Garrett. I'm so thankful for your time today. Thank you for sharing some of your stories, some of your advice. And I just honestly wish you the most continued success as you work to change lives for a better world. [00:30:26] Garrett Schumacher: Thank you. Thank you, Lindsey, for having me. This was my first podcast ever. So it went great. Yeah, it was fine. [00:30:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. You rocked it. Good job. That's wonderful. All right, well, celebrating that and celebrating all your future successes to come. We are so honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Save the Children, which works to end the cycle of poverty by ensuring communities have the resources to provide children with a healthy, educational, and safe environment. So thank you so much for choosing that charity to support, and thank you so much for being here and thank you for doing what you do. [00:31:05] Garrett Schumacher: Thank you. [00:31:07] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent, and thank you also to our listeners for tuning in, and if you're feeling as inspired as I am, I'd love it if you'd share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:31:19] Dan Purvis: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world.

The Nazi dictator is believed to have had a hidden genetic disorder known as Kallmann syndrome, which can thwart the development of sexual organs, according to a stunning new documentary analyzing his biological makeup. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I Thought My High Cholesterol Was Genetic—Until I Went Plant-Based "I had my blood work done the day before I started the transition. My total cholesterol was 298, and my LDL was 174. In the first month of following a WFPB diet, I took 76 points off my total cholesterol and 44 points off my LDL cholesterol. The weight started coming off, and I was all in." Listen to this success story written by Joanna Mittman at forksoverknives #vegan #plantbased #plantbasedbriefing #cholesterol #wfpb ====================== Original post:  https://www.forksoverknives.com/success-stories/i-thought-my-high-cholesterol-was-genetic-until-i-went-plant-based/    Forks Over Knives Documentary: https://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film/  =========================== Forks Over Knives was founded following the release of the world-famous documentary Forks Over Knives in 2011, showing people how to regain control of their health and their lives with a plant-based diet. Since then Forks Over Knives released bestselling books, launched a mobile recipe app and maintains a website filled with the latest research, success stories, recipes, and tools to help people at every phase of their plant-based journeys. They also have a cooking course, a meal planner, a line of food products, and a magazine. Please visit www.ForksOverKnives.com for a wealth of resources.  FOLLOW THE SHOW ON: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantbasedbriefing     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GONW0q2EDJMzqhuwuxdCF?si=2a20c247461d4ad7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-based-briefing/id1562925866 Your podcast app of choice: https://pod.link/1562925866  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-briefing/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedbriefing/

