Kara interviews Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi, a Stanford University scientist who, along with Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry earlier this year for developing bioorthogonal chemistry and click chemistry. Bertozzi explains what bioorthogonal chemistry actually is before breaking down how identifying different sugars in the body — which she calls “the dark matter of biology’’ — could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases ranging from the flu to cancer. She also weighs in on the state of funding in biology, Twitter, being lesbian in STEM, and the never-ending feud between chemists and biologists.Before the interview, Kara and Nayeema briefly discuss former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's protest march (which was called off after this episode was recorded) and Trump's dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.You can find Kara and Nayeema on Twitter @karaswisher and @nayeema.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stanford Professor Carolyn Bertozzi discusses the development of drugs called LYTACs that can degrade disease-causing proteins. The conversation covers the engineering of these drugs, their benefits, and future optimization. They explore the concept of proteolysis targeting chimeras as an alternative to traditional drugs and the potential therapeutic applications of lytac technology. The episode also discusses advancements in drug design, optimizing lie tech for therapeutics, and the potential of targeted protein degradation for improving patient outcomes.

Carolyn Bertozzi, Nobel Prize-winning chemist, discusses the unstructured process of science and how breakthroughs can come from unexpected places. She also highlights the challenges faced by newcomers in the field and emphasizes the importance of personal chemistry in running a successful lab. The podcast explores the distinction between day science and night science, the role of creativity in research, and the value of collaborations. It also discusses the frustrations and breakthroughs in tuberculosis study and the concept of the long game in science.