Breaking Bad Science

As ice cream sales increase, so does the rate of shark attacks! Correlation of evidence is the practice scientists use to develop an understanding of causation, but would you believe that one of the worst mistakes we scientists make is being convinced that correlation implies causation. Sometimes two things that correlate have no direct link to each other at all. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as they discuss the differences between correlation and causation and how to interpret them.

Stephanie; Spurious Correlation: Examples from Real Life and the News. Statistics How To. 03-Mar-2016. https://www.statisticshowto.com/spurious-correlation/

Walters, J.; Nutrition experts alarmed by nonprofit downplaying role of junk food in obesity. The Guardian. 11-Aug-2015. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/11/obesity-junk-food-exercise-global-energy-balance-network-coca-cola

Ashmead, R. and Slud, E. Small area model diagnostics and validation with applications to the Voting Rights Act Section 203, Proceedings of Survey Research Methods Section, American Statistical Association, Alexandria, VA. 2017. http://www.asasrms.org/Proceedings/y2017/files/593899.pdf

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Is Gattaca becoming reality? Can tobacco be a night light? Is there any chance Danny can pronounce He Jiankui correctly? Some of these are certainly more likely than others. While genetic engineering continues to take hold of the forefront of scientific and medical advancement, it is becoming more and more important for everyone to understand the implications. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as they discuss what genetic engineering is, where it started, it’s perception, what the future may hold for this technology, and what that can mean for you on the next episode of Breaking Bad Science.

Rabin, R.C., et. al..; Two Huge Covid-19 Studies are Retracted After Scientists Sound Alarms. New York Times. 04-Jun-2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/health/coronavirus-hydroxychloroquine.html

Joseph, A., Lancet, New England Journal Retract Covid-19 Studies, Including One That Raised Safety Concerns About Malaria Drugs. Stat News Health. 04-June-2020. https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/04/lancet-retracts-major-covid-19-paper-that-raised-safety-concerns-about-malaria-drugs/

Lorsey, J., et. al.., Carter, M.; Transgenic Pollen Harms Monarch Larvae. Nature. 399: 214. 20-May-1999. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/20338

Sears, M., et. al..; Impact of Bt Corn Pollen on Monarch Butterfly Populations: A Risk Assessment. PNAS. 98:21 (11937 - 11942). 09-Oct-2001. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.211329998

Beyer, P., et. al..; Golden Rice: Introducing the 𝞫-Carotene Biosynthesis Pathway Into Rice Endosperm by Genetic Engineering to Defeat Vitamin A Deficiency. The Journal of Nutrition. 132:3 (506S - 510S). 01-Mar-2002. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/132.3.506S

Funke, T., et. al..; Molecular Basis for the Herbicide Resistance of Roundup Ready Crops. PNAS. 103:35 (13010 - 13015). 29-Aug-2006. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0603638103

Schmeck Jr., H.; Tobacco Plant With Firefly Gene Implant Grows. New York Times. A12. 07-Nov-1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/07/us/tobacco-plant-with-firefly-gene-implant-grows.html

Abdel-Aal, et. al.; Compsitional and Nutritional Characteristics of Spring Einkorn and Spelt Wheats. Cereal Chemistry. 72:6 (621 - 624). 23-Jan-1995.

Shewry, P., et. al.; Do “Ancient” Wheat Species Differ from Modern Bread Wheat in Their Contents of Bioactive Components. Journal of Cereal Science. 65: (236 - 243). Sep-2015. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2015.07.014

Cohen, J.; Did CRISPR Help-or Harm-the First-Ever Gene-Edited Babies. Science Magazine. 01-Aug-2019. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/08/did-crispr-help-or-harm-first-ever-gene-edited-babies

Zhang, F., et. al.; CRISPR/Cas9 for Genome Editing: Progress, Implications, and Challenges. Human Molecular Genetics. 23:R1 (R40 - R46). 15-Sep-2014. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddu125

Yin, H., et. al.; CRISPR-Cas: A Tool for Cancer Research and Therapeutics. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology. 16: (281 - 295). 21-Jan-2019. Doi:

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The Asian giant hornet showed up in the media and spread like wildfire. We talk about what it is, why it's confused with the Asian hornet and how did that cause such a convoluted story? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as they discuss these creatures, what they are, why there was so much confusion around them, and what the general population needs to do about them.


References
Monceau, K., Bonnar, O., Thiery, D.; Vespa Valutina: A New Invasive Predator of Honeybees in Europe. Journal of Pest Science. 2014: 87 (1 - 16).
Animal and Plant Health inspection Service. New Pest Response Guidelines Vespa Mandarinia Asian Giant Hornet. US Department of Agriculture. 10-Feb-2020. 
Japanese Ministry of Health and Labor. Bee Sting and Fatal Accident. 28-Nov-2019. 
Schmidt, J.O., Yamane, S., Matsuura, M., Starr, C.K.; Hornet Venoms: Lethalities and Lethal Capacities. Toxicon. 1986. 24:9 (950 - 954). DOI: 10.1016/0041-0101(86)90096-6
Lioy, S., Bianchi, E., Biglia, A., Bessone, M., Laurino, D., Porporato, M., Viability of Thermal Imaging in Detecting Nests of the Invasive Hornet Vespa Velutina. Insect Science. 03-Feb-2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12760
Tan, K., Dong, S., Li, X., Liu, X., Wang, C., Li, J., Nieh, J.;Honey Bee Inhibitory Signaling is Tuned to Threat Severity and Can Act as a Colony Alarm Signal. PLOS Biology. 25-Mar-2016. 14:3 doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002423
Ruzycki, J., Beauchamp, D., Yule, D.; Effects of Introduced Lake Trout on Native Cutthroat Trout in Yellowstone Lake. Ecological Applications. 01-Feb-2003. 13:1 doi:https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2003)013[0023:EOILTO]2.0.CO;2
Weinberger, H.; What You Should Know About Washington's Murder Hornets. Environment. 06-May-2020. https://crosscut.com/2020/05/what-you-should-know-about-washingtons-murder-hornets

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Hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 had a quick rise and fall of prominence in the media in early 2020. Scientists started their research and pushed to move what we know about the virus and this treatment as fast as possible. While there's nothing wrong with the concept, the access to this information led to mass confusion and conclusions that somehow seemed to be polar opposites confounded by political biases. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as they break down how this research came out and what led to the confusion associated with this treatment.

References
Gbinigie, K., Frie, K.; Should Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine be Used to Treat COVID-19? A Rapid Review. British Journal of General Practice. 07-Apr-2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen20X101069

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Breaking Bad Science is about assessing the state of scientific literature and the downfall of the peer review system in a very real and relatable manner. As the spread of misinformation continues, helped along by social media, it's become harder to find the truth. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as they learn, grow, and push scientific understanding into the 21st century. 

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