In this explainer episode, we've asked Amanda Pichini, clinical director at Genomics England and genetic counsellor, to explain what a genetic counsellor is. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our YouTube channel. If you've got any questions, or have any other topics you'd like us to explain, let us know on podcast@genomicsengland.co.uk. You can download the transcript or read it below. Florence: What is a genetic counsellor? I'm Florence Cornish, and today I'm joined with Amanda Pichini, a registered genetic counsellor and clinical director for Genomics England, to find out more.   So, before we dive in, lots of our listeners have probably already heard the term genetic counsellor before, or some people might have even come across them in their healthcare journeys. But for those who aren't familiar, could you explain what we mean by a genetic counsellor?  Amanda: Genetic counsellors are healthcare professionals who have training in clinical genomic medicine and counselling skills. So they help people understand complex information, make informed decisions, and adapt to the impact of genomics on their health and their family. They're expert communicators, patient advocates, and navigators of the ethical issues that genomics and genomic testing could bring.  Florence: Could you maybe give me an example of when somebody might see a genetic counsellor?   Amanda: Yes, and what's fascinating about genetic counselling is that it's relevant to a huge range of conditions, scenarios, or points in a person's life.  Someone's journey might start by going to their GP with a question about their health. Let's say they're concerned about having a strong family history of cancer or heart disease, or perhaps a genetic cause is already known because it's been found in a family member and they want to know if they've inherited that genetic change as well.   Or someone might already be being seen in a specialist service, perhaps their child has been diagnosed with a rare condition. A genetic counsellor can help that family explore the wide-ranging impacts of a diagnosis on theirs and their child's life, how it affects their wider family, what it might mean for future children. You might also see a genetic counsellor in private health centres or fertility clinics, or if you're involved in a research study too.   Florence: And so, could you explain a bit more about the types of things a genetic counsellor does? What does your day-to-day look like, for example?   Amanda: Most genetic counsellors in the UK work in the NHS as part of a team alongside doctors, lab scientists, nurses, midwives, or other healthcare professionals. Their daily tasks include things like analysing a family history, assessing the chance of a person inheriting or passing on a condition, facilitating genetic tests, communicating results, supporting family communication, and managing the psychological, the emotional, the social, and the ethical impacts of genetic risk or results.   My day-to-day is different though. I and many other genetic counsellors have taken their skills to other roles that aren't necessarily in a clinic or seeing individual patients. It might involve educating other healthcare professionals or trainees, running their own research, developing policies, working in a lab, or a health tech company, or in the charity sector.   For me, as Clinical Director at Genomics England, I bring my clinical expertise and experience working in the NHS to the services and programmes that we run, and that helps to make sure that we design, implement, and evaluate what we do safely, and with the needs of patients, the public, and healthcare professionals at the heart of what we do.    My day-to-day involves working with colleagues in tech, design, operations, ethics, communications, and engagement, as well as clinical and scientific experts, to develop and run services like the Generation Study, which is sequencing the genomes of 100,000 newborn babies to see if we can better diagnose and treat children with rare conditions.  Florence: So, I would imagine that one of the biggest challenges of being a genetic counsellor is helping patients to kind of make sense of the complicated test results or information, but without overwhelming them. So how do you balance kind of giving people the scientific facts and all the information they need, but while still supporting them emotionally?   Amanda: This is really at the core of what genetic counsellors can do best, I think. Getting a diagnosis of a rare condition, or finding out about a risk that has a genetic component, can come with a huge range of emotions, whether that's worry, fear, or hope and relief.  It can bring a lot of questions, too. What will this mean for my future or my family's future? What do you know about this condition? What sort of symptoms could I have? What treatments or screening might be available to me? So genetic counsellors are able to navigate all of these different questions and reactions by giving an opportunity for patients and families to discuss their opinions, their experiences, and really trying to get at the core of understanding their values, their culture, their expectations, their concerns, so that they can help that individual make an informed decision that's best for them, help them access the right care and support, adjust or find healthy coping strategies, or maybe even change their lifestyle or health behaviours. So it's really finding that balance between the science, the clinical aspects, the information, and the support.  Florence: So obviously working in this space, I get to read about lots of incredible research all the time, and it feels like genetics and genomics seems to be changing and advancing day by day. So, I'd be interested to know what this means for you and for other genetic counsellors, what's coming next?   Amanda: Yeah, so as we continue to see advances in genetics and genomics, there's, I think, a really increasing need for genetic counselling expertise to help shape how these technologies are used and with giving the right consideration for the challenges around what this means for families and for wider society.  Genomics is also still growing the evidence base it needs to provide a consistent and equitable service. We're seeing digital tools being increasingly available to give people information in innovative ways, seeing huge advancements in targeted treatments and gene therapies, that are changing fundamentally the experiences of people living with rare conditions and cancers. And we're using genomics more and more to predict future health risks and how people might respond to certain medications. So, there's a huge amount that we're seeing sort of coming for the future.   What's interesting is the 10-Year Health Plan that the government has set out for the NHS provides, I think, huge opportunities for genomics. For example, we'll see healthcare brought closer to local communities, genomics being used as part of population health, reaching people closer to where they are and hopefully providing greater access.   But I think the key thing in all of this is knowing that genomics is really just a technology. It requires people with the right skill sets to use it safely and to be able to benefit everyone, and genetic counsellors are a huge part of that.   Florence: And finally, in case anyone listening has been inspired by this conversation and wants to build a career like yours, what advice would you have to offer somebody hoping to become a genetic counsellor in the future?   Amanda: To train as a genetic counsellor in the UK, you usually need an undergrad degree in biological sciences, psychology, or being a nurse or midwife. The background can be varied, but usually driven by a common thread, a desire to sort of improve healthcare experiences for patients and make genomic healthcare widely accessible and safely used for everyone.  You can apply for the 3-year NHS scientist training programme, or there's also master's degrees offered through Cardiff University, for example. In general, I'd encourage people to check out the website for the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors, and reach out to genetic counsellors to ask about their career and their journey as much as possible, as well as seeking opportunities to really understand the experiences of people living with rare genetic conditions, because that will help you understand the ways in which genetic counselling can have an impact.  Florence: We'll finish there. Thank you so much, Amanda, for all of those insights and for explaining what it means to be a genetic counsellor. If any listeners want to hear more explainer episodes like this, you can find them on our website at www.genomicsengland.co.uk or wherever you get your podcasts.  Thank you for listening. 

Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Marina Metzler (St. Louis Children's) shares her experience as a mentored fellow within the CHNC network, focusing on her project investigating genetic diagnoses in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). She discusses the application and mentorship process, the support available from statisticians and CHNC collaborators, and early findings showing that infants with genetic conditions often experience longer NICU stays, more ventilator support, and greater feeding challenges. Dr. Metzler highlights the potential for genetic testing to refine diagnosis, guide care, and inform families, while emphasizing the need for larger datasets and multi-center collaboration to advance understanding in this complex population.Support the showAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Migration Routes and Genetic Groups 2. Professor Meltzer details the migration routes of ancestral Native Americans, explaining that while they crossed the land bridge during maximum glaciation, they were initially trapped in Alaska by two vast continental ice sheets. The "ice free corridor" along the Rockies was not a viable route until around 13,000 years ago, so the likely path was down the Pacific coast, which may have cleared as early as 16,500 years ago. Meltzer introduces the concept of a "genetic ghost," which is evidence in the genomic record of a contributing population for which no physical sample has yet been found.

[00:13:27] – Technocracy and the Artificial Womb AgendaKnight examines Sam Altman's biotech ventures creating lab-grown embryos, framing them as tools of population control and evidence of a transhumanist ideology seeking to replace natural reproduction. [00:24:39] – The Epstein Files and Political ObstructionKnight connects Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to reconvene Congress to the stalled release of Epstein documents, arguing that both parties are complicit in shielding elite criminal networks. [00:49:59] – Trump's Tariff Socialism & Corporate CronyismHe explains how Trump's tariffs operate as hidden taxes that enrich corporations while deepening national debt, turning populism into state-managed corporate welfare. [01:07:42] – Supply Chain Meltdown and Grounded Cargo JetsKnight reports on grounded UPS and FedEx planes and looming shipping disruptions, using the crisis to illustrate how centralized regulation and aging infrastructure are undermining logistics before the holidays. [01:24:51] – Michael Burry's AI Short and the Coming CrashKnight discusses investor Michael Burry's massive short against major AI firms, warning that speculative overvaluation in artificial intelligence mirrors the 2008 financial bubble. [01:39:35] – Smart Appliances and the Surveillance HomeHe contrasts durable mid-century appliances with today's internet-connected “smart” devices, describing them as instruments of data harvesting that turn private homes into nodes of surveillance. [02:06:19] – The AI Arms Race and Energy CrisisKnight warns that the global competition for AI dominance is driving up energy demand and electricity costs, linking the net-zero agenda and AI expansion as dual engines of centralized energy control. [02:08:27] – Sam Altman and the Rise of Genetically Engineered BabiesHe exposes Altman's investments in designer embryo research, suggesting that “biotech humanitarianism” masks a program for eugenic social engineering and artificial reproduction. [02:20:57] – Brain-Reading AI and the End of PrivacyKnight reviews new brain-imaging systems capable of reconstructing thoughts and images, calling them precursors to mind surveillance funded by military and intelligence agencies. [02:51:03] – The Cult of Elon Musk and Robot WorshipKnight concludes with a critique of Musk's AI and robotics showcases, describing them as technological idolatry that promotes dependency, surveillance, and the replacement of human purpose with machines. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

The Man Behind Cannabis Tissue Culture Labs

In this episode, Dr. Puder is joined by Dr. Liam Browning and Dr. Nicholas Fabiano to explore the complex genetic and environmental factors that contribute to schizophrenia. They unpack how heritability is measured, what twin and genome-wide association studies reveal, and why the "missing heritability" problem matters for our understanding of mental illness. The discussion also covers how prenatal factors, childhood trauma, cannabis use, and social adversity increase risk and how modern neuroscience reframes schizophrenia as a disorder of brain connectivity rather than a single genetic disease.

