Steministas

Identical twins are the gold standard in genetics to determine how much of a disease is genetic versus environmental. However, a recent study was published uncovering genetic differences between identical twins. In this week's episode we discuss embryonic development, the study itself, and what this could me with how we determine genetic causes behind diseases. 

SOURCES //

What are GMOs? GMO Watch podcast episode that we guest starred on: https://gmowatch.com/what-are-gmos-steministas/

Overview article about the study: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science/identical-twins-are-not-identical

Overview article about the study: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/identical-twins-can-have-slightly-different-dna-180976736/

Actual study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-020-00755-1

Identical twins explanation: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/identical-twins

Identical twins and placenta: https://fetus.ucsf.edu/monochorionic-twins#:~:text=Identical%20twins%20that%20share%20a,called%20monochorionic%20twins%20(MC).&text=While%20fraternal%20twins%20(2%20eggs,up%20sharing%20a%20single%20placenta

Heritability: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/inheritance/heritability/

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Meditation is increasingly being embraced as a powerful tool to combat anxiety, stress, pain, and neurodegeneration. In this episode we define meditation and talk about its origins. Then, we discuss the research about the health benefits of this practice.

Sources

History: https://time.com/4246928/meditation-history-buddhism/#:~:text=Some%20archaeologists%20date%20meditation%20back,and%2C%20of%20course%2C%20Buddhism.

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/the-burning-monk-1963/

 General mindfulness resources: https://www.mindful.org/10-things-we-know-about-the-science-of-meditation/

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/19/858551813/anxious-meditation-can-help-you-relax-into-the-uncertainty-of-the-pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHILscdegL8

 Meditation and pain: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/04/08/135146672/even-beginners-can-curb-pain-with-meditation#:~:text=Meditation%20has%20long%20been%20touted,monk%20to%20pull%20it%20off

https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/Abstract/2009/01000/Pain_Sensitivity_and_Analgesic_Effects_of_Mindful.17.aspx

 Meditation and stress: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-201401086967

 Mindfulness meditation: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/how-to-meditate#:~:text=Mindfulness%20meditation%20is%20the%20practice%20of%20actually%20being%20present%20in,present%20moment%20without%20any%20judgment

 Transcendental meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO3AnD2QbIg

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at [email protected]!

For Black History Month, we wanted to acknowledge the work being done today by talking about the contributions of Black scientists to our very own fields. In this episode, Emma and I cover geneticist Dr. Tracy Johnson (@TheTracyLab) and neuroscientist Dr. Nathan Smith (@SmithLab2018). We hope you enjoy hearing about their current research and service outside the lab!

Sources:

Draw-a-scientist studies with children: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/03/what-we-learn-from-50-years-of-asking-children-to-draw-scientists/556025/

BioRiv study on under-citation of Black authors & people of color: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.12.336230v1.full.pdf 

Dr. Johnson HHMI: https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/tracy-l-johnson

Pathways to Success Program: https://www.hhmipathways.ucla.edu/

Dr. Johnson’s research: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Tracy-L-Johnson-50663399

Dr. Johnson’s lab website: https://johnsonlab.mcdb.ucla.edu/

Dr. Smith’s lab website: https://thesmithlaboratory.org/ 

Neurotransmitters: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology/neuron-nervous-system/a/neurotransmitters-their-receptors 

Connect with Black neuroscientists! https://www.blackinneuro.com/home

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at [email protected]!

Glaucoma is a debilitating disease where individuals lose their eyesight gradually. Often this happens later on in life and can sometimes be genetic. Scientists have been researching glaucoma and ways to help treat the disease. Recently, a study was published showing that scientists were able to reverse glaucoma-like symptoms in mice. In this podcast, we talk about the eye, dive into the study, and discuss potential implications of this research. 

SOURCES //

Actual article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2975-4

Great summary of article: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-reverse-the-aging-clock-restore-age-related-vision-loss-through-epigenetic-reprogramming/

Glaucoma: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma

Yamanaka Factors: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/10/104393/shinya-yamanaka-wins-2012-nobel-prize-medicine

CRISPR eye disease: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00655-8

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us at [email protected]

For Black History Month we wanted to highlight some Black scientists! In this episode (which is part one of a two part series) we're highlighting the work of Dr. Mae Jemison and George Washington Carver. They both contributed extensively to science and encouraging others to participate in science. 

