Biologist Lauren O’Connell studies poisonous frogs, but not just the toxins that make them dangerous. She also studies the neuroscience of their complex parenting. She’s learned that tadpoles recognize their mothers by smell and do a “begging dance” when hungry, and that the frogs produce a protein that protects them from their own poisonous chemistry.  That protein could help treat overdoses in humans, O’Connell tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Lauren O'Connell

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Lauren O’Connell, a professor of biology at Stanford.

(00:03:34) Why Poison Frogs?

Lauren shares what led her to focus her research on poison frogs

(00:05:16) Parenting Styles in Frogs

The diverse parental strategies across frog species.

(00:08:36) The Role of Opioids in Parenting

The signalling factors in the frog brain that regulate bonding,

(00:10:05) Hormones & Gender Roles

The influence of testosterone and estrogen on caregiving behaviors.

(00:11:34) Implications for Human Research

How studying frogs reveals basic neural blueprints of parenting.

(00:13:23) Tadpole’s Communication

The neural circuits behind tadpole communication and behavior.

(00:15:10) Autism Gene Experiments in Tadpoles

How genetic changes can alter tadpole social communication

(00:17:47) Transparency & Tadpole Biology

Observing tadpole behavior and neural activity via their transparency.

(00:20:59) Tracking Frogs in the Wild

Research on how frogs navigate back to their tadpoles

(00:24:31) Male vs. Female Navigation

Testosterone’s influence on the ability to navigate more efficiently.

(00:25:38) Toxin Tolerance Mechanisms

A toxin-binding protein that allows frogs to avoid self-poisoning.

(00:29:01) Origin of the Toxins

The origin and mechanisms of the toxins found in frogs.

(00:31:15) The Value of Basic Science

How studying fundamental science can lead to unexpected applications.

(00:33:10) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook