https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com Each week I'll be discussing a different current biological research topic, explaining how it applies to the real world. There's so much research going on, but so little of it makes it to the general public -- I'm here to change this. Blog: wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:45:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ 148605406 Each week I'll be discussing a different current biological research topic, explaining how it applies to the real world. There's so much research going on, but so little of it makes it to the general public -- I'm here to change this. Blog: wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com Andrea Bedford no Biology,Science,Research,AgricultureBringing current biological research to you!abedford44@gmail.com https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2021/03/17/episode-19-5-space-microbes/ Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:08:02 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=122 122wordsaboutbiology Today’s episode is just a brief update on Episode 19 with new work published on microbes discovered on the International Space Station. Here’s a link to the published work: Methylobacterium ajmalii sp. nov., Isolated From the International Space Station wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noToday’s episode is just a brief update on Episode 19 with new work published on microbes discovered on the International Space Station. Here’s a link to the published work: Methylobacterium ajmalii sp. nov., Isolated From the International Space StationBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2021/03/03/episode-19-space-biology/ Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:27:27 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=116 116wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode gives a general overview of the biological research ongoing at NASA Science. Here’s a link to the Space Biology program at NASA Science. This is the paper discussed in this podcast:Counteracting Muscle Atrophy on Earth and in Space via Nanofluidics Delivery of Formoterol wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode gives a general overview of the biological research ongoing at NASA Science. Here’s a link to the Space Biology program at NASA Science. This is the paper discussed in this podcast:Counteracting Muscle Atrophy on Earth and in Space via Nanofluidics Delivery of FormoterolBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/animal-agriculture-the-environment/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:17:48 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=105 Continue reading "Animal Agriculture & the Environment"]]> 105wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode discusses the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, what a plant-only agriculture system would look like, and some strategies for reducing methane emissions by cattle. Here are the papers I discuss in this episode: Nutritional and greenhouse gas impacts of removing animals from US agriculture Inclusion of Asparagopsis armata in lactating … Continue reading "Animal Agriculture & the Environment" wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode discusses the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, what a plant-only agriculture system would look like, and some strategies for reducing methane emissions by cattle. Here are the papers I discuss in this episode: Nutritional and greenhouse gas impacts of removing animals from US agriculture Inclusion of Asparagopsis armata in lactating … Continue reading "Animal Agriculture & the Environment"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2021/01/15/episode-17-galsafe-pigs/ Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:58:55 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=98 98wordsaboutbiology New Year, New Episodes! This first episode of 2021 discusses GalSafe Pigs which were recently approved by the FDA for human consumption and biomedical use. The following are the papers I discuss in the episode:1. Targeted disruption of the α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in cloned pigs2. Production of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pigs wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noNew Year, New Episodes! This first episode of 2021 discusses GalSafe Pigs which were recently approved by the FDA for human consumption and biomedical use. The following are the papers I discuss in the episode:1. Targeted disruption of the α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in cloned pigs2. Production of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pigsBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/episode-16-southern-white-rhino-reproductive-success/ Thu, 02 May 2019 19:37:22 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=83 83wordsaboutbiology I’m finally back with a new episode! This episode focuses on the Southern White Rhino, and how captive diets are impairing their reproductive success. Here’s a link to the paper I discuss: Gut Microbiota and Phytoestrogen-Associated Infertility in Southern White Rhinoceros wordsaboutbiology The two-horned one abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noI’m finally back with a new episode! This episode focuses on the Southern White Rhino, and how captive diets are impairing their reproductive success. Here’s a link to the paper I discuss: Gut Microbiota and Phytoestrogen-Associated Infertility in Southern White RhinocerosBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2019/03/06/episode-15-great-white-shark-energetics/ Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:16:29 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=79 79wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode talks about the hunting strategies of Great White Sharks, and how they relate to their energetics. Turns out, they’re kind of lazy hunters…check it out here! Here is the paper I discuss: Swimming strategies and energetics of endothermic white sharks during foraging wordsaboutbiology 14730723649_d59ed2f76e_k abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode talks about the hunting strategies of Great White Sharks, and how they relate to their energetics. Turns out, they’re kind of lazy hunters…check it out here! Here is the paper I discuss: Swimming strategies and energetics of endothermic white sharks during foragingBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/episode-14-axolotls/ Tue, 12 Feb 2019 19:42:43 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=76 Continue reading "Episode 14 – Axolotls"]]> 76wordsaboutbiology On this episode I’m talking about the axolotl! This salamander holds a lot of potential in biological research due to its ability to regenerate limbs. Check out the episode here: Here are the links to the papers I mention: The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators Macrophages are required for adult … Continue reading "Episode 14 – Axolotls" wordsaboutbiology axolotl abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noOn this episode I’m talking about the axolotl! This salamander holds a lot of potential in biological research due to its ability to regenerate limbs. Check out the episode here: Here are the links to the papers I mention: The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators Macrophages are required for adult … Continue reading "Episode 14 – Axolotls"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2019/01/25/episode-13-cloning/ Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:18:58 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=73 73wordsaboutbiology This week, I’m discussing the history of cloning, along with its current applications. Check it out!   