SOURCES //

Mae Jemison bios:

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison 

Dr. Jemison Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LooEeJyd3AY 

Interview with Dr. Jemison at Commonwealth Club of California: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZD5T0RmqE 

Experiences with racism: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/16/magazine/outnumbered-standing-out-at-work-161977.html 

Star Trek: https://www.startrek.com/database_article/jemison 

Challenger explosion: https://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-challenger-shuttle-disaster 

George Washington Carver video: https://unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/americon-vid-george-w-carver/video/#.Wo2oERPwbSc

History Channel article on Carver: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver

Carver’s true legacy: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/search-george-washington-carvers-true-legacy-180971538/

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at [email protected]!

Reports of new variants of coronavirus (a.k.a. SARS-CoV2) have surfaced in the U.S. in the past month. With these changes in the SARS-CoV2 genome come concerns that the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer may not be as effective. Take a deep breathe - things are not as bleak as they seem! In this episode, we explain viral variants. How do they arise? And, importantly, what do we know about how these mutations change the current situation for COVID-19 (infection rate, vaccine immunity, symptoms)?

Sources

New variant info:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-emerging-variant.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-covid-variant-states.html 

Track new variant by state: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant-cases.html

Vaccine concerns:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/health/pfizer-vaccine-variant-strain-mutation/index.html

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.07.425740v1

Infectivity:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/health/coronavirus-uk-variant.html

https://cmmid.github.io/topics/covid19/uk-novel-variant.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/01/08/954967079/coronavirus-faq-how-do-i-protect-myself-from-the-u-k-variant

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.24.20248834v1

Viral mutation rate: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02544-6

Viral neutralization test: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaque_reduction_neutralization_test

Flu virus mutations: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htm

What is BioRxiv: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxiv

BioRxiv Moderna 1/25: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.25.427948v1 

Update 1/25 new variants: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/health/coronavirus-moderna-vaccine-variant.html?auth=login-email&login=email 

Brazilian variant: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-brazil-strain-confirmed-minnesota/ 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/01/21/958953434/reinfections-more-likely-with-new-coronavirus-variants-evidence-suggests

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us at [email protected]!

In our podcast two weeks ago, we covered some concerns about GMOs. In this episode we will cover some benefits of GMOs in regards to agriculture, nutrition, and the case study of golden rice. Hopefully, we have given you a good background on GMOs and answered your burning questions in this three part series. 

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us with any questions or episode ideas at [email protected]!

SOURCES //

GMO pros

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2020/07/new-study-gmo-crops-reduce-pesticide-use-greenhouse-gas-emissions/

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/09/21/21greenwire-crop-savior-blazes-biotech-trail-but-few-scien-88379.html?pagewanted=print

GMO environmental impact

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2020.1773198

Organic products

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-products

Foreign Policy Golden rice article: https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/golden-rice-genetically-modified-superfood-almost-saved-millions/

Summation of retracted golden rice research article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-genetically-modified-rice/genetically-modified-rice-a-good-vitamin-a-source-idUSBRE87E0RO20120815

Retracted golden rice research article: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/96/3/658/4576908

Retraction reason: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/102/3/715/4564264

Golden rice and Vitamin A deficiency: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/11/08/golden-rice-the-gmo-crop-loved-by-humanitarians-opposed-by-greenpeace/

Low participants golden rice study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682994/

Zimbabwe golden rice study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21715509/Anti-golden rice perspective: https://theconversation-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/theconversation.com/amp/the-philippines-has-rated-golden-rice-safe-but-farmers-might-not-plant-it-129956?amp_js_v=a6&

GMOs are incredibly controversial in our society, especially when it comes to the food we eat. This is the second episode in a 3-part series breaking down the science of GMO foods. In this podcast, we explain some of the concerns about GMOs and what is being done to combat these potential issues. We also answer some of our listeners' burning questions about GMO foods - be sure to send us your own questions, too!

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us any questions or episode ideas at [email protected]!

