Name: Jack Szostak (Harvard/HHMI) Part 2: Protocell Membranes @scicommlab
Uploaded: 2024-10-13T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Jack Szostak (Harvard/HHMI) Part 2: Protocell Membranes

Jack Szostak (Harvard/HHMI) Part 2: Protocell Membranes

Science Communication Lab 2024-10-13 | Jack Szostak (Harvard/HHMI) Part 2: Protocell Membranes

Homology-Directed Repair: How the Cell Edits DNA After a CRISPR-Induced Break

Science Communication Lab 2023-09-26 | Sometimes DNA breaks because of insults like x-rays, UV rays, or genetic scissors (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9). DNA breakage can have serious consequences if not corrected. Luckily, the cell has mechanisms to repair those breaks, including one known as homology-directed repair. In this fun animated clip, scientists describe how homology-directed repair works in an accessible way. You’re left with a haiku to better remember it.

This clip was taken from Human Nature, the documentary which explores the discovery and future implications of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology.

#HDR #HomologyDirectedRepair #CRISPR #DNARepair #RepairMechanism #DNABreaks #DoubleStrandBreaks #CRISPRCas9Mechanism #FyodorUrnov #GeneEditing #HumanNatureDocumentary

Related Resources:
Human Nature, the documentary: http://www.humannaturefilm.com
CRISPR 101: Homology Directed Repair (Addgene): blog.addgene.org/crispr-101-homology-directed-repair

Credits:
This clip was taken from the feature-length documentary Human Nature. Find credit info at: http://www.humannaturefilm.com

Copyright Text:
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2023 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Nobel winners Doudna, Charpentier discover how CRISPR Cas9 gene editing works: Good Chemistry

Science Communication Lab 2023-09-07 | Discovering the CRISPR system: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna's Nobel Prize-winning research revolutionized gene editing. Learn about their groundbreaking experiments and collaboration that transformed CRISPR into a powerful gene editing tool.

Nearly a decade ago, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna embarked on a journey that would transform the field of science. Their groundbreaking research on the CRISPR system revolutionized gene editing and ultimately earned them the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Watch their captivating short film, offering insights into the process of scientific discovery, collaboration, and groundbreaking experimentation.

Access the Educator Resources here: docs.google.com/document/d/1nWI0_xNgKUjWttWRg7siGBuvLXbPydoCkCOfY9w69dI/edit?usp=sharing

#TransformativeScience #ShortFilm #ScientificExperimentation #ScienceDocumentary #ScientificBreakthroughs #CRISPRCas9 #Cas9 #WomenInStem #WomenInScience #WomenInScientificLeadership #geneticengineering #biotechnology

Produced by ibiology.org & scicommlab.org

Credits:
Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Regina Sobel

Cinematographer: Derek Reich

Editor: Lee Rossoff

Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard

Illustrations adapted from Gb Kim

Additional Camera: Brandon Yadegari Moreno, Asad Faruqi, Alexis Keenan, Eric Kornblum, Tony Rossi, Chris Ungco

Sound: Derek Reich, Michael Jones, Asad Faruqi

Interviews by: Adam Bolt, Elliot Kirschner

Field Producers: Meredith DeSalazar, Sarah Goodwin, Nona McKenna

Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter

Executive Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Elliot Kirschner

Educator Resources: Marina Ellefson

The CRISPR Apostle: Rodolphe Barrangou

Science Communication Lab 2022-12-08 | http://www.iBiology.org

For millennia, humans have been harnessing #microbes to produce everything from breads, to cheeses, to alcohol. Now these tiny organisms have produced another powerful revolution — the gene editing tool CRISPR. Rodolphe Barrangou, Ph.D., was working at the food company Danisco, where he was trying to produce yogurt lines resistant to contamination. In a series of groundbreaking experiments, he helped uncover what CRISPR was, how it worked, and why it could be so transformative.

Speaker Biography:
Rodolphe Barrangou, Ph.D., studies beneficial microbes, focusing on the occurrence and diversity of lactic acid bacteria in fermented foods and as probiotics. Using functional genomics, he has focused on uncovering the genetic basis for health-promoting traits, including the ability to uptake and catabolize non-digestible carbohydrates. He spent 9 years at Danisco-DuPont, characterizing probiotics and starter cultures, and established the functional role of CRISPR-Cas as adaptive immune systems in bacteria. At NC State, he continues to study the molecular basis for their mechanism of action, as well as developing and applying CRISPR-based technologies for genotyping, building immunity and genome editing.

Producers: Sarah Goodwin, Rebecca Ellsworth
Cinematographer: Derek Reich
Editor: Rebecca Ellsworth\
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Assistant Camera: Gray McClamrock
Drone aerials: Travis Jack
Supervising Editor: Regina Sobel
Field Producer: Meredith DeSalazar
Interview by: Adam Bolt
Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter
Executive Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Elliot Kirschner

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#biology #research

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby: The Impact of Prenatal Depression on Maternal and Infant Immunity

Science Communication Lab 2022-12-06 | http://www.iBiology.org

Have you wondered why certain people develop allergies? In this 2022 Share Your Research Talk, Justine Noel describes these prenatal exposures may be coming from the mom’s psychological stress. Her thesis research aims to identify immune signatures related to maternal prenatal psychological stress and infant allergy eczema risk. She studied maternal and infant cohorts and observed that stress alters pro-inflammatory cytokine signatures within the moms that predict infant allergy eczema outcomes.

Speaker Biography: Justine Noel is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she studies pregnancy and immunity. Specifically, Justine investigates the impact of prenatal exposures on infant immunity and allergy outcomes. Justine seeks to become an academic researcher.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#womenshealth #science #immunesystem

International Voices 2022 Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-22 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, #scientists describe their experience in the global research community. The 2022 Share Your Research series features Ph.D. students and postdocs giving talks about their research and discoveries. Six scientists were selected from a large pool of talented individuals from around the globe.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#internationalstudents #resear

Bacterial DRAMA: Dispute Results in an Anti-Microbial Agent

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-15 | http://www.iBiology.org

There’s a lot of drama in bacterial competition for nutrients. In this Share Your Research Talk, Dylan describes his thesis research on two soil bacteria that compete over nutrients. One of these #bacteria combines amino acids and fatty acids to create a newly discovered antibiotic. Dylan discovered how this antibiotic attacks another type of bacteria, essentially starving it of nutrients. These findings have implications for understanding bacterial interactions and the production of anti-microbial agents.

Speaker Biography: Dylan McClung, Ph.D. aka Dyna Cockus Rose, is a microbiologist and drag queen science communicator who discovered a new antibiotic from soil bacteria competing for nutrients. Dylan recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Ph.D. in Microbiology. He plans to focus more on science communication (in and out of drag), especially emphasizing the importance of microbes to society. His dream is to host a drag science TV show.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#research #biology

Tinkering with Nature’s Tools: The CRISPR Pioneer Feng Zhang

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-15 | http://www.iBiology.org

What makes CRISPR -Cas9 such a groundbreaking genome editing tool? Hear from CRISPR-Cas9 pioneer Feng Zhang, Ph.D., who shares not only what makes the tool so unique and how it works but also his personal journey into #science, which began with the film Jurassic Park. Zhang, who engineered the CRISPR-Cas9 system to work in human cells, is now using the tool to understand and treat human diseases, such as neurological disorders. In this short film, he compares CRISPR-Cas9 to past available genome-editing tools, including zinc finger and transcription activator-like effector (TALE) nucleases.

