Matters Microbial #117: Cancer Virus Hunters and Molecular Biology December 8, 2025

Today Dr. Gregory Morgan, Professor in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how cancer causing viruses advanced molecular biology as described in his recent book Cancer Virus Hunters.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Gregory Morgan

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Links for this episode

• Here is a link to Dr. Morgan's book on the topic discussed today.
• A lovely interview with Dr. Morgan about his book.
• A great history of molecular biology, "Eighth Day of Creation" by Horace Freeland Judson.
• The History and Philosophy of Science program at the University of Pittsburgh.
• An overview of the Rous Sarcoma Virus.
• A biography of Dr. Peyton Rous.
• A video describing how RSV causes cancer by "stealing" normal genes.
• How some viruses may contribute to the development of cancer. Here is another video on that topic.
• The field of tumor virology.
• A really wonderful video on the genetic origin for cancer.
• An overview of oncogenes and protooncogenes.
• A video exploring how proto-oncogenes become oncogenes, and can contribute to the development of cancer.
• The concept of "contagious cancer" that is rare but exists.
• The story of papilloma viruses and "jackalopes."
• The history of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
• An overview of retroviruses.
• Retroviruses and FeLV.
• Blue chicken eggs and ancient retroviruses. A summary for novice #Micronauts.
• Mammalian (including human) placenta and ancient retroviruses.
• Nixon's "War on Cancer."
• An overview of the src gene.
• An overview of the ras gene.
• An overview of the p53 gene.
• A video explainer of the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
• A biography of Howard Temin.
• A biography of David Baltimore.
• The story of Human Papillovirus (HPV) and cancer.
• Dr. Morgan's faculty website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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