Sources:

Book: Mendel in the Kitchen by Nina V. Federoff and Nancy Marie Brown

https://www.amazon.com/Mendel-Kitchen-Scientists-Genetically-Modified-ebook/dp/B002U58AU0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=367F0BNVHTAJ&dchild=1&keywords=mendel+in+the+kitchen&qid=1610055044&sprefix=mendel+in+hte+kitchen%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1

GMOs general

https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/agricultural-biotechnology?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=feedyourmind2020

Stats on how GMO crops:

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspx

Non-GMO CRISPR plants

https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/crispr-plants-new-non-gmo-method-to-edit-plants/#:~:text=CRISPR%2FCas9%20is%20a%20tool,replace%20a%20specific%20genetic%20sequence.&text=That%20does%20not%20necessarily%20mean,relevant%20crop%20is%20a%20GMO

https://newatlas.com/first-crispr-meal/45270/?itm_source=newatlas&itm_medium=article-body

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744888/

Bt corn

https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/br/monarch/bt-corn-commercialization/

Cry9C recall

Book – chapter 9

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/09/23/biotech-corn-fuels-a-recall/673f2399-5622-4f03-ac22-a7babb1ebea8/

EPA policy reduce risk of resistance: https://www.epa.gov/regulation-biotechnology-under-tsca-and-fifra/insect-resistance-management-bt-plant-incorporated

GMO regulations U.S. vs. Europe: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/same-science-different-policies/#:~:text=The%20outcomes%20of%20the%20U.S.,has%20approved%20fewer%20than%20forty

https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/european-and-american-views-on-genetically-modified-foods

GMO environmental impact

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2020.1773198

Organic products

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-products

GMOs or genetically modified organisms have become quite a controversial topic in the past decade. In this podcast, we delve into the history behind GMOs, explain how they work, and discuss some of the technologies used to produce GMOs. This is part one of two and we plan to tackle why GMOs have become controversial in the next podcast. 

As always, our goal is not to tell you what to think but to give you the tools you need to make informed decisions and remove some of the fear and stigma associated with the science behind these controversial topics. 

If you have more questions feel free to contact us at [email protected] or on Twitter or Instagram @steministaspod

SOURCES // 

Great article on GMOs: https://www.unfortunatephd.com/post/what-you-need-to-know-about-gmos

Flavr Savr: https://www.genengnews.com/insights/mistakes-shorten-first-approved-gmos-shelf-life/

Plant transformation: https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/what-is-plant-transformation/

Europe vs U.S.

https://theconversation.com/how-we-got-to-now-why-the-us-and-europe-went-different-ways-on-gmos-48709

History:

https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes 

Different types of gene editing: https://agbiotech.ces.ncsu.edu/q1-what-is-the-difference-between-genetically-modified-organisms-and-genetically-engineered-organisms-we-seem-to-use-the-terms-interchangeably/

Defining a GMO: https://grist.org/food/mind-bomb-its-practically-impossible-to-define-gmos/

Transgenic plants: https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/transgenic-plants/top-6-examples-of-transgenic-plants-genetics/84649

Book: Mendel in the Kitchen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U58AU0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

You've probably heard the exciting news that the RNA vaccines for COVID-19 have been successful in clinical trials and are currently being shipped around the world! While exciting, new technologies can be intimidating and understandably, can raise a lot of questions and concerns. In this episode we review the history of traditional vaccines, explain the science behind RNA vaccines, and answer your questions about this novel vaccine.

How vaccines work article: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31237-X

Variolation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variolation#:~:text=Variolation%20was%20the%20method%20of,but%20protective%2C%20infection%20would%20result.

Vaccine types: https://www.vaccines.gov/basics/types

RNA vaccines: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/the-promise-of-mrna-vaccines-68202

Immune system information: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/biology-of-the-immune-system/overview-of-the-immune-system#:~:text=Human%20leukocyte%20antigens%20(HLA)%20are,to%20distinguish%20self%20from%20nonself.&text=An%20immune%20response%20is%20the,immune%20system%20to%20an%20antigen.

Moderna vaccine trial info: https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/16/modernas-covid-19-vaccine-is-strongly-effective-early-look-at-data-show/

Modern and Pfizer vaccines: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/17/covid-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/?arc404=true

Vaccine efficacy: https://scroll.in/article/979627/a-statistician-explains-what-does-90-efficacy-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-mean

Follow us @steministaspod on Twitter and Instagram. You can email us at [email protected]