Speaker Biography:
Feng Zhang, Ph.D., is a core institute member of the @BroadInstitute of MIT and Harvard, as well as an investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, the James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT, and a professor at MIT. Zhang is also an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Visit his lab website: https://zlab.bio.

Zhang is a molecular biologist developing and applying novel molecular technologies for studying the brain. He pioneered the development of genome editing tools for use in eukaryotic cells – including human cells – from natural microbial CRISPR-Cas9 systems. He and his team have adapted multiple other CRISPR systems for use as genome engineering tools, including RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 systems and CRISPR-associated transposon systems, which can be used for gene insertion.

Producers: Shannon Behrman, Meredith DeSalazar, Sarah Goodwin, Regina Sobel
Cinematographers: Derek Reich, Amanda McGrady
Interview by: Adam Bolt
Editor: Lee Rossoff
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter
Executive Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Elliot Kirschner

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#biotechnology #genome

Dylan McClung, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-11 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, we interviewed this year's speakers. Dylan McClung, Ph.D., aka Dyna Cockus Rose, tells us what fascinates him about science, his experience as a scientist and drag artist, and advice for young scientists who want to do research in biology.

Speaker Biography: Dylan McClung, Ph.D. (Dyna Cockus Rose) is a microbiologist and drag queen science communicator who discovered a new antibiotic from soil bacteria competing for nutrients. Dylan recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Ph.D. in Microbiology. He plans to focus more on science communication (in and out of drag), especially emphasizing the importance of microbes to society. His dream is to host a drag science TV show.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#phdstudent #scientist #microbiology

A Winding Life Through Science: Virginia Man-Yee Lee

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-08 | http://www.iBiology.org

When Virginia Man-Yee Lee., Ph.D., was growing up in Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s, her parents had certain expectations for their daughter that did not include a career in academics and especially science. But Lee felt an inescapable pull to science. Challenging stereotypes at the time of what a Chinese woman could accomplish, she became a leading researcher of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this film, Lee recounts her inspiring journey made possible by her determination, positive outlook, resilience, and hard work.

Speaker Biography:
Virginia Man-Yee Lee, Ph.D., is the John H. Ware 3rd Endowed Professor in Alzheimer's Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Lee’s research focuses on disease proteins that form pathological inclusions in hereditary and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative disorders of aging. Her work demonstrated that tau, alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 proteins form unique brain aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases and provided critical evidence that aggregation of brain proteins is a common mechanistic theme in diverse neurodegenerative diseases including AD, PD, FTLD, ALS and related disorders. Significantly, Lee’s studies implicated the abnormal aggregation of tau, alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 in mechanisms that compromise neuronal viability. Most importantly, this research has opened up new avenues of research to identify targets for drug discovery to develop better treatments for these disorders.
https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p12536

Producers: Kevin McLean, Lee Rossoff
Cinematographer/Sound: Kevin Flanigan, Syd Redmond
Editor: Lee Rossoff
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter
Executive Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Elliot Kirschner

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#womeninstem #alzheimer #brain

There Are Other Fish in the Sea: Social Density Measurement by the Neuropeptide Pth2

Science Communication Lab 2022-11-01 | http://www.iBiology.org

How do animals cope with stressful and anxiety-producing situations like social isolation? In this 2022 Share Your Research Talk, Lukas Anneser, Ph.D., describes his Ph.D. research on how social isolation alters gene transcription in the #brain of a tiny vertebrate, the zebrafish. He discovered that changes in gene expression of a particular gene, the neuropeptide Pth2, translate directly to #behavior - high levels of Pth2 correlate with lower levels of anxiety in these animals and they interact more with their conspecifics. These findings imply that the social environment regulates gene expression in real-time.

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Lukas Anneser completed his Ph.D. research at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in the lab of Erin Schuman, Ph.D. His thesis work focused on the role of neuromodulation in response to social isolation. Lukas is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#neuroscience

Lukas Anneser, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-28 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, we interviewed this year's speakers. Lukas Anneser, Ph.D., shares an early science memory, what he enjoys about doing research, and what fascinates him about the brain.

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Lukas Anneser completed his Ph.D. research at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in the lab of Erin Schuman, Ph.D. His thesis work focused on the role of neuromodulation in response to social isolation. Lukas is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#neuroscience #phdstudent #research

Neural Underpinnings of Individual Recognition in the Brain

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-25 | http://www.iBiology.org

Do birds know who they are talking to? How do we know who we are talking to? In this 2022 Share Your Research Talk, Isabella Catalano untangles the use of auditory and visual modalities to answer the questions behind what happens in the brain to make recognition possible. Her thesis research uses zebra finches as a model system to study individual recognition in the #brain. This research has implications for diseases in which we lose the ability to recognize individuals, even those close to us.

Speaker Biography: Isabella Catalano is a Ph.D. candidate at McGill University, in the laboratory of Dr. Sarah C. Woolley, where she studies individual recognition in zebra finches. Isabella seeks to become a research professor.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#neuroscience #cognition

Isabella Catalano, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-21 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, we interviewed this year's speakers. Isabella Catalano shares an early science memory, what she enjoys about research, and what she loves about the brain.

Speaker Biography: Isabella Catalano is a Ph.D. candidate at McGill University, in the laboratory of Dr. Sarah C. Woolley, where she studies individual recognition in zebra finches. Isabella seeks to become a research professor.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#womeninstem #scientist #phd

Accelerated Development of Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) Resistance in Squash

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-18 | http://www.iBiology.org

Profitable production of squash in the growers' field is threatened by a virus called Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV). In this 2022, Share Your Research Talk, Swati Shrestha describes her #research on developing virus-resistant squash. As a researcher from Nepal which is an agricultural country, Swati has always been passionate about developing disease-resistant crop varieties that would be beneficial to growers. She addresses the issue of yield loss due to viral disease in squash by using genetic, molecular and computational techniques to develop molecular markers associated with PRSV-resistance. These findings have implications for speeding up the identification, selection, and breeding of PRSV-resistant squash for the growers in the field.

Speaker Biography: Swati Shrestha is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, in the Vegetable Breeding and Genetics lab. For her thesis research, she develops and applies molecular tools for accelerated breeding of Potyvirus resistance in squash. Swati is interested in science communication as much as she is into research and development. In the future, she aims to be a scientific writer, where she can research and report innovative trends in the agricultural production system.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#conservation #agriculturetechnology

Swati Shrestha, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-14 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, we interviewed this year's speakers. Swati Shrestha shares an early science memory in Nepal, what fascinates her about science and what she enjoys about doing research.

Speaker Biography: Swati Shrestha is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, in the Vegetable Breeding and Genetics lab. For her thesis research, she develops and applies molecular tools for accelerated breeding of Potyvirus resistance in squash. Swati is interested in science communication as much as she is into research and development. In the future, she aims to be a scientific writer, where she can research and report innovative trends in the agricultural production system.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#scientist #phd #womeninstem

Computational Modeling of DNA Communication in the Nucleus

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-11 | http://www.iBiology.org

What do chromosomes look like in our #cells? In this 2022 Share Your Research Talk, Wang describes his #research to build a mathematical model for a process called Loop Extrusion, which describes how DNA folds and forms loops at kilobase scale. This model helps us understand complex interactions between DNA fragments as well as their 3D structure . The model can be used to predict how small changes in DNA sequence disrupt higher-order chromatin architecture and have implications for common genetic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Speaker Biography: Wang Xi, Ph.D. completed his doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University. At the time of filming, Wang was a Ph.D. candidate and his thesis research focused on chromatin interactions and their implications on gene regulation through computational modeling.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#3dmodeling

Wang Xi, PhD interview, Share Your Research Series

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-07 | http://www.iBiology.org

As part of the 2022 Share Your Research Talk series, we interviewed this year's speakers. Wang Xi, Ph.D., tells us what fascinates him about science, what he enjoys about doing research, and what motivated him to study #DNA.