Could the root cause of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension really be the same? In this video, I'll show you how to prevent chronic illness by effectively addressing the root cause, rather than just the symptom. “Based on my genetic report, identify which genes show adaptations to ancestral diets (hunter-gatherer, farming, natural). Then, explain how these same genes may create a mismatch with modern diets and environments. For each, show practical consequences and strategies to thrive today.”0:00 Introduction: The #1 root cause of chronic disease 0:20 Medicine ignores the root cause of health problems 1:23 What causes chronic disease?4:45 Genetics and chronic disease10:16 Tips for chronic disease preventionMedicine aims to label a disease and treat the symptoms with medication. Medication comes with side effects, which are then treated with more medication. Focusing on the root cause of health problems could help avoid numerous issues. The average adult consumes over 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. Food is readily available, we're constantly looking at screens, and we're exposed to toxins like never before. Sterilized food and environments have caused underdeveloped immune systems and epidemic-level nutrient deficiencies. Genetics plays a role in disease and immunity, but there's more to it. Genetics can provide clues about potential health issues we may encounter if our diet and environment are not quite right. Disclaimer from 3X4 Genetics: Data privacy is of utmost importance to us. We handle your personal information with the highest standards of rigor and integrity; our practices, procedures, policies, and technology are designed to ensure the security of your privacy and health data. Upon release of your report, it is your discretion and responsibility to determine with whom or which platform you share or upload your genetic results report to.Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.Disclaimer: Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

For the first time in human history, we can diagnose thousands of genetic diseases—often for under $1,000—but we still can't treat most of them. The problem isn't understanding what's broken; it's delivering the fix to the right cells.Eric Kelsic, CEO of Dyno Therapeutics, joins a16z's Jorge Conde to explain how AI-designed protein shells are solving gene therapy's delivery crisis. They explore why Huntington's patients can now get 15 extra years of healthy life, how Dyno inverted the liver-to-brain delivery ratio by 1000x, and why capsids evolved by nature are now being designed by machine learning models trained on millions of variants.Eric introduces the concept of genetic agency—humanity's first-ever ability to take action at the DNA level—and details why solving delivery for common diseases will make ultra-rare disease treatments economically viable. Plus: what happens when gene therapy requires neurosurgery today but could be a simple injection tomorrow, why recent deaths in clinical trials prove we need better technology now, and how genetic medicine could become as routine as surgery within our lifetimes. Resources:Follow Eric on X: https://x.com/ekelsicFollow Jorge on X: https://x.com/JorgeCondeBioLearn more about GATC 2025: https://www.dynotx.com/gatc2025 Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back for another dose of the Refill! Bringing you the latest insights and news in the world of mental health and pharmacy. If you want more tips and conversations about mindfulness, and mental health checkout The Mindful PharmD Podcast on major podcast platforms. Music provide by PodcastleWritten by Dr. Matmon Harrell ReferencesSalam, N. (2025, October 23). Generic statin atorvastatin recalled. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/10/23/generic-statin-atorvastatin-calcium-recall/86861216007/H. (2025, October 24). FDA announces nationwide recall of cholesterol medication—More than 140,000 bottles affected. Health. https://www.health.com/atorvastatin-calcium-recall-october-2025-11837002 Unknown Author. (n.d.). Genetic marker identifies responders to new antidepressant. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/demystifying-psychiatry/202510/genetic-marker-identifies-responders-to-new-antidepressantDucharme, J. (2025, October 20). Brain game boosts chemical linked to memory, dementia research shows. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/brain-game-boosts-chemical-memory-dementia-research-rcna237832Subscribe. Share. Rate.A thousand thanks!drmatmonharrell.bio.link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Austin Gravley of Digital Babylon and the What Would Jesus Tech podcast talks about how the Chinese Communist Party is looking at using AI to enhance the genetic "quality" of their children, among other uses.  What are the ethical guidelines?  What are acceptable and unacceptable uses?  The National Day of Prayer Taskforce's Kathy Branzell (who is a "military brat") talks about the importance of supporting and praying for our veterans and current military members.  The also talks about giving thanks and "telling of His glory among the nations, Hsi wonderful deeds among all the peoples."  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Paula Jardine discusses her research into the biodefense mafia or bio-security cabal and their decades-long machinations to impose a global dystopia based on genetic testing and engineering and digital control. She says planning goes as far back as the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) and beyond, and is alarmed that one of the key operators, Robert Kadlec, is being considered for a new position in the Department of War. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Outbound Mexico https://outboundmx.com PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites X https://x.com/PaulaJardine The Conservative Woman https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/author/paulajardine Brownstone https://brownstone.org/author/paula-jardine About Paula Jardine Paula Jardine is a writer/researcher who has just completed the graduate diploma in law at ULaw. She has a history degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. *Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