Here are a couple links related to the work I discuss: 1. Cloning of Macaque Monkeys by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 2. Revive & Restore – Passenger Pigeon wordsaboutbiology dolly_the_sheep,_national_museums_of_scotland,_edinburgh_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1301843 abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week, I’m discussing the history of cloning, along with its current applications. Check it out!   Here are a couple links related to the work I discuss: 1. Cloning of Macaque Monkeys by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 2. Revive & Restore – Passenger PigeonBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/episode-12-post-absorptive-nutrition-in-dairy-heifers/ Thu, 13 Dec 2018 19:48:19 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=67 67wordsaboutbiology This week I’m discussing my most recently published article! This is work that I did at Virginia Tech with dairy heifers, looking at the effects of supplemental post-absorptive propionate on energy metabolism and reproductive performance. You can find the article here: Propionate Affects Insulin Signaling and Progesterone Profiles in Dairy Heifers wordsaboutbiology IMG_0035 abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week I’m discussing my most recently published article! This is work that I did at Virginia Tech with dairy heifers, looking at the effects of supplemental post-absorptive propionate on energy metabolism and reproductive performance. You can find the article here: Propionate Affects Insulin Signaling and Progesterone Profiles in Dairy HeifersBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/episode-11-gut-microbiota/ Tue, 27 Nov 2018 17:10:02 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=63 Continue reading "Episode 11 – Gut Microbiota"]]> 63wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode discusses all those microbes living in your intestine — the gut microbiota! How can all these bacteria effect your behaviour? Listen here…   Here are a couple links to the papers I mention in this episode: 1. Gut/brain axis and the microbiota 2. Gut microbiome and depression: what we know and what … Continue reading "Episode 11 – Gut Microbiota" wordsaboutbiology anatomy-160524_1280.png Drosophila_melanogaster_-_side_(aka) abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode discusses all those microbes living in your intestine — the gut microbiota! How can all these bacteria effect your behaviour? Listen here…   Here are a couple links to the papers I mention in this episode: 1. Gut/brain axis and the microbiota 2. Gut microbiome and depression: what we know and what … Continue reading "Episode 11 – Gut Microbiota"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/10/25/episode-10-the-new-cash-crop/ Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:58:52 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=60 Continue reading "Episode 10 – The New Cash Crop"]]> 60wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode talks about the newly legalized (in Canada) Cannabis. Coming from a biological point of view, what work can be, or has been done with the Cannabis plant in order to improve crop performance and yield? Here are a couple links to the work done at the University of Guelph: Optimal Rate of … Continue reading "Episode 10 – The New Cash Crop" wordsaboutbiology 1599px-Cannabis_sativa_plant_(4) abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode talks about the newly legalized (in Canada) Cannabis. Coming from a biological point of view, what work can be, or has been done with the Cannabis plant in order to improve crop performance and yield? Here are a couple links to the work done at the University of Guelph: Optimal Rate of … Continue reading "Episode 10 – The New Cash Crop"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/10/12/episode-9-rbst-in-dairy/ Fri, 12 Oct 2018 16:26:51 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=57 57wordsaboutbiology This week’s episode discusses how the new USMCA agreement affects the dairy market, specifically in regards to the use of rBST in cattle. Here’s the link to the meta-analysis I discuss: A meta-analysis review of the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin 2. Effects on animal health, reproductive performance, and culling wordsaboutbiology C94WXg0UIAAKTd5 abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week’s episode discusses how the new USMCA agreement affects the dairy market, specifically in regards to the use of rBST in cattle. Here’s the link to the meta-analysis I discuss: A meta-analysis review of the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin 2. Effects on animal health, reproductive performance, and cullingBiology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/10/05/episode-8-crispr-pt-2/ Fri, 05 Oct 2018 16:57:29 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=54 Continue reading "Episode 8 – CRISPR Pt. 2"]]> 54wordsaboutbiology Back at you with part two of the CRISPR discussion! On this episode I go through three recently published articles showing some of the applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. Here are links to the three papers I discuss: 1. Muscle-specific CRISPR/Cas9 dystrophin gene editing ameliorates pathophysiology in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular … Continue reading "Episode 8 – CRISPR Pt. 2" wordsaboutbiology Zucchini_yellow_mosaic_virus_fruits_and_leaves abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noBack at you with part two of the CRISPR discussion! On this episode I go through three recently published articles showing some of the applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. Here are links to the three papers I discuss: 1. Muscle-specific CRISPR/Cas9 dystrophin gene editing ameliorates pathophysiology in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular … Continue reading "Episode 8 – CRISPR Pt. 2"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/episode-7-crispr-pt-1/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:52:05 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=51 51wordsaboutbiology This week you get part 1 of a two part podcast on CRISPR-Cas technology. In this first part I’m talking about what it is and how it works. Next episode I’ll go though some recent research articles using the CRISPR-Cas system! wordsaboutbiology Crispr abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week you get part 1 of a two part podcast on CRISPR-Cas technology. In this first part I’m talking about what it is and how it works. Next episode I’ll go though some recent research articles using the CRISPR-Cas system!Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/08/30/episode-6-blood-types/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 16:59:18 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=45 Continue reading "Episode 6 – Blood Types"]]> 45wordsaboutbiology In this week’s episode I’m talking about blood types, and a technique that could be used to develop universal blood: As promised here’s the link to the abstract I discuss: Discovery of CAZYmes for cell surface glycan removal through metagenomics: Towards universal blood And here is an additional paper by the same group: oward Efficient … Continue reading "Episode 6 – Blood Types" wordsaboutbiology ABO_blood_type.svg ABO_blood_group_diagram.svg abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noIn this week’s episode I’m talking about blood types, and a technique that could be used to develop universal blood: As promised here’s the link to the abstract I discuss: Discovery of CAZYmes for cell surface glycan removal through metagenomics: Towards universal blood And here is an additional paper by the same group: oward Efficient … Continue reading "Episode 6 – Blood Types"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/episode-5-human-speech/ Wed, 22 Aug 2018 15:17:54 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=41 Continue reading "Episode 5 – Human Speech"]]> 41wordsaboutbiology This week I’m talking about our understanding of how humans differ genetically in order to have acquired speech, and how that understanding has changed based on current research. Here are the links to the articles I discuss: 1. A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder 2. Molecular evolution of FOXP2, … Continue reading "Episode 5 – Human Speech" wordsaboutbiology Human Evolution abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noThis week I’m talking about our understanding of how humans differ genetically in order to have acquired speech, and how that understanding has changed based on current research. Here are the links to the articles I discuss: 1. A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder 2. Molecular evolution of FOXP2, … Continue reading "Episode 5 – Human Speech"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/08/10/episode-4-rna-velocity/ Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:21:44 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=38 Continue reading "Episode 4 – RNA Velocity"]]> 38wordsaboutbiology And I’m back! Here’s episode 4 for you: This week I’m talking about RNA Velocity, a cool new technique allowing for the calculation of not only RNA expression, but also whether that expression is increasing or decreasing at that point in time. Here’s a link to the Nature article (1), and the preprint PDF (2): … Continue reading "Episode 4 – RNA Velocity" wordsaboutbiology Eukaryotic_Transcription abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noAnd I’m back! Here’s episode 4 for you: This week I’m talking about RNA Velocity, a cool new technique allowing for the calculation of not only RNA expression, but also whether that expression is increasing or decreasing at that point in time. Here’s a link to the Nature article (1), and the preprint PDF (2): … Continue reading "Episode 4 – RNA Velocity"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/episode-3-cell-culture/ Wed, 25 Jul 2018 00:22:58 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=32 Continue reading "Episode 3 – Cell Culture"]]> 32wordsaboutbiology On this week’s episode we take on the technique cell culture: Here are links to the two articles I discuss in this episode. Epithelial membrane protein 1 promotes tumor metastasis by enhancing cell migration via copine-III and Rac1 Anti-inflammatory effect of two Lactobacillus strains during infection with Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans in a HeLa … Continue reading "Episode 3 – Cell Culture" wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noOn this week’s episode we take on the technique cell culture: Here are links to the two articles I discuss in this episode. Epithelial membrane protein 1 promotes tumor metastasis by enhancing cell migration via copine-III and Rac1 Anti-inflammatory effect of two Lactobacillus strains during infection with Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans in a HeLa … Continue reading "Episode 3 – Cell Culture"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/episode-2-adsa-2018/ Mon, 16 Jul 2018 20:40:20 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=30 Continue reading "Episode 2 – ADSA 2018"]]> 30wordsaboutbiology Woo! Episode 2! This week I’m talking about my trip to Knoxville to attend the ADSA (American Dairy Science Association) annual meeting. I’ve picked out 2 of the presentations to highlight on this episode. Here are the links to the abstracts where you can find more information: Effects of feeding supplemental butyrate on passive transfer … Continue reading "Episode 2 – ADSA 2018" wordsaboutbiology abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noWoo! Episode 2! This week I’m talking about my trip to Knoxville to attend the ADSA (American Dairy Science Association) annual meeting. I’ve picked out 2 of the presentations to highlight on this episode. Here are the links to the abstracts where you can find more information: Effects of feeding supplemental butyrate on passive transfer … Continue reading "Episode 2 – ADSA 2018"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture https://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/the-journey-begins/ Fri, 06 Jul 2018 21:35:16 +0000 http://wordsaboutbiology.wordpress.com/?p=3 Continue reading "First Episode! Hurrah!"]]> 3wordsaboutbiology Here it is, the first episode of Words About Biology! On this episode I discuss the direction of the podcast and dive a bit into my background and experience. Specifically, I talk about some of the work I did for my PhD. I said I’d post the proposed method of action model for EGF in … Continue reading "First Episode! Hurrah!" wordsaboutbiology EGFMechanism abedford44@gmail.com (wordsaboutbiology)noHere it is, the first episode of Words About Biology! On this episode I discuss the direction of the podcast and dive a bit into my background and experience. Specifically, I talk about some of the work I did for my PhD. I said I’d post the proposed method of action model for EGF in … Continue reading "First Episode! Hurrah!"Biology,Science,Research,Agriculture