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Genetics: You Are More Viral Than You Think
Welcome to the Genetics episode, part of Science Savvy with Carmen. In this episode, I am joined by neuroscientist and PhD researcher Aitana Padilla Requerey. Leveraging my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I speak with Aitana to better understand gene expression, viral DNA, and genetic editing.
This episode covers the role of ancient viral elements embedded in our genome, how epigenetics acts like a dimmer switch on gene activity, and how genetic tools like CRISPR are changing the future of medicine. Aitana earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UCLA, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and conducting research on Multiple Sclerosis using advanced lab techniques. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL, where she worked on mouse models to investigate molecular systems involved in antiviral responses and their relevance to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Now, as a PhD candidate, she’s investigating how ancient viruses embedded in our DNA may influence the development of schizophrenia, bridging genetics, virology, and psychiatry in her groundbreaking research.
Whether you’re curious about DNA, mental health, or how the environment shapes your biology, this episode offers clear and engaging insights grounded in real research.
Science Savvy helps you understand the systems shaping your thoughts, health, and behavior. If you're ready to explore your body and brain with a little more clarity, you're in the right place.
Further reading and references:
Bohacek, J., & Mansuy, I. M. (2015). Epigenetic inheritance of disease and disease risk. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40(1), 245–262. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20643310/
Champagne, F. A., & Curley, J. P. (2009). Epigenetic mechanisms mediating the long-term effects of maternal care on development. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 33(4), 593–600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20363720/
Feil, R., & Fraga, M. F. (2012). Epigenetics and the environment: Emerging patterns and implications. Nature Reviews Genetics, 13(2), 97–109. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22906839/
Muller, P. A. J., & Vousden, K. H. (2014). Mutant p53 in cancer: New functions and therapeutic opportunities. Cancer Cell, 25(3), 304–317. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30538286/
Mantovani, F., & Collavin, L. (2024). TP53 mutations in cancer: Molecular features and therapeutic implications. Molecular Oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39450536/
Balestrieri, E., et al. (2011). Human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-W) in schizophrenia. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 14(3), 123–130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21936762/
Frank, O., et al. (2005). Human endogenous retrovirus expression in brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Journal of Virology, 79(17), 10890–10901. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26793126/
Ripke, S., et al. (2014). Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci. Nature, 511(7510), 421–427. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25056061/
Sullivan, P. F., et al. (2018). Genetic architectures of psychiatric disorders. Nature Reviews Genetics, 19(8), 537–551. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31780348/
Chiang, C., et al. (1996). Cyclopia and defective patterning in mice lacking Sonic hedgehog. Nature, 383(6599), 407–413. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9205942/
Briscoe, J., & Small, S. (2015). Sonic Hedgehog signaling in neural tube patterning. Development, 142(21), 3771–3780. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36672161/
Takahashi, K., & Yamanaka, S. (2006). Induction of pluripotent stem cells by defined factors. Cell, 126(4), 663–676. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16904174/
Okita, K., et al. (2011). Integration-free human iPS cell generation. Nature Methods, 8(5), 409–412. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26883003/
Bosley, K. S., et al. (2015). CRISPR germline engineering—The community speaks. Nature Biotechnology, 33(5), 478–486. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28879860/
Brokowski, C., & Adli, M. (2019). CRISPR ethics: Moral considerations. Journal of Molecular Biology, 431(1), 88–101. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29885329/
Hogarth, S., et al. (2008). Direct-to-consumer genetic testing: Legal, ethical, and policy issues. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 9, 161–182. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18852208/
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By fairleycarmen9Welcome to the Genetics episode, part of Science Savvy with Carmen. In this episode, I am joined by neuroscientist and PhD researcher Aitana Padilla Requerey. Leveraging my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I speak with Aitana to better understand gene expression, viral DNA, and genetic editing.
This episode covers the role of ancient viral elements embedded in our genome, how epigenetics acts like a dimmer switch on gene activity, and how genetic tools like CRISPR are changing the future of medicine. Aitana earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UCLA, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and conducting research on Multiple Sclerosis using advanced lab techniques. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL, where she worked on mouse models to investigate molecular systems involved in antiviral responses and their relevance to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Now, as a PhD candidate, she’s investigating how ancient viruses embedded in our DNA may influence the development of schizophrenia, bridging genetics, virology, and psychiatry in her groundbreaking research.
Whether you’re curious about DNA, mental health, or how the environment shapes your biology, this episode offers clear and engaging insights grounded in real research.
Science Savvy helps you understand the systems shaping your thoughts, health, and behavior. If you're ready to explore your body and brain with a little more clarity, you're in the right place.
Further reading and references:
Bohacek, J., & Mansuy, I. M. (2015). Epigenetic inheritance of disease and disease risk. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40(1), 245–262. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20643310/
Champagne, F. A., & Curley, J. P. (2009). Epigenetic mechanisms mediating the long-term effects of maternal care on development. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 33(4), 593–600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20363720/
Feil, R., & Fraga, M. F. (2012). Epigenetics and the environment: Emerging patterns and implications. Nature Reviews Genetics, 13(2), 97–109. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22906839/
Muller, P. A. J., & Vousden, K. H. (2014). Mutant p53 in cancer: New functions and therapeutic opportunities. Cancer Cell, 25(3), 304–317. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30538286/
Mantovani, F., & Collavin, L. (2024). TP53 mutations in cancer: Molecular features and therapeutic implications. Molecular Oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39450536/
Balestrieri, E., et al. (2011). Human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-W) in schizophrenia. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 14(3), 123–130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21936762/
Frank, O., et al. (2005). Human endogenous retrovirus expression in brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Journal of Virology, 79(17), 10890–10901. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26793126/
Ripke, S., et al. (2014). Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci. Nature, 511(7510), 421–427. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25056061/
Sullivan, P. F., et al. (2018). Genetic architectures of psychiatric disorders. Nature Reviews Genetics, 19(8), 537–551. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31780348/
Chiang, C., et al. (1996). Cyclopia and defective patterning in mice lacking Sonic hedgehog. Nature, 383(6599), 407–413. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9205942/
Briscoe, J., & Small, S. (2015). Sonic Hedgehog signaling in neural tube patterning. Development, 142(21), 3771–3780. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36672161/
Takahashi, K., & Yamanaka, S. (2006). Induction of pluripotent stem cells by defined factors. Cell, 126(4), 663–676. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16904174/
Okita, K., et al. (2011). Integration-free human iPS cell generation. Nature Methods, 8(5), 409–412. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26883003/
Bosley, K. S., et al. (2015). CRISPR germline engineering—The community speaks. Nature Biotechnology, 33(5), 478–486. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28879860/
Brokowski, C., & Adli, M. (2019). CRISPR ethics: Moral considerations. Journal of Molecular Biology, 431(1), 88–101. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29885329/
Hogarth, S., et al. (2008). Direct-to-consumer genetic testing: Legal, ethical, and policy issues. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 9, 161–182. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18852208/