Speaker Biography: Wang Xi, Ph.D. completed his doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University. At the time of filming, Wang was a Ph.D. candidate and his thesis research focused on chromatin interactions and their implications on gene regulation through computational modeling. Wang seeks to continue doing interdisciplinary research as a postdoc at Harvard University.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#phdstudent #scientist

2022 Share Your Research trailer

Science Communication Lab 2022-10-04 | http://www.iBiology.org

The 2022 Share Your Research series featuring #PhD students and postdocs giving talks about their research and discoveries. Six #scientists were selected from a large pool of talented individuals from around the globe. Big thanks to the Lasker Foundation and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science for their ongoing support of this project.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#biology

Pieces of a Puzzle: T-Cell Activation

Science Communication Lab 2022-09-29 | http://www.iBiology.org

Researchers are harnessing the power of the human #immunesystem to create new treatments for challenging diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. In this video, meet one such researcher, Christopher Rudd, Ph.D., an immunologist whose seminal experiments in understanding how T cells respond to diseases in the immune system have led to the development of #cancer immunotherapies.

Rudd was the first to identify the role of tyrosine kinases and phosphorylation cascades in the activation of T cells via the T cell receptor. His discovery has led to the development of many different therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells which are designed to treat and cure certain cancers.

Speaker Biography:
Christopher E. Rudd, Ph.D. is a professor of medicine at the Université de Montréal where his research focuses on deciphering the signal transduction pathways in T-cells, and how these pathways control immune functions. He received his BSc from McGill University (Canada) and his Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees from University College London (UK). Rudd began his studies on T-cell signaling while a faculty member at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI)/Harvard Medical School for 18 years in Boston and then later as a Professor at Cambridge University (UK).

His laboratory is credited with the discovery of the CD4 and CD8-p56lck complexes that initiate T-cell activation and a phosphorylation cascade involving key downstream targets. The CD4 and CD8-p56lck complexes initiate and broaden T-cell responses to most infectious agents. The discovery also provided a function for src kinases in normal receptor mediated signalling. Further, his work defined key aspects of CD28, ICOS and CTLA-4 co-receptor signalling in T-cells for co-stimulation and immunity. Overall, his research helps to uncover the signalling events that control the adaptive immune response and laid the foundation for therapeutics such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for the treatment of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer.

In recognition of his work, he has been elected Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (2002), the Academy of Medical Sciences (2002) and the Royal Society of Canada (2021). Visit Rudd’s lab website: https://www.christopher-rudd-lab-montreal.com.

Producers: Brittany Anderton, Shannon Behrman, Lee Rossoff
Cinematographer & Sound: Productions Albédo Inc.
Editor: Lee Rossoff
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter
Executive Producers: Shannon Behrman, Sarah Goodwin, Elliot Kirschner

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#res

What Happened after the Redwoods Burned?: Fire Among Giants

Science Communication Lab 2022-08-30 | http://www.iBiology.org

The ancient redwoods of California’s Big Basin State Park have witnessed centuries of change, and now they will stand sentinel over a landscape forced to rebound in a rapidly warming climate. Fire is a force for destruction, but also of rebirth. Get a provocative and intimate look at a world famous forest in the wake of the most destructive inferno on record.

Speaker Biographies:
Portia Halbert is a Senior Environmental Scientist with the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks. For over 19 years she has been part of a resource management team who works to manage parkland and restore habitat in the 70,000 acres of Parks in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.

Don Hankins is a Professor of Geography and Planning at California State University, Chico. Drawing from his academic and cultural knowledge he is particularly interested in Indigenous traditional knowledge and policy and their application as a keystone process to aid in conservation and stewardship.

Christian Schwarz is a research associate at the Norris Center for Natural History at UC Santa Cruz who studies mushrooms in California. He is coauthor of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast," and is slowly building a mycoflora for Santa Cruz County. You can find him on Instagram at @biodiversiphile.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Modeling a Soil Microbiome

Science Communication Lab 2022-05-31 | http://www.iBiology.org

Dirt is anything but dumb. Inside soil lives a community of microbes that play an important role in everything from the environment to agriculture. In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Julia Nepper describes her postdoctoral research to model and understand the microbial community inside the rhizosphere, the soil adjacent to plant roots. Dr. Nepper performed a series of experiments to understand how three key microbial species interact with one another to support each other's growth and survival. These findings indicate that the soil microbiome is greater than the sum of its parts, and underscores the importance of modeling complex species interactions in the lab.

Speaker Biography: Julia Nepper was raised in rural North Carolina and began attending community college at the age of 11. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with degrees in biology and chemistry, and after a post baccalaureate at UNC-Chapel Hill came to UW-Madison for graduate school. She graduated with a PhD in Biophysics in 2017, and now works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Handelsman lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Credits:
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

CRISPR ethics and how it will impact our future | The Century of Biology

Science Communication Lab 2022-05-25 | Preeminent bioethicist Alta Charo forecasts what's next in #biology.

http://www.iBiology.org

In The Century of Biology, noted bioethicist Alta Charo ponders the ever-shifting interrelationship between humans and nature. The power of #CRISPR and genome editing fundamentally reshapes the realm of the possible, as humans can manipulate life with precision on the molecular level. What we will do with this power is a question that far exceeds the limits of biology and touches on what kind of future we hope for, or fear.

Speaker Biography: Alta Charo is the Warren P. Knowles Professor Emerita of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She recently completed service as the inaugural David A. Hamburg Fellow on the biosecurity team at the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington DC. She is now lead co-chair of the 4S (safety, security, sustainability and social responsibility) unit of the new Department of Defense biotechnology manufacturing innovation institute, "BioMADE" and consults on gene therapy and genome editing in medical and environmental applications for DARPA and various companies. Charo was a member of President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Committee, and was a senior policy advisor at the FDA during the Obama administration. She is an elected member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine, where she co-chaired its seminal reports on embryonic stem cell research guidelines and genome editing governance. At present, she co-chairs its committee on emerging technologies, science and innovation.

Credits:
Executive Producers: Elliot Kirschner, Sarah Goodwin, Shannon Behrman
Producers: Regina Sobel, Meredith DeSalazar
Cinematographer: Derek Reich
Additional Camera: Brian Alberth, Juanma Bernabeu, Jimmy Purtill
Editor: Lee Rossoff
Interview by: Adam Bolt
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Associate Producer: Shelley Elizabeth Carter

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#science #research

How is the Expansion and Shrinking of Fat Cells Controlled in Our Body?

Science Communication Lab 2022-05-24 | http://www.iBiology.org

The fat layer in our skin has the ability to expand and shrink. Yet, the regulatory mechanisms for skin fat growth and shrinking are not well understood. In this Share Your Research Talk, Edriss Yousuf describes his thesis research on the regulation of skin fat. He discovered a non-immune function of regulatory T cells and showed that they can induce autophagy in skin fat cells to decrease their lipid droplet size. These findings have implications for scarring and scleroderma, disorders which are typically associated with reduced skin fat abundance.

Speaker Biography: Edriss Yousuf is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore, India, in the laboratory of Colin Jamora. His thesis research led to the discovery of potential therapeutics that can help prevent scarring of skin after wounding or progressive scarring during autoimmune diseases. Edriss seeks to become a professional science writer and science communicator, and is currently developing a podcast.
mobile.twitter.com/edrissyousu

Credits:
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Temperature impacts parasite transmission and the effectiveness of public health interventions

Science Communication Lab 2022-05-03 | http://www.iBiology.org

More than 200 million people are infected with schistosomes, aquatic parasites that cycle between snails and humans and cause the human disease schistosomiasis. The risk of contracting this disease is expected to rise in the coming years due to climate change, agricultural expansion, and population growth. In her Share Your Research Talk, Dr. Karena Nguyen provides an overview of the schistosome life cycle, including the points at which interventions can disrupt this cycle in order to reduce disease transmission. She then goes on to discuss her work modeling the impact of these interventions.

0:00 Introduction
1:02 Temperature and parasites
3:24 What really is a parasite?
4:37 What is schistosomiasis?
8:21 Epidemiological modeling: temperature, hosts, parasites
14:42 Projecting transmission risk
17:51 Summary

Speaker Biography: Karena Nguyen is a disease ecologist, parasitologist, and environmental microbiologist. She studies schistosomes, the parasites that cause schistosomiasis in humans using a combination of molecular tools and epidemiological models. As a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University in the Fellowship in Science Research and Teaching (FIRST) program, she studied the epidemiological impact of hybrid schistosomes. She completed her B.S. in ecology and evolution at Saint Louis University and her Ph.D. at the University of South Florida. She is currently the Assistant Director for Postdoctoral Services at Georgia Tech. Follow her on Twitter: @Nguyen_4science

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Intestinal Villi Assume the Fetal Position in Response to Injury

Science Communication Lab 2022-04-26 | http://www.iBiology.org

Intestinal villi are finger-like projections that line the small intestine, increasing surface area to help with absorption of nutrients. Injuries to the intestinal villi can cause a range of health problems, and can even be life-threatening. In this Share Your Research Talk, physician-scientist trainee Takahiro Ohara discusses his research on the molecular and cellular processes that drive recovery of intestinal villi. He describes the fetal-like state that cells on damaged villi take on, and how adaptive differentiation of these cells leads to proper villus recovery.

0:00 Introduction
2:08 Normal Villus Recovery
4:21 Modeling Villus Injury and Repair
5:10 What happens to enterocytes?
11:10 What drives the fetal program?
15:06 What are the consequences of having abnormal aVECs?
18:00 Summary

Speaker Biography: Takahiro Ohara is an MD-PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis. Interested in regenerative medicine, his research focuses on how intestinal villi recover from injury. He received a B.S. from UCLA in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Biomedical Research.

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Drink up to improve brain health

Science Communication Lab 2022-04-12 | http://www.iBiology.org

Exercise is like medicine for the mind and body, particularly in aging adults. Regular physical activity not only provides physiological benefits, it also reduces the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other declines in mental function associated with aging. In his Share Your Research Talk, Brandon Yates provides an overview how proper hydration during exercise can help maximize the health benefits associated with exercise. He also discusses why this is particularly important in older adults, who are often chronically dehydrated.

0:00 Introduction
2:53 Exercise and aging adults
4:27 Aging and the brain
5:39 Hydration and health
7:36 Endurance exercise study design
10:12 Performance review
15:21 Future directions

Speaker Biography: Brandon Yates is a Ph.D. student at the Indiana University School of Medicine at the Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health. He studies the effects of dehydration and exercise on physiological and cognitive functions, particularly in aging populations. Brandon earned an M.S. in kinesiology from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut and a B.S. in kinesiology from Indiana University.

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Can Soil Microbes Protect Plants from Herbivore Attack?

Science Communication Lab 2022-04-05 | http://www.iBiology.org

Unlike most animals, plants don’t have the option to run away when something is trying to eat them. Instead, they develop all kinds of chemical and structural defenses. But these defenses can be energetically costly, and plants’ ability to defend themselves can change over time and with the environment. In her Share Your Research Talk, Dr. Mia Howard discusses how soil microbes can influence defensive traits in goldenrod (Solidago altissima) at various stages of succession. Her work reveals that microbial communities from late succession soils can increase plant resistance to herbivory, and may even make plants less vulnerable to pests.

0:00 Introduction
1:08 Plant Defenses
4:05 Defenses and Succession
6:08 How does the herbivore resistance of a single plant species change over succession?
9:47 How are goldenrods becoming more resistant over succession?
11:42 Characterizing microbial communities
14:49 Microbiome transplant experiment
17:57 Summary

Speaker Biography: Mia Howard is an ecologist interested in soil microbes and plant-herbivore interactions. She completed her doctoral research at Cornell University, where she studied the chemical ecology of plant-microbe-insect interactions in native goldenrod (Solidago altissima), and is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Indiana University.

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Chromosome mis-segregation in inviable Xenopus hybrids

Science Communication Lab 2022-03-29 | http://www.iBiology.org

When we think of what makes two species distinct, we often think of their ability (or inability) to produce viable offspring. But is there anything we can learn from inviable offspring? In this Share Your Research talk, Maiko Kitaoka discusses her work on closely related Xenopus frogs. She reveals how examining hybridization between these species at the cellular level can provide insight into only the mechanisms that restrict cell division and development, but also broader patterns of how new species are able to evolve.

0:00 Introduction
1:40 Cell Division and Evolution
3:00 Hybridization
4:30 What failures arise in cell division due to hybridization?
9:50 Mismatches between maternal and paternal proteins
15:45 Ultra-thin chromosomes
18:45 Summary

Speaker Biography: Maiko Kitaoka is a PhD candidate in the Heald Lab in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Broadly interested in what the cell cycle and cell division reveal about developmental and evolutionary biology, she uses three different Xenopus frog species to study spindle morphometrics and the mechanisms driving hybrid incompatibility and chromosome mis-segregation. Maiko received a B.S. in biology with a minor in French in 2016 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Can we save coral reefs from extinction? | Corals: On the Brink

Science Communication Lab 2022-03-22 | http://www.iBiology.org

Coral reefs are truly magnificent ecosystems that support an abundance of marine life. Sadly, #climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs. As oceans warm, corals experience heat stress and become “bleached” as a result of the algae expelling from their tissues. Can we use modern genetic tools, like #CRISPR -Cas9, as a way to help us understand coral #biology and perhaps make corals more adaptive to climate change?

Speaker Biographies:

Line K Bay, PhD is a biologist with a passion for biodiversity, conservation and coral reefs. She is Team Leader of the Reef Recovery, Adaptation, and Restoration team and a Principal Research Scientist and Sub Program leader of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Her research group uses field and laboratory-based experiments to study how environmental and genetic factors affect the health and stress tolerance of reef-building corals and their symbionts. Line is an enthusiastic science communicator and is particularly interested in the translation of scientific knowledge to natural resource managers, policy makers and the general public. Dr. Bay received a PhD in population genetics from James Cook University (JCU), and did a post-doc with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at AIMS for which she was awarded a Queensland Smart State Fellowship.

Ryan Phelan is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Revive & Restore, with a mission to enhance biodiversity through the genetic rescue of endangered and extinct species. Ryan works with some of the world’s leading molecular biologists, conservation biologists, and conservation organizations to develop pioneering genetic rescue projects using cutting-edge genomic technologies to solve previously intractable wildlife conservation challenges such as those posed by inbreeding, exotic diseases, climate change, and destructive invasive species. She organized a landmark workshop on genetic rescue at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress, and acted as a principal investigator for the 2015 IUCN- and Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Bellagio Conference on Biodiversity Conservation in the Context of Synthetic Biology.