In this episode of Two Bees in a Podcast, Amy Vu and Dr. Jamie Ellis speak with Dylan Ryals, a Doctoral Candidate in the Entomology Department at Purdue University, about implementing genetic sequencing analysis to select breeding candidates in an apiary. This episode ends with a Q&A segment. Check out our website: www.ufhoneybee.com for additional resources from today's episode.

We've entered a new age. Where nature once took a million years to make a few genetic changes, scientists can now make billions in an afternoon — and even imagine adapting humans for life beyond Earth.George Church, a Harvard geneticist, pioneer of the Human Genome Project, and founder of more than 50 biotech companies, helped lay the foundation for CRISPR, personal genomics, and even de-extinction.In this episode, he explains how biotechnology, AI, and materials science are converging to transform life itself -  from reversing aging and curing disease to resurrecting lost species like the woolly mammoth, and one day, helping humanity thrive among the stars.

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My guest is Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology at Stanford School of Medicine. She explains how hearing works and why hearing loss—affecting over 1.5 billion people—impacts people of all ages. We discuss how hearing loss impairs focus and increases the risk of cognitive decline, as well as the role of menopause and other biological milestones in hearing health. We share science-backed protocols to protect your hearing and highlight risks to avoid. And we discuss tinnitus—its causes and treatment options. AGZ: https://drinkagz.com/huberman Wealthfront*: https://wealthfront.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman *This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of September 26, 2025, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments are not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. 00:00 Konstantina Stankovic 03:27 Hearing Loss, How Hearing Works, Types of Hearing Loss 10:58 Sound Waves, High vs Low Frequency, Communication, Importance of Hearing 15:26 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place 18:40 Sound Projection, Intensity, Speech; Moving Ears; Larger Ears 22:59 Sounds & Emotionality; Tinnitus 26:43 Painful Sounds, Hyperacusis, Phonophobia; Memory, Auditory Hallucinations 32:19 Concerts & Ringing in Ears, Hidden Hearing Loss; Tool: Safe Sound Threshold 39:15 Concerts & Protecting Hearing, Tools: Ear Plugs, Magnesium Threonate 43:44 Magnesium Food Sources & Supplements; Migraines & Tinnitus 47:30 Tinnitus; Hearing Loss, Genetic & Environmental Factors 53:19 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & David 56:04 Individualization; Tinnitus Examination & Treatment, Supplementation? 1:04:36 Headphones, Tough vs Tender Ears, Children, Tool: Safe Sound Levels 1:09:41 Compounded Damage, Concerts & Hearing Loss, Tool: Ear Plugs 1:12:59 Transitioning Environments, Hyperacusis; In-Utero Hearing 1:15:56 Dogs & Sea Animals, Sound Pollution 1:19:54 Hearing Loss, Dementia & Cognitive Decline; Tool: Slow Speech & Face Listener 1:26:26 Sponsor: Joovv 1:27:38 Lip Reading; AI-Enhanced Hearing Aids 1:30:12 Sleep, Tool: Earplugs; Hearing Yourself Speak, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence 1:36:54 Hearing & Balance, Vibrations; Sound Therapy 1:42:05 Music, Dance, Hearing & Frequency Map; Cochlear Implants 1:48:20 Sponsor: LMNT 1:49:52 Hearing & Social-Cognitive Development, Mental Health; Cochlear Implants 1:56:07 Men vs Women, Estrogen; Hearing Loss, Environment, NSAIDs 2:01:52 Environmental Toxins, Heavy Metals, Plastics; Tool: Heating Plastic 2:06:39 Tool: Avoid Regular NSAIDs Use; Birds & Hair Cell Regeneration; Cancer 2:12:05 Head & Neck, Lymphatic System & Surgery 2:14:44 Adult Auditory Plasticity, Music & Language 2:17:37 Splitting of Senses, Podcasts, AI & Human Progress 2:22:20 Prevent Hearing Loss & Recap 2:25:09 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices