Steministas

Are identical twins really identical?

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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What is the science behind meditation?

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 steministas@gmail.com!

Black Scientists in History: Part 2

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 steministas@gmail.com!

Can scientists treat glaucoma?

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 steministas@gmail.com
 

Black Scientists in History: Part 1

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.biography.com/astronaut/mae-c-jemison 
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 steministas@gmail.com!

What do we know about the new variants of coronavirus?

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 steministas@gmail.com!

What are pros about GMOs?

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 steministas@gmail.com!
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&

What are concerns about GMOs?

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 steministas@gmail.com!
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

What are GMOs?

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 steministas@gmail.com 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

What are RNA vaccines?

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 steministas@gmail.com