Credits:
Executive Producers: Elliot Kirschner, Sarah Goodwin
Producers: Regina Sobel, Shannon Behrman
Cinematographers: Jimmy Purtill, Dean Miller, Derek Reich
Editor: Regina Sobel
Interviews: Adam Bolt
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Music: Marcus Bagala, Keegan DeWitt

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

An Update on the War on Cancer: Finding the Spies that Help Tumors Grow

Science Communication Lab 2022-03-15 | http://www.iBiology.org

The National Cancer Act was signed into law in 1971, declaring a “War on Cancer.” While cancer deaths have declined remarkably since then due to major advances in therapies, we are still far from eliminating cancer altogether. In her Share Your Research talk, Christina Cho discusses how we could make further progress in our fight against cancer by learning more about the tumor microenvironment and the role of the immune system on tumor growth. Her work focuses on the complicated functions associated with cancer-associated fibroblasts, which can both help and harm cancer cells.

0:00 Introduction
2:30 What about those who do not survive cancer?
3:56 The tumor microenvironment
5:01 What is the role of non-immune normal cells?
7:00 How can we target cancer-associated fibroblasts?
10:55 Blocking pathways in cancer growth
14:40 Correlation vs causation
18:00 Summary

Speaker Biography: Christina Cho is a cancer biologist focused on tumor immune evasion, immunotherapy, and immuno-oncology. Her work focuses on how the tumor microenvironment and immune responses influence the progression of cancer. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and Ph.D. from Albany Medical College, Christina began her postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a postdoctoral associate in immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine. Follow her on Twitter @ChochrPhD

Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Amrita A. Iyer (Baylor): Reprogramming in the Inner Ear: A Promising Path to Restore Hearing

Science Communication Lab 2022-03-08 | http://www.iBiology.org

Hearing loss, caused by the death of hair cells in the inner ear, is the third most common public health issue in the United States. Currently, there are no therapeutic strategies to restore hearing. In her thesis research, Dr. Amrita A. Iyer investigated the possibility of regenerating functional hair cells by reprogramming non-hair cells of the mouse inner ear. She found that overexpression of a single transcription factor, ATOH1, can successfully reprogram non-sensory cells into hair cells with typical characteristics in neonatal mice. However, a combination of three transcription factors - ATOH1, GFI1, and POU4F3 - was required to reprogram inner hair cells in 1-week old mice. Her findings provide a window into the developmental and gene expression requirements for regeneration of inner ear hair cells in mammals, and may inform future therapeutic strategies for hearing loss in humans.

Speaker Biography: Dr. Amrita A. Iyer grew up in Bangalore in a home atmosphere that instilled in her a love for science and maths. After completing her schooling at Sri Kumaran Childrens Home (CBSE), she went on to pursue B.Tech in Biotechnology from VIT, Vellore. During the summer holidays of her bachelors, she did an industrial internship at Biocon, and a research internship at NIMHANS. Next, she did her Masters (by research) in Biological sciences from IIT Madras. After completing her masters, she came to the US in 2016 to pursue a doctoral degree in Molecular and Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

CRISPR, Climate Change, & Forest Health Panel

Science Communication Lab 2022-03-04 | On February 3, 2022, Science Communication Lab (iBiology) hosted a live panel discussion with Jason Delborne, Doria Gordon, Sofia Valenzuela Aguila, and Jack Wang. In this conversation, SCL producer Rosa Veguilla asked the speakers some unanswered questions from our Future of Forest film series: Can we and should we use CRISPR in the natural forest to combat climate change, and if so, what might that look like?

Find the Future of Forest films series here: ibiology.org/ecology/future-of-forests
Check out our other films and videos here: http://www.iBiology.org

#science #biotechnology #conservation

Tshaka Cunningham: Finding Faith in Science

Science Communication Lab 2022-02-28 | http://www.iBiology.org

Tshaka Cunningham, Ph.D., is a molecular #biologist and a Black man of faith. In this short film, the Science Communication Lab explores Cunningham’s personal and professional identities, and how they unite to help him promote community health through personal genomics.

Speaker Biography: Dr. Tshaka Cunningham received his PhD in molecular biology from Rockefeller University and completed postdoctoral training at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. He is the co-founder and CSO of Polaris Genomics, a precision behavioral health company. Dr. Cunningham is a leading advocate for diversity and representation in genomics and is Executive Director of the Faith-Based Genetic Research Institute.

Credits:
Executive Producers: Elliot Kirschner, Sarah Goodwin, Shannon Behrman
Producers: Regina Sobel, Brittany Anderton, Meredith DeSalazar
Cinematographers: Derek Reich, Alexis Keenan, Jimmy Purtill, Ryan Maslyn, Josh Weinhaus, Amanda McGrady
Editor: Elizabeth Brooke
Interviews: Adam Bolt
Graphics: Chris George, Maggie Hubbard
Music: Marcus Bagala
Sound: Jonathan Cohen

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2022 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#research #cancer

Saving The American Chestnut: A Climate Case Study

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-21 | Join us for a panel on "Saving the American Chestnut" on Feb 3rd at 12pm PT. During the panel, you will have the opportunity to ask questions of all the scientists featured in the film: Sofia Valenzuela Aguila, Jason Delborne, Doria Gordon, and Jack Wang.

Registration is open: ucsf.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nUCHPqA0QMe5AWpW7iUpKg

sciencecommunicationlab.org

In this short film, we explore the complicated question of using #biotechnology to make forests more resistant to #climatechange . We look to the story of the American Chestnut as an example of how scientists are trying to bring a once-abundant tree back from near extinction through genetic engineering. We also consider the budding genome-editing technology #CRISPR Cas-9 as a more precise tool with great promise but also great uncertainty. Can we do it and should we do it? This short film is the second video of a 2-part series called “The Future of Forests" (ibiology.org/ecology/future-of-forests/).

Speaker Biographies:
Jason Delborne, Ph.D - Professor of Science, Policy and Society - North Carolina State University

Doria Gordon, Ph.D - Lead Senior Scientist - Environmental Defense Fund

Sofia Valenzuela Aguila, Ph.D - Professor of Forest Genomics - University of Concepción, Chile

Jack Wang, Ph.D - Assistant Professor and Director of the Forest Biotech Group - North Carolina State University

Credits:
Executive Producers:
Sarah Goodwin
Elliot Kirschner
Shannon Behrman

Producers:
Rosa Veguilla
Kevin McLean
Nona Griffin

Editors:
Rebecca Ellsworth
Nona Griffin

Videographers:
Derek Reich
Eric Kornblum

Design and Graphics
Chris George
Maggie Hubbard

Session 2: Start at the End

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-16 | Talk overview:
As you get closer to the finish line and prepare to complete your PhD, there’s one critical question that many trainees wrestle with. Should I do a postdoc? In this session, you will learn to define your career goals, understand how they can help you answer this critical question, and identify what type of postdoc would be best for you.

This session is part of the ‘The Strategic Postdoc’ course, created by the NIH-funded Yale Ciencia Academy in collaboration with iBiology.

Link to full session:
ibiology.org/professional-development/start-at-the-end

Speaker biography:
Dr. Laurence Clement is a Senior Manager at Genentech. She holds a PhD in Endocrinology and Cell Interactions from the Université Paris-Sud, France. Laurence was an international postdoctoral fellow at UCSF and briefly worked with a biotechnology company as a postdoc. From 2015 to 2017, she was the Principal Investigator on a Burroughs Wellcome award which focused on refining, evaluating, and disseminating a career readiness tool for research trainees (the Academic Career Readiness Assessment). She joined the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her role as Program Director at UCSF involved developing and teaching courses and workshops to prepare research trainees for academic careers at both research- and teaching-intensive institutions. In 2021, she joined Genentech as a Senior Manager in the Knowledge Development in Early Clinical Development department.

Credits:
Mónica Feliú-Mójer (iBiology): Producer
Rosa Veguilla (iBiology): Producer & Curriculum Developer
Titilayo Omotade (Yale Ciencia Academy): Curriculum Developer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Session 3: Build a Game Plan

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-16 | Talk overview: Once you have decided to do a postdoc, you need to create a game plan to find it! In this session, you will learn how to create a plan that leads you to your ideal postdoc: one that is aligned with your compass (needs, preferences, and values; from Session 1) and is customized to make you competitive and qualified to achieve your ultimate career goal.

This session is part of the ‘The Strategic Postdoc’ course, created by the NIH-funded Yale Ciencia Academy in collaboration with iBiology.

Link to the full session: ibiology.org/professional-development/build-a-game-plan

Speaker biography:
Dr. Laurence Clement is a Senior Manager at Genentech. She holds a PhD in Endocrinology and Cell Interactions from the Université Paris-Sud, France. Laurence was an international postdoctoral fellow at UCSF and briefly worked with a biotechnology company as a postdoc. From 2015 to 2017, she was the Principal Investigator on a Burroughs Wellcome award which focused on refining, evaluating, and disseminating a career readiness tool for research trainees (the Academic Career Readiness Assessment). She joined the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her role as Program Director at UCSF involved developing and teaching courses and workshops to prepare research trainees for academic careers at both research- and teaching-intensive institutions. In 2021, she joined Genentech as a Senior Manager in the Knowledge Development in Early Clinical Development department.

Credits:
Mónica Feliú-Mójer (iBiology): Producer
Rosa Veguilla (iBiology): Producer & Curriculum Developer
Titilayo Omotade (Yale Ciencia Academy): Curriculum Developer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Session 4: Prepare to Leave your PhD

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-16 | Talk Overview: Leaving isn’t easy. As you prepare to complete your PhD, crossing the finish line may be more complicated than you anticipated. The two big questions are: When should I leave? and How should I leave? In this session, you will learn how to create a good exit strategy; identify and navigate role conflicts with your research mentor or principal investigator; and negotiate and apply effective strategies to transition smoothly from your PhD into your postdoc.

This session is part of the ‘The Strategic Postdoc’ course, created by the NIH-funded Yale Ciencia Academy in collaboration with iBiology.

Link to the full session: ibiology.org/professional-development/prepare-to-leave-your-phd

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Laurence Clement a Senior Manager at Genentech. She holds a PhD in Endocrinology and Cell Interactions from the Université Paris-Sud, France. Laurence was an international postdoctoral fellow at UCSF and briefly worked with a biotechnology company as a postdoc. From 2015 to 2017, she was the Principal Investigator on a Burroughs Wellcome award which focused on refining, evaluating, and disseminating a career readiness tool for research trainees (the Academic Career Readiness Assessment). She joined the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her role as Program Director at UCSF involved developing and teaching courses and workshops to prepare research trainees for academic careers at both research- and teaching-intensive institutions. In 2021, she joined Genentech as a Senior Manager in the Knowledge Development in Early Clinical Development department.

Credits:
Mónica Feliú-Mójer (iBiology): Producer
Rosa Veguilla (iBiology): Producer & Curriculum Developer
Titilayo Omotade (Yale Ciencia Academy): Curriculum Developer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Session 1: Acknowledge Your Needs, Preferences, and Values

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-16 | Talk overview:
Transitioning from your PhD into a postdoc position can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. How do you make the process less stressful and more strategic? What factors should you take into consideration? In this session, you will learn how to identify and leverage your needs, preferences, and values (NPVs) to find a lab and research mentor that align with your NPVs and your career goals. You will also learn about the different roles that a principal investigator juggles, how these may affect your PhD to postdoc transition, and how to navigate potential role conflicts that may arise.

This session is part of the ‘The Strategic Postdoc’ course, created by the NIH-funded Yale Ciencia Academy in collaboration with iBiology.

Link to full session:
ibiology.org/professional-development/acknowledge-your-needs-preferences-and-values

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:25 What is a strategic postdoc?
4:52 What is a good fit?
12:57 Evaluate your needs, preferences, and values
17:40 Negotiation: Evaluate PI’s needs, preferences, and values
22:37 Finding the right PI is KEY!
30:52 Power differential between you and your PI
37:35 Next steps

Speaker Biography:
Naledi Saul is the Director of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She holds a Master of Public Management degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Spelman College. Prior to UCSF, Naledi was an Assistant Dean of Students and Assistant Director of the Career Center at Amherst College and an Assistant Director of the Career Development Center at Mount Holyoke College. In her role at UCSF, she leads the University's efforts to teach clinicians- and scientists-in-training the information, skills, and confidence required to navigate their careers successfully. The essential thread throughout her work is the focus on strengthening clinicians' and scientists' ability to make decisions and develop strategies informed by their own definitions of professional integrity and personal identity.

Credits:
Mónica Feliú-Mójer (iBiology and Yale Ciencia Academy): Producer
Rosa Veguilla (iBiology and Yale Ciencia Academy): Producer & Curriculum Developer
Titilayo Omotade (Yale Ciencia Academy): Curriculum Developer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Eric Kornblum: Videographer
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Mohamed El-Brolosy (Harvard University): Adapting to Mutations: How to Cope with Nonsense

Science Communication Lab 2022-01-13 | http://www.iBiology.org

Some people harbor deleterious mutations in disease-relevant genes, yet they are completely healthy. How are scientists trying to understand these so-called ‘genetic superheros’? In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Mohamed El-Brolosy describes his thesis research in the model organism zebrafish. Dr. El-Brolosy found that genetic compensation to deleterious mutations relies on degradation of the mutant mRNA, which triggers upregulation of compensatory genes in a homology-dependent manner. These findings can inform strategies to better understand and treat genetic diseases, many of which have limited therapeutic options.

0:00-4:46 Genetic superheroes and transcriptional adaptation
4:47-10:38 Transcriptional adaptation is associated with RNA decay
10:38-14:37 RNA-less mutants do not exhibit transcriptional adaptation
14:38-20:23 RNA decay is linked to homology-dependent genetic compensation
20:23 Implications for human genetics

Speaker Biography: Dr. Mohamed El-Brolosy researches genetic compensation and how organisms adapt to mutations, and has authored numerous highly cited papers on the subject. He performed this thesis research with Dr. Didier Stainier at the Max Planck Institute for Heart & Lung Research. He is currently a junior fellow at the Harvard society of fellows. Follow him on Twitter: @MohamedBrolosy

Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Luz Cumba García (Mayo Clinic): Decoding Brain Tumors with Extracellular Vesicles

Science Communication Lab 2021-12-08 | http://www.iBiology.org

Solid tumors, such as those in the brain, can be deadly when they expand or spread to other parts of the body. Before they spread, tumors send out molecular messages within small membranous structures known as extracellular vesicles (EVs). The proteins and small non-coding RNAs inside EVs can help tumors evade the immune system and seed new sites of growth. In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Luz Cumba García describes her thesis research on extracellular vesicles released by aggressive brain cancers called glioblastoma. Dr. Cumba García’s work helps scientists understand the EV profiles of different glioma subtypes, as well as how the messages inside EVs help them shut off the immune system.

