Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Today’s episode is born of frustration.  Fear-mongering non-experts are abusing improper interpretations from an available herbicide detection kit to make claims that herbicides are now found in vaccines.  Namely, they seek to find glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.  They use a kit you can buy on the internet, but fail to use it in the way it is designed.  Instead of using it on water,...

One of the most important steps in genetic engineering a plant is the process of regenerating an entire new plant from a single cell that contains the new genetic instructions.  The process is as much art as science.  Dr. Indra Vasil was a pioneer in this area, especially in monocots, the plants we think of as our major grasses and grains.  In this interview Dr. Vasil discusses the early days of p...

The dog-days of summer are a perfect match for watermelon.  This podcast discusses domestication, breeding and interesting stories of where this magical fruit came from, and where it is going.  Dr. Cecilia McGregor shares her knowledge of the origins of this important dessert crop, along with interesting facets of how it is used by other people around the world. She also ventures into “endless amu...

One of the amazing success stories of genetic engineering is the eggplant, known as the “brinjal” in Asia and the “aubergine” in Europe.  In the west it is occasional table fare, yet in many parts of Asia it is a daily staple.  Farmers in Bangladesh and India rely on doses of old-school insecticides to protect their crop, up to eighty a season, and not always with appropriate protection equipment....

Those of you that follow social media know Dr. Paul Vincelli.  He’s a visible contributor to the discussion on genetic engineering, but also ventures into discussion of climate change.  So how do scientists learn to rethink their approach to public hot-button topics to be effective? This has been a question for scientists for a long time, as we perennially fail to connect well with the public. Pod...

Talking Biotech Podcast #46 was a lot of fun.  My co-host is the effervescent Kiona Elliott, a wonderful undergraduate student in my lab that not only is studying science, but she’s also studying how to communicate with public audiences.  The main guest is Dr. Ashley Winslow, Director of Neurogenetics at the Orphan Disease Center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.  We discuss the re...

Talking Biotech #45 discusses the viral threats to coffee.  We’re joined by Dr. Michael Goodin, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology from the University of Kentucky.   Coffee viruses are important threats to sustainable production.  They are spread by insects, so insect control is a critical aspect of their spread.  Dr. Goodin talks about the unusual molecular aspects of the virus, plus the reas...

Talking Biotech Podcast #44 continues Kavin Senapathy’s interview with Dr. Ronald Herring.  Dr. Herring is a Professor of Government and International Professor of Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. Dr. Herring is a social scientist that has carefully studied the situation in India.  This is the second part of the interview discussing the myths and facts surrounding Indian fa...

In discussion of genetically engineered crops  there is frequent reference to farmer suicides in India.  Claims are made that Indian farmers build massive debt for cotton seeds, they become beholden to Monsanto for the money, and then kill themselves.  This story is repeated ad nauseum by Vandana Shiva and others that exploit the untimely deaths of farmers for political gain, and to foment anger a...

The Seralini Rats make an appearance a the NAS Report Summary. A report on Genetically Engineered Crops was commissioned by the National Academies of Science, and a committee was convened to review the current literature.  The committee also considered testimony of experts, including self-described experts. A wide range of opinions were considered. This week’s podcast summarizes the findings of th...

If there was anyone that could be dubbed a science wizard, it might be Dr. Jude Grosser.  Dr. Grosser has made a career of edgy innovation, creating new solutions that define the forefront of genetic improvements in citrus.  He has mastered unconventional techniques that produce new variants of trees (both their scions and rootstocks) that bring improved production quality to Florida’s fresh fruit...

Dr. Steve Strauss is a Distinguished Professor of Forestry at Oregon State University.  He has been at the forefront of forest biology and genetic engineering of trees, contributing greatly to the understanding of fundamental tree biology, as well as the development of techniques and tools to perform genetic engineering in tree species.  We discuss the many opportunities in tree breeding, as well...

It is so wonderful to share the time with Prof. Danny Chamovitz.  He’s an accomplished researcher, a successful Dean, and leader in Israel’s agricultural research enterprise.  He discusses his book, What a Plant Knows and describes plants as beings in tune with their environments, planning to adapt to change on demand.  He’ll change your perspective on plants for ever.  He also talks about his lab...

Chipotle proudly serves it.  The Vermont GMO labeling rules exempt it. Still 95% of cheese is manufactured from enzymes created through recombinant DNA technology. These GMO-derived enzymes are tremendously beneficial to the process.  Young cow stomachs are not needed and the prices are lower because the enzymes are abundant.  Levi Gadye is a graduate student in neuroscience and science writer.  H...

The African Swine Fever Virus is a devastating pathogen that leads to fatal disease in domesticated swine.  Scientists at the Roslin Institute led by Prof. Bruce Whitelaw have made an important advance for domestic pig health and welfare.  Wild African pigs like warthogs do not get the disease.  Researchers at Roslin have studied the genes associated with viral infection, and found what is likely...

“Citrus” is a term applied to a variety of popular and nutritious fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes.  Citrus breeders are tasked with improving the varieties, which takes decades.  Still, great progress has been made in fruit improvement.  However, over the last twenty years a disease called Huanglongbing, or “HLB” (also known as “citrus greening”) has emerged in the USA and...

This week the Talking Biotech Podcast shares an intriguing discussion with Dr. Jayson Lusk.  Dr. Lusk is an agricultural and food economist at Oklahoma State University.  He has analyzed many facets of consumer choices, consumer behaviors, and the potential costs of policy change in agriculture. More importantly, he is a sought after speaker and author, sharing his expertise and experiences in man...

Strawberry is a popular fruit with tremendous commercial value, and while everyone loves a good strawberry, are they actually getting better? This week’s podcast talks to Dr. Jim Hancock, strawberry breeder from Michigan State University.  Dr. Hancock explains strawberry’s wild history, from cultivation by indigenous people in Chile, to colonists moving them around the world, to spies taking them...

Could the lowly dandelion solve a crisis?  If Key Gene CEO Dr. Arjen van Tunen and associates are correct, this yard pest may be the basis of sustainable and highly profitable rubber production.  A growing middle class worldwide has produced a need for high-quality rubber, mostly for tires.  Rubber tree (the genus Havea) plantations in Southeast Asia are threatened by climate change, disease, and...

Dietary reactions to wheat are on the rise, and science is grasping for answers.  One approach to work around the genetic basis of the reaction, and that is well understood.  With that information, scientists like Dr. Chris Miller at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center are searching for innovative solutions. Current concepts seek to breed modern wheat with other historical varieties featuring low r...

When we think of the plants that are important to us, we might think right past the magical shrub that gives us coffee berries.  Coffee underpins major economies in the world, has an interesting history, and its sustainable production is threatened. We’re joined by Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research.  Hanna describes what coffee is, its natural history, species in the wild, and breeding...

Recent unpublished reports are popping up on the internet that suggest that the herbicide glyphosate is showing up at dangerous levels in a variety of places.  These range from breast milk, to beer, to wine, to potato chips.   There are a number of laboratories and kit manufacturers that are excited to provide a means for such analysis.  In the hands of the untrained, such kits and data are nothin...

Dr. Leena Tripathi is a leader in banana biotechnology, working at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya.  She has been publishing prolifically on a number of solutions for banana disease resistance using genetic engineering.  In this episode of Talking Biotech she discusses the disease threats to banana production in Africa, and the solutions she has identified.  She also touches on the social climate, farm str...

If you tell a stranger that something called “delta endotoxin” is as close as it gets to a miracle, they’d likely respond in one of two ways.  They’d either want you to seek counseling, or find out if they can get it injected into their faces.  Humans have love-hate relationships with toxic compounds, and delta endotoxin, or “Bt toxin” is no exception. This natural protein is toxic to a specific s...

Cherries are a perennial favorite fruit.  However, they are a tree, so their genetic improvement is slow.  Episode 27 features Dr. Amy Iezzoni, as she discusses cherry genetic origins and efforts to improve cherry through traditional breeding. In part two, your questions are answered, namely questions about reports of glyphosate in urine, breastmilk and Germans. # COLABRA Talking Biotech is brough...