Is it possible to make any organism fully resistant to viral infections?

According to new research using E. coli from the Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics, the answer seems to be yes…eventually!

Today, we’re joined by one of the lead researchers in this study, Akos Nyerges. Among many fascinating developments in the fields of genetic engineering and synthetic biology, he discusses the ability to modify existing organisms to achieve desired changes, the use of new DNA building blocks to create synthetic organisms, the most challenging regions of DNA to engineer, and what to expect in the near future.

Press play to discover:

• How an organism can be genetically engineered to have a genetic ‘firewall’ from natural viral infections
• The difference between synthetic genomics and genetic engineering
• Applications of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology  
• The use of genetically engineered organisms in novel drug development

Tune in for the full conversation, visit Home | Church Lab (harvard.edu) to learn more about Harvard’s Department of Genetics, and feel free to contact Nyerges via email: [email protected].

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

Joining us today is Dr. Jon Mitchell, a Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Sussex. Dr. Mitchell is an expert in religious anthropology and researches questions of identity and political alignment in various regions…

Dr. Mitchell’s primary research site is Malta, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, he conducted his doctoral research during the 1990s – a time of rapid social and political transformation. Most recently, he has been researching the places and processes of belief while exploring the social, political, and economic significance of Maltese football. 

Click play to find out:

• The difference between biblical archaeology and the anthropology of religion. 
• The effects of Europeanization on the island of Malta. 
• Why immigrants tend to cluster in specific industries. 
• The ways that pilgrimage sites impact surrounding economies.

You can learn about Dr. Mitchell and his work here!

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

The American South has a rich history of culture and religion. During the 19th century, Christianity played a major role in forming the social foundations that we see to this day. So what actually occurred during this time period, and why does it matter? Robert Elder, an expert in this topic, sits down to explain…

Robert is an Associate Professor of History at Baylor University where he teaches courses on the American South, the Early Republic, and the Civil War. In addition to this, he has written two books that outline distinct religious dynamics in the U.S.: The Sacred Mirror: Evangelicalism, Honor, and Identity in the Deep South, 1790-1860, and Calhoun: American Heretic.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What honor culture is, and how it influenced Southern life.
• Why violence has drastically faded since the 19th century.
• How and when evangelical Christianity permeated Southern culture.

To learn more about Robert and his work, click here now!

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

In this episode, we connect with Daniel L. Dreisbach, a professor at the American University School of Public Affairs, who teaches in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology. As an author, academic, and attorney, Daniel is a long-time student of law and politics in the American founding era. 

In 2016, Daniel published Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers, a book that outlines the founders' diverse use of scripture – ranging from the literary to the theological. So how has religion influenced the US Constitution and overall history? Daniel sits down to enlighten us…

Join the discussion now to discover:

• How the founders’ faith informed early American history.
• How American legal culture and religious laws were shaped. 
• What happens if we ignore the role of religion when analyzing this generation of America.

To learn more about Daniel and his work, click here now!

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

Today we connect with Brian Grim, the founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and global chairman of Dare to Overcome. The relationship between economic sustainability and freedom of religion or belief for all is a passion of Brian’s – so much so that he has become the world’s leading expert on the subject…

Brian has authored numerous academic articles and books. Drawing from his doctorate in quantitative sociology from Penn State, he has spent years measuring how governments in society restrict people’s freedom to believe (or not believe) in a faith or religion.  

Jump into the conversation now to find out:

• The biggest threats to people’s freedom of faith. 
• The disadvantages of religious nationalism. 
• What religious nationalism is, and the problems that come with it.

To learn more about Brian and his work with the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, you can find their website here!

Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

In this episode, we connect with Francis J. Beckwith, a Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies at Baylor University, where he also serves as Associate Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy and Affiliate Professor of Political Science. Francis is a philosopher who publishes and teaches in the areas of religion, jurisprudence, politics, and ethics. 

Francis has authored more than 100 academic articles, book chapters, reference entries, and reviews. With titles such as Politics for Christians: Statecraft as Soulcraft, Never Doubt Thomas: The Catholic Aquinas as Evangelical and Protestant, and Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice, Francis is a highly regarded voice in the academic community. 

