Big Biology

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comHow will we find life beyond Earth? Can we use a molecule's complexity to distinguish life from non-life?A common way to search for extraterrestrial life is to look for signs of complex organic molecules on other moons and planets. One trouble with this approach, though, is that lots of complex molecules can arise from inorganic processes. To be sure that complexity indicates life, we also need to distinguish forms of complexity that could only be produced by information-rich processes – things that must be alive.On today’s show, we talk with astrobiologist Sara Walker about this idea in relation to a new theory, called assembly theory, that she and colleagues are currently developing. Assembly theory characterizes the complexity of objects, including molecules, by how many steps are required to make them – the more steps, the higher the object’s complexity index. This perspective reorients our attention from the traits of objects that make them complex to the historical sequence of events that must have occurred to create them. Sara proposes that this idea provides natural ways to think about a large set of interesting processes, including how information is manifest and used in living systems, the creative roles of natural selection in evolution, and the ever present problem of understanding levels of selection.This was Sara’s second appearance on the show, check out her first episode here.Cover art by Keating Shahmehri

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhat hidden life lies at the bottom of the deep ocean? How do so many species survive and even thrive with so little light and food and at such pressure?In this episode, we talk to Helen Scales, a marine biologist, writer, and broadcaster who has written the essential guidebook to the deep ocean titled “The Brilliant Abyss”. On our way to the bottom of the sea, Helen recounted her journey from academia to writing and shared some of the lessons for others looking to dive into science communication. She also introduced us to some of her favorite species and their unique adaptations for surviving at extreme depths as well as several threats that the deep ocean faces. Technology has not only opened up this ecosystem to exploration but also to exploitation. Helen lays out the current state of ocean conservation and offers some hope and advice to those looking to protect the planet's largest habitat.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhat is eco-evo-devo? How can ants help us understand the evolution of development?There are 20 quadrillion ants in the world, and they come in lots of different shapes and sizes. We even see big differences within colonies, like ants in the genus Pheidole which have different castes: workers, soldiers, and, in some species, super soldiers. Super soldiers are the muscle-y brutes of the ant world that grow huge heads to defend the colony and attack large food items, like other insects. This variation is all due to developmental plasticity – the same ant genotype produces distinct phenotypes depending on the environment of their early lives.On this episode, we talk with Rajee Rajakumar, a professor at the University of Ottawa, who studies Pheidole ants to understand the interactions between their genes, their developmental environments, and their phenotypes. Rajee is also a HUGE ant fan! We talk with him about his 2018 paper in Nature about the mysterious organs that control these differences in development, and amazingly, how these organs could be socially regulated via pheromones.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhat happens when potential fraud is detected in research papers on major medical issues?In this episode, we talk to Charles Piller, an investigative journalist who published a shocking story in Science magazine in July this year laying out compelling evidence for misconduct in multiple journal articles on Alzheimer’s disease. This misconduct appears to have occurred in recent papers involving the experimental drug, simulfilam, as well as older, foundational papers in Alzheimer’s research.Charles’s story focuses on the sleuthing of Matthew Schrag, a neuroscientist and physician at Vanderbilt University who studies Alzheimer’s disease himself. In an extensive (even heroic) effort, Schrag identified over 100 potentially manipulated images in multiple major research papers. We talk with Charles about the consequences of those seemingly fraudulent images for the field and for public trust in science. We also talk about the potential consequences for whistleblowers like Schrag, and what journals and funding agencies are doing to support integrity in basic research.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comCan genes in single species act as keystones in ecosystems? What is AOP2, and how does it affect community composition and persistence?In this episode, we talk to Matt Barbour, a professor at the University of Sherbrooke, about “keystones” in biology. You’re probably familiar with the keystone species concept, but Matt’s research focuses on whether genes can play a similarly fundamental role in an ecosystem. In an incredible set of experiments, Matt and his colleagues used simple experimental food webs to find that the stability of these miniature complex systems was strongly associated to the genotype at one specific locus in the plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, called AOP2. The particular genetic variant led to complete breakdown of community stability, imbuing that gene with a keystone-like function.We talk to Matt about his recent publication in the journal Science and discuss how results from his simple lab setup relates to keystone effects in natural communities.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comHow much coffee should we drink? Is there a scientific way to have a healthy, happy life? And how do we distinguish scientific sense from nonsense?In this episode, we talk with author and University of Alberta professor Timothy Caulfield about decision making and misinformation in the modern world. A surprising number of “common sense” decisions that people make in their daily lives are not actually backed by strong scientific evidence, and Tim strives to debunk these in his recent book, “Relax, Dammit!: A User's Guide to the Age of Anxiety”.Among other things, we discuss with Tim how often we should check email, and how risky it really is for kids to walk to school. We also talk about how science communication can be used to curb misinformation, and Tim shares his dos and don’ts for effective scicomm.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

The biggest and best  biology and science podcast!! If you enjoy  science podcasts featuring in-depth conversations with scientists  subscribe now. Big Biology covers breaking  research and original thinking regarding evolution, genetics,  physiology, psychology, wildlife, nature, conservation, epidemiology and  more. Everything biological, anything mysterious, anything philosophical, everything scientific, you'll find it here! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhat are model organisms? Why have they been so important to biology?Much of biological research over the past 50 years has relied on model organisms. These species – which include mice, rats, fruit flies, and others – have yielded many insights and led to the development of better molecular tools and a scientific culture centered on sharing. At the same time, the money and effort devoted to model organisms may have undermined work on a broader diversity of species, more representative of life as a whole. In this episode, we talk with Sabina Leonelli and Rachel Ankeny, two philosophers of biology, about the history of model organisms and the positives and negatives of studying them.Sabina Leonelli is a professor and director of the Exeter Center for the Study of Life Sciences. Rachel Ankeny is a professor in the School of Humanities at the University of Adelaide. They are also authors of the book Model Organisms, a philosophical exploration of the concept of the 'model organism' in contemporary biology.Cover art: Keating Shahmehri

Season 5 of Big Biology starts next week, so this week we are thrilled to highlight Genetics Unzipped, another one of the great science podcasts out there. Genetics Unzipped is the official podcast of the Genetics Society, one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting  research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics. Hosted and produced by Drs Kat Arney and Sally Le Page, Genetics Unzipped entertains listeners with fascinating stories about all things genetics and DNA. In this episode, learn the science behind the macabre question, "when should you eat your relatives?" A look at kin-selection and all the wild scenarios in nature where this question arises, this episode is one of our favorites for all the “family dinner” puns alone!  Visit www.geneticsunzipped.com to learn more and see full episode transcripts, subscribe to Genetics Unzipped wherever you get podcasts, and say hello on Twitter @GeneticsUnzip This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhy do some rove beetles look like ants? Why do living things evolve similar solutions to common problems? Is there predictability within the evolutionary process?On this episode, Art and Marty talk with Joe Parker, an entomologist at Caltech. Joe has been collecting beetles since the age of 16, when he first became amazed by their incredible diversity. He now focuses on rove beetles and studies their evolutionary relationship with ants to understand how different species converge upon similar traits.