0:00-3:47 Introduction: The challenges of glioblastoma
3:48-5:44 Extracellular vesicles as diagnostic and treatment biomarkers
5:45-12:14 Analyzing small EVs from GBM patients
12:14-16:03 Decoding immune signals in GBM EVs
16:04-18:27 Future applications: miRNA and protein profiling
18:28 Conclusions

Speaker Biography: Dr. Luz M. Cumba García is an immunologist with 13 years of experience working at the intersection of immunology, public policy, and diplomacy. Luz is currently a policy advisor at the government relations firm Lewis-Burke, LLC, where she leverages her biomedical research background to bolster issue expertise of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Luz is a proud Puerto Rican! She recently earned her Ph.D. in Immunology from Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Rochester, MN. Her thesis dissertation focused on analyzing small particles in the blood called “extracellular vesicles” shed from glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors as “liquid biopsies” to predict tumor growth and monitor treatment outcome.

Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Paige Greenwood (U. Cincinnati): Maternal Impacts on the Developing Brain and Reading Outcomes

Science Communication Lab 2021-11-17 | http://www.ibiology.org

In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Paige Greenwood describes her research on the association between maternal reading ability and child language development.

Talk Overview:
In order to succeed in kindergarten and beyond, children must develop language skills within their home reading environment. This environment is often influenced by the reading ability of a child’s caregivers. In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Paige Greenwood describes her doctoral research on the association between maternal reading ability and the development of the language brain network in children. Her work showed that lower maternal reading fluency is associated with higher language network connectivity to brain regions involved in cognitive control and semantics in children. These data suggest that if there is lower frequency or quality of engagement in the home reading environment, children’s brains may overcompensate to meet their language development needs.

0:00-3:57 Introduction: Reading difficulties in children
3:58-8:03 Reading and the developing brain
8:04-15:49 The effects of maternal reading ability on child language development
15:50-17:29 Summary & next steps
17:30 Home literacy: advocacy and best practices

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Paige Greenwood received her PhD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Greenwood is now a postdoctoral research fellow at Columbia University Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Credits:
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor
Jiefei Yuan (iBiology): Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Chrystelle Vilfranc (U. Cincinnati): Who Protects the Liver When it Faces Disease?

Science Communication Lab 2021-11-10 | www.iBiology.org

In this Share Your Research video, Dr. Chrystelle Vilfranc describes her graduate research on BRUCE, a protein that is protective against liver disease.

Chronic liver diseases affect millions of people worldwide. By understanding how liver disease progresses, we may be able to identify new therapies that can protect the liver. Dr. Chrystelle Vilfranc studied the role of BRUCE, a protein that is known to be important in several cellular processes in our bodies, in liver disease. She found that the absence of BRUCE in mouse livers led to accelerated liver disease and higher rates of liver cancer when combined with a liver damaging compound. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinomas that develop in the absence of BRUCE in the liver appear to have increased β-catenin activity. Loss of BRUCE may be a marker of early liver disease in humans, and rescuing BRUCE expression or activity may help stop or reverse disease in the liver.

0:00-3:57 Introduction
3:58-8:16 What happens when we lose BRUCE in the liver?
8:17-13:00 Acute injury in BRUCE-deficient livers
13:01-19:57 Chronic injury and tumor formation in BRUCE-deficient livers
19:58-23:23 Who else contributes to HCC development in BRUCE-deficient livers?
23:24-25:50 Summary & conclusions

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Chrystelle Vilfranc received her PhD in Cancer and Cell Biology from the University of Cincinnati. After graduating, she was a 2021 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at the Indianapolis Star. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia Mailman School of Health, investigating cancer-related population sciences.

Credits:
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer, editor
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Alyssa Adams (UW-Madison): Using math to understand and define life

Science Communication Lab 2021-11-03 | www.iBiology.org

In this Share Your Research video, Dr. Alyssa Adams shares their work to develop a mathematical understanding of open-ended evolution.

Is it possible to define life using math? Dr. Alyssa Adams’s research seeks to answer precisely this question. In their Share Your Research talk, Dr. Adams introduces the concept of open-ended evolution, and describes how they have developed mathematical models to help us understand how biological systems can innovate within a changing environment. These studies could help us to identify living systems beyond our planet that may be vastly different from those we recognize on Earth!

0:00-4:10 How do we define life?
4:10-7:59 Mathematical definitions of evolution
8:00-16:51 Challenges to modeling biological evolution
16:52-19:55 A new approach to modeling evolution
19:56-23:07 Conclusion and next steps

Speaker Biography:
Alyssa Adams got their PhD in Physics at Arizona State University, where they studied the difference between living systems and non-living ones. Alyssa is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Morgridge Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where they study interactions between viruses and hosts they infect. These interactions might help us understand how biological entities co-evolve and together drive new innovative processes.

Credits:
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer and Editor
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

Alexa Sadier (UCLA): Bat Vision Evolution

Science Communication Lab 2021-10-27 | www.iBiology.org

In this Share Your Research talk, Dr. Alexa Sadier describes how she studied bat retinas from field and museum specimens to understand the evolution of bat vision.

Bat species are numerous and diverse, and are found in nearly every corner of the globe. Therefore, they serve as a valuable system to study the evolution of mammalian traits. Dr. Alexa Sadier collected field and museum samples from over 50 species of bats to ask how color vision evolved in this unique group of mammals. By looking at gene expression at multiple levels - DNA, RNA, and protein - Sadier determined that different bat species have color vision capabilities adapted to their diets, and UV vision has been lost independently in multiple species through regulation of all levels of gene expression. By “catching” evolution in action, Sadier’s research has revealed important insights into the mechanisms of evolution through trait loss.

0:00 - 5:58 Introduction
5:59 - 14:32 Research Questions & Approach
14:33 - 22:03 Research Findings
22:04 - 28:39 Research Summary + Conclusions

Speaker Biography:
Alexa Sadier received her PhD in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Lyon, France. She performed postdoctoral research with Karen Sears at UCLA. Sadier’s research focuses on the genomic, developmental, and ecological basis of the evolutionary diversification of sensory systems and teeth in bats.

alexasadier.com

Credits:
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer, editor
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Chris George (iBiology): Graphics
Maggie Hubbard (iBiology): Graphics

A Walk in the Woods: After the Flames

Science Communication Lab 2021-10-20 | ibiology.org/plant-biology/california-redwoods-fire

What does a redwood forest look like, and sound like, in the wake of a devastating fire? See a #forest in a new way in this new cinematic short from the Science Communication Lab's Wonder Collaborative and iBiology. Walk through a fire-ravaged #redwood forest with experts Beatrix Jiménez, a Land Stewardship Associate at the Sempervirens Fund, Ian Bornarth, a Bay Area-based photographer documenting post-fire recovery, and Alex Jones, the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve Manager. Their observations make visible the forces of destruction and regrowth throughout the redwoods ecosystem.

Speaker Biographies:
Beatrix Jiménez Land Stewardship Associate with the Sempervirens Fund, providing management and on-the-ground support for the various lands overseen by the Sempervirens Fund. She has experience in environmental construction and remediation, as well as environmental compliance throughout California. Beatrix holds a B.A. in Biology (CCS) and a minor in Earth Science from UC Santa Barbara.

Ian Bornarth is a Bay Area-based nature and travel photographer. He has been collaborating with the Sempervirens Fund to document the regrowth of the forest after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires. Ian holds a B.S. in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology and a M.F.A. in photography from the University of Hartford. He has held faculty positions at The Art Institute of California, Hartford Art School, and Quinnipiac University.

