For Whom the Cell Tolls: Cancer Biology

Today’s episode covers the basics of evolution so that we can address a case of extreme survival in some of the smallest organisms to exist: yeast! Cancer evolution makes appearances as well, including new mechanisms of tumor evasion that can develop when we treat cancer with different therapies. Stories of how organisms put everything on the line to defy their environment and survive are what Biology so fascinating. Plus, who doesn’t love using the word hypermutation repeatedly? Also, feel free to add any content you want to see covered or questions you want to explore. Engaging new ideas is always exciting. I hope you enjoy! 

Note: The yeast hypermutation strategy is latch ditch for a reason: it's a one in a million shot to work. Luckily, yeast exist in colonies of tens of millions, so when faced with species survival or death they are engineered to make the gamble.

The days of chemo-only cancer treatment ended years ago. This episode introduces 20 diverse therapies that scientists and clinicians are turning to in the face of ever-evolving tumors. This is an especially exiting episode, as I believe there is so much hope on the horizon for treating these diseases, and it’s exciting to share that feeling. Enjoy!

The power of immune system is on full display every day of our lives and has been throughout our history. As pathogens try to enter our bodies and hurt us, the immune system rises up to fight and counter new disease mechanisms that it encounters. This episode will touch on the debate over remaining smallpox samples, innate and adaptive immunity, and autoimmunity. I hope you enjoy, and please let me know if I need to clarify anything. As a B-Cell scientist I’m always a bit over-excited by these concepts. My students often need to slow me down. I hope you enjoy!

Internal human ecosystems? Transmissible personality traits? Tune in for the best episode yet where we get you up to speed on the human microbiome, a collection of thousands of partner bacterial species that live inside and on us. Our microbiome species have co-evolved to keep our gut, immune system, and even mind healthy. The emerging consequences of disrupting this ecosystem will also come up, along with ways to keep things good. This episode is highly inspired by Alanna Cole's 10% Human. Enjoy!

Cancer is more than cells that proliferate and survive like mad; it's a lethal combination of Genetics and Evolution. They also rely on parasitizing resources and evading immune system predators. Cancer evolution represents the greatest challenge for scientists and clinicians, as tumors can do almost anything to survive. Listen to this episode for a glimpse inside the tumor microenvironment and how we have to combat Evolution itself to win.