So, what makes Francis’s philosophical perspective so special? Tune in now to find out… 

Join in now to explore:

• What initially interested Francis about philosophy. 
• How we build up beliefs to shape our worldview. 
• The importance of listening to people that you disagree with. 
• The intricacies of co-existing religions.

Want to learn more about Francis J. Beckwith and his work? Click here now!

Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

In this episode, we connect with Byron Johnson, a Distinguished Professor of Social Sciences at Baylor University, and the founding director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. He joins us today to discuss his work exploring religion and criminal justice, proposing that religion can be a powerful remedy to crime.

Byron is trained as a criminologist, and over the years, he has used his expertise to tackle a plethora of related issues – most recently analyzing the role religion plays in helping people and societies to flourish…

Through his investigations, Byron wrote More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How It Could Matter More, where he makes the case that “any effective crime fighting policy must include government and faith-based efforts in partnership.”

Click play to uncover:

• What criminology encompasses, and how different people approach it.
• The percentage of society that actually breaks the law.
• How religion positively contributes to society, and the misconceptions surrounding people of faith. 
• The answers to the problem of the prison system.

You can learn more about Byron and his investigations here, and buy his book here!

Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

Tune in to our fascinating chat about biblical history with Marc Brettler! 

Marc is a member of the American Academy for Jewish Research and the Council of the Society of Biblical Literature. In addition to this, Marc is the Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor in Judaic Studies at Duke University, where he researches subjects such as the Hebrew Bible, biblical historical texts, the Bible and gender, the book of Psalms, and more… 

The complexities of biblical history continues to astound scholars to this day. Whether you are newly exploring spirituality or a theological aficionado, this podcast is sure to pique your interest!

Join us now to hear Marc talk about:

• The various forms of the Hebrew language that have existed throughout history.
• What happened to Judaism when there was very little Hebrew being spoken.
• What biblical poetry is, and its historical significance. 
• How many authors may have contributed to the book of Psalms. 

By clicking here, you can find out more about Marc Brettler and his research!

Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

Your brain weighs about as much as the microbes in your gut. That fact alone should ignite your interest in the role of microbes in all aspects of human health. Over the last 15 years or so, a lot has been discovered about the critical role of microbes in the brain-gut axis.

Today, we’re joined by an expert in this field, Ted Dinan. He is a professor of psychiatry at University College Cork, Ireland, who works as part of the Cork Neuroscience Research Group and has authored nearly 200 widely published papers and several books on the pharmacology and neurobiology of affective disorders.

Tune in to learn:

• Why low and/or a loss of gut microbe diversity is problematic and how it can impact organ function  
• Why there is such a strong connection between brain health and the microbes in the gut
• How natural vs. C-section births impact the gut microbiota of newborns, and what changes occur over the first 2-3 years of life
• How the understanding of gut microbes has changed over the years, from a belief in their commensal nature to a realization of their critical role in human health and disease
• How various foods (e.g., fermented foods, processed foods, and fruit and vegetables) influence mood, inflammation, the health of gut microbiota, and the connection between these factors

Interested in learning more about the groundbreaking research at University College Cork? Press play and visit CNSC | University College Cork (ucc.ie).

Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

How has the debate for Christianity been advanced and refined? Is there historical and scientific evidence that actually supports creationism? In this episode, we answer these questions with the help of an individual at the front lines of the Biblical creation discussion… 

Promoting a Biblical worldview requires a firm understanding of ourselves and the world around us – including its past. What can the history of life in the created universe tell us about the origins of our planet? How are scientists reshaping the way that we talk about the origins debate? Click play and make up your own mind!  

Join in now to find out:

• What Christian apologetics are, how they inform various theological issues. 
• The most convincing evidence that supports creationism.
• The role that death plays in the Biblical narrative. 
• How the origins debate has changed over the years. 
• The importance of uniting Christians around the central doctrines of Biblical Creation.

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9