Alex Jones is the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve Manager and supports education, research, and stewardship activities on campus natural lands. He brings his passion for natural history, ecology, and stewardship to UCSC students through undergraduate course field trips, internships, and volunteer opportunities. Alex has been environmental educator for over 20 years, and holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from UC Santa Cruz.

Credits:
Elliot Kirschner: Executive Producer
Sarah Goodwin: Executive Producer
Ian Cheney: Director
Rebecca Ellsworth: Editor
Derek Reich: Cinematographer
Andrew Oedel: Sound Design
Shannon Behrman: Senior Producer
Kevin McLean: Producer
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Special thanks to the Sempervirens Fund
Funding provided by the Lasker Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, National Science Foundation

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

#climatechange

Alex Moore (Princeton, AMNH): Restoration Ecology in Coastal Wetland Ecosystems

Science Communication Lab 2021-10-06 | ibiology.org/ecology/coastal-wetland

Dr. Alex Moore provides an introduction to coastal wetlands, including the functional role they play in our world, as well as the many ways that these ecosystems are used for economic and recreational activities.

Dr. Moore discusses the traditional approach to restoring coastal wetlands, and the ways that these efforts can fall short of restoring functional capacity in coastal salt marshes. Incorporating consumer interactions into restoration efforts may provide an opportunity to further improve wetland restoration. Moore finishes with a brief overview of work currently underway in coastal mangroves, another important wetland ecosystem.

0:00 Introduction
1:35 Wetland loss and value
2:51 Traditional restoration
3:51 Consumer interactions
5:14 Salt marsh food web
6:40 Experimental design and results
10:56 Beyond salt marsh ecosystems
12:38 Entering a new space as a researcher

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Alex Moore earned a Ph.D. in Forestry and Environmental Studies from the Yale School of the Environment. Dr. Moore was awarded an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and continued postdoctoral training at the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University. In Fall 2022, Alex will join the Department of Botany and Forest & Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia as an Assistant Professor.

Credits:
Sarah Goodwin (SCL): Executive Producer
Elliot Kirschner (SCL): Executive Producer
Shannon Behrman (iBiology): Producer
Kevin McLean (iBiology): Producer, Editor
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
© 2007-2021 Science Communication Lab™. All rights reserved.

Dipti Nayak (UC Berkeley) 2: Mysteries of the Methanogens

Science Communication Lab 2021-09-15 | ibiology.org/microbiology/archaea

In her second video, Nayak describes research she has done on methanogenic archaea - microorganisms that produce the potent greenhouse gas methane. One species of methanogens, Methanosarcina acetivorans, has unique chemical modifications on the enzyme it uses to produce methane. Dr. Nayak describes how she used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to determine that these modifications are used to protect M. acetivorans from environmental stress to ensure that the organism can support its metabolic needs in a changing environment.

0:00 Introduction
2:50 Investigating Methanosarcina enzyme function
9:12: The future of archaea research

Speaker Biography:
Dipti Nayak received her PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University in 2014. She performed postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois, where she studied the physiology and evolution of methanogenic archaea. The Nayak lab at UC Berkeley employs genetic, genomic, and biochemical tools to study the physiology, metabolism, evolution, and cell biology of methanogenic archaea.

https://mcb.berkeley.edu/faculty/ggd/nayakd

Credits:
Elliot Kirschner (SCL): Executive Producer
Sarah Goodwin (SCL): Executive Producer
Shannon Behrman (iBiology): Executive Producer
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Editor, Videographer
Derek Reich (ZooPrax Productions): Videographer
Adam Bolt (The Edit Center): Editor
Rebecca Ellsworth (iBiology): Editor

The Future of Forests

Science Communication Lab 2021-09-01 | Watch Part 2: Saving The American Chestnut: A Case Study
youtube.com/watch?v=oHk4tbfxiZs&t=20s

http://www.iBiology.org

What is the future of forests? Will they survive the threats of #climatechange ? Four researchers ponder these questions, and leave us thinking more deeply about how we can make our forests more resilient.

0:00 Forest health + climate change
5:20 Pine beetle
6:40 Every tool in the box
8:05 Biotechnology as a tool

Speaker Biographies:
Jason Delborne, Ph.D - Professor of Science, Policy and Society - North Carolina State University

Doria Gordon, Ph.D - Lead Senior Scientist - Environmental Defense Fund

Sofia Valenzuela Aguila, Ph.D - Professor of Forest Genomics - University of Concepción, Chile

Jack Wang, Ph.D - Assistant Professor and Director of the Forest Biotech Group - North Carolina State University

Credits:
Elliot Kirschner (Wonder Collaborative): Executive Producer
Shannon Behrman (iBiology): Executive Producer
Rosa Veguilla (iBiology): Producer
Nona Griffin: Producer, Editor
Rebecca Ellsworth: Editor
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer
Chris George: Design and Graphics
Maggie Hubbard: Design and Graphics

#science #conservation

Laci Gerhart-Barley (UCD): Educational science videos: Paper discussion and Q&A

Science Communication Lab 2021-07-28 | ibiology.org/ecology/educational-science-videos

Dr. Laci Gerhart-Barley and Dr. Brittany Anderton present their study on using educational science videos in an ecology and evolution course.

Educational science videos are commonly used in undergraduate biology instruction, but what do we know about the student perspective on them? In this paper discussion and live Q&A, Dr. Laci Gerhart-Barley and Dr. Brittany Anderton present findings from their open-access paper “Engaging students through online video homework assignments: A case study in a large-enrollment ecology and evolution course.” Undergraduate biology educators will find a wealth of useful information on how to effectively implement science videos in homework assignments, develop assessment questions, and use the content in educational science videos to promote student engagement and learning of the process of science.

0:00 Introduction
2:01 Paper Discussion
36:45 Audience Q&A

Speaker Biography:
Laci Gerhart-Barley is an Assistant Professor of Teaching (LPSOE) in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at UC Davis. She received her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Kansas, and has taught introductory biology and botany at the University of Hawai’i. At UC Davis, Dr. Gerhart-Barley studies the role of educational technology in large-enrollment STEM courses, with a focus on the impacts and perceptions of lecture capture technology.

Credits:
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Editor

Kate Adamala (U of M) 2: Synthetic Cells: Building Life to Understand It

Science Communication Lab 2021-07-21 | ibiology.org/bioengineering/synthetic-cells

Dr. Kate Adamala describes what synthetic cells are and how they can teach us the fundamental principles of life.

Life on Earth evolved once - this means that all biological systems on our planet are rooted in the same fundamental framework. This framework is extremely complex and we have yet to fully understand the processes inside each living cell. One way of understanding complex systems is to break them down into simpler parts. This is the principle of engineering the synthetic cell: to use our current knowledge of biology for building a living cell with the least amount of parts and complexity. Synthetic cells can be used to teach us about the basic principles of life and evolution, and they hold promise for a range of applications including biomaterials and drug development. Dr. Kate Adamala narrates an introduction to this exciting field.

0:00 Introduction
2:17 What are the advantages of the bottom-up approach?
6:19 How can we support synthetic cell research?

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Kate Adamala is a synthetic biologist and a McKnight Land-Grant Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include astrobiology, synthetic cell engineering and biocomputing. Adamala is a co-founder and steering group member of the international Build-a-Cell Initiative, which seeks to broaden the impact of synthetic cell engineering. Find more information on Adamala’s lab at:
http://www.protobiology.org

Credits:
Brittany Anderton (iBiology): Producer
Eric Kornblum (iBiology): Videographer and Editor
Kate Adamala (UMN): Graphics and Narration