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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 dairy cows’ diet reduces enteric methane emission by over 50 percent A heritable subset of the core rumen microbiome dictates dairy cow productivity and emissions ..read more

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 pigs 2. Production of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pigs ..read more

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. https://ia601509.us.archive.org/12/items/Ep16RhinoFinal/Ep16RhinoFinal.mp3 Here’s a link to the paper I discuss: Gut Microbiota and Phytoestrogen-Associated Infertility in Southern White Rhinoceros ..read more

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! https://ia601504.us.archive.org/31/items/Episode15GWSharks/Episode%2015%20GWSharks.mp3 Here is the paper I discuss: Swimming strategies and energetics of endothermic white sharks during foraging ..read more

https://ia801502.us.archive.org/3/items/WordsAboutBiologyEpisode1/WordsAboutBiologyEpisode1.mp3 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 the small intestine of piglets, so here it is. For reference: SGLT1 (sodium-glucose transporter 1) is a glucose transporter. GLP2R is the receptor for glucagon-like peptide 2, a protein involved in intestinal growth. K ..read more

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: https://ia801403.us.archive.org/8/items/Ep14AxolotlFull/Ep14AxolotlFull.mp3 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 salamander limb regeneration ..read more

This week, I’m discussing the history of cloning, along with its current applications. Check it out! https://ia801505.us.archive.org/0/items/Episode13CloningComplete/Episode%2013%20-%20CloningComplete.mp3 Dolly the Sheep 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 ..read more

One heifer on my trial. They wear hoodies to help protect the catheter sites on their necks.  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. https://ia601508.us.archive.org/3/items/Ep12ProRepro/Ep11ProRepro.mp3 You can find the article here: Propionate Affects Insulin Signaling and Progesterone Profiles in Dairy Heifers ..read more