The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: We bring on Mark Post, professor of vascular physiology at the Maastricht University. Dr. Post is an innovator, being the creator of the world’s first lab grown hamburger. Mark’s work has been highlighted in mainstream media and he has given a TEDx talk about his technology and the meat industry. Recently, Mark was back in the news with an announcement that the cost of these stem cell burgers has significantly come down. Resources and Links Science Textbooks May Need an Update – Textbook drawings might need to be updated based on new images of the endoplasmic reticulum, a multifaceted organelle within the cell, which shows that it’s a tangled web of interconnected tubes, instead of containing flat sheets as previously believed. Finding HIV Patient Zero in America – DNA analysis shows HIV came to New York City between 1969 and 1973, long before the man known as Patient Zero became infected. Training for Parents May Lessen Some Autism Symptoms in Kids – This article presents the idea called Preschool Autism Communication Trial for preschool autism communication trial, which shows that children with autism can be reached by training their parents to be better conversationalists. Ancient Monkey Hookups – New DNA evidence is pointing to ancient affairs between bonobos and chimpanzees. The Stem Cell Burger Is Back, and This Time It Might Even Be Affordable – This article reports that stem cell burgers, if mass-produced today, would cost $10 according to Mark Post, its creator, in an Arkansas Online interview. Research on Rare Genetic Disease Reveals New iPSC Discovery – Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, who first created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and his colleagues at the Gladstone Institutes found a way to increase the efficiency of stem cell reprogramming through research on a rare genetic disease. Withholding Amino Acid Depletes Blood Stem Cells – A new study shows that a diet deficient in valine effectively depleted the blood stem cells in mice and made it possible to perform a blood stem cell transplantation with them. Reactive Oxygen Species and Blood Stem Cells – A research group at Lund University in Sweden identified that certain cells during embryonic development are negatively affected by oxidation capable of leading to a block in cellular function. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Post Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Michael Halpern, deputy director for the Center of Science and Democracy, discusses the election and how science might be affected. Resources and Links Storing Tomatoes in Refrigerator Affect Their Genes – Science explains why you shouldn't put tomatoes in the fridge. It’s because some of their genes chill out and are altered by cold temperatures, ultimately affecting the flavor. A Clear Difference on Climate Change – This article describes the stark contrast between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the climate change issue and their plans about it. Drones that Carry Ads – Starting this year, commuters in Mexico City have been interrupted as they drive by flying robots carrying signs bearing simple slogans as part of ridesharing app Uber’s campaign for UberPool. Common Household Chemicals Hurt Our Health... And Cost Us Billions – Routine contact with plastic bottles, toys, food cans, cosmetics and flame retardants containing "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" results in ingestion, leading to a toxic buildup and potentially a variety of medical conditions. Scientists Grow Mouse Eggs from Stem Cells in Lab – Japanese scientists have grown mouse eggs entirely in the lab, then fertilized them to yield fertile offspring, a scientific first cautiously hailed by experts in human reproduction. Stem Cells May Repair Broken Hearts – Researchers transplanted heart muscle cells that were made from the stem cells of a macaque into the damaged hearts of five other macaques integrating with the monkeys' own heart muscle cells thus allowing their damaged hearts to function better. CRISPR Corrects Sickle Cell-Causing Gene in Human Cells – Scientists used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique to rewrite the genetic mutation in blood cells that causes sickle cell disease where once implanted in mice, the edited stem cells produced normal hemoglobin. Glycolytic Metabolism Plays a Functional Role in Regulating Human Pluripotent Stem Cell State – Researchers show that naive human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) exhibit increased glycolytic flux, MYC transcriptional activity, and nuclear N-MYC localization relative to primed hESCs. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Michael Halpern Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Stephen Duncan from the University of South Carolina discusses his work on the purification of cell lineages derived from pluripotent stem cells. Resources and Links Japanese Scientist Receives Nobel Prize for Autophagy Work – Yoshinori Ohsumi, a biologist at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work uncovering how cells break down old materials — a process critical for keeping cells healthy. Measles Eliminated from the Americas – The highly infectious disease - measles, which is marked by flat red spots that can cover the body - has been eliminated from the Americas after decades of wide-spread vaccination. Uncovering Facts about the Shady Sugar Industry – Researchers revealed that the sugar industry paid nutrition experts from Harvard University to downplay studies linking sugar and heart disease. Gene Linked to Autism in People May Influence Dog Sociability – This article reveals that beagles with particular variants in a gene - SEZ6L - associated with autism were more likely to sidle up to and make physical contact with a human stranger. Monsanto Buys Rights to CRISPR – Monsanto is taking genetically engineered crops to the next level, buying a license from the Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT to use the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. Dr. Allen Eaves of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ Pacific 2016 – Dr. Allen Eaves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company that supplies tools and services to enable life science research, is this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific winner. Efficient Long-Term Cryopreservation of Pluripotent Stem Cells at −80 °C – Researchers report that a medium comprised of Ficoll 70 and dimethyl sulfoxide in presence or absence of fetal bovine serum can provide reliable cryopreservation of various kinds of human and porcine pluripotent stem cells at −80 °C for periods that extend up to at least one year, with the post-thaw viability, plating efficiency, and full retention of pluripotent phenotype comparable to that achieved with liquid nitrogen storage. Biologists Plan Scoring System for Antibodies - Biomedical experts plan to create a scoring system that will help researchers choose reliable antibodies for their experiments. ULK4 Gene Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia – Researchers identified, through genetic and in vitro functional studies, a novel serine/threonine kinase gene, unc-51-like kinase 4 (ULK4), as a rare risk factor for major mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Vitamin D Increases the Number of Blood Stem Cells during Embryonic Development – Scientists hypothesize that the levels of vitamin D during fetal development may play a role in preventing the onset of blood-related disorders later in life. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Duncan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joshua Brickman from the University of Copenhagen discusses his work on stem cells and culture conditions. Professor Brickman’s and his group investigate the basis for transcriptional priming and commitment in embryonic stem cells and early in the specification of the endoderm lineage. Resources and Links Scientists Watch as Bacteria Evolve Antibiotic Resistance – A petri dish more than a meter long helped scientists visualize the evolution of antibiotic resistance in E. coli bacteria. Lyme Bacteria Swap ‘Catch Bonds’ to Navigate Blood Vessels – The corkscrew-shaped bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) attach themselves to the sides of blood vessels using special bonds that get stronger under stress. Maybe You Don’t Need to Burp Your Baby – This article reports that there’s scant scientific evidence that burping after meals actually does anything helpful for babies. Pigeons Can Read a Little Bit – Pigeons moved from learning to eat from a food hopper, to recognizing shapes, to learning words through gradual training. Lack of T Cell Response to iPSC-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from HLA Homozygous Donors – Researchers established human retinal pigment epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in HLA homozygote donors. Scientists Use Stem Cells to Grow 3D Lung-in-a-Dish – Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have succeeded in creating three-dimensional lung “organoids” by coating tiny gel beads with lung-derived stem cells and then allowing them to self-assemble into the shapes of the air sacs found in human lungs. Motherless Babies Possible as Scientists Create Live Offspring without Need for Female Egg – This article shows that embryos could be created from cells which carry all their chromosomes leading to the theory that any cell in the human body could be fertilized by a sperm. Parkin and PINK1 Patient iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Exhibit Mitochondrial Dysfunction and α-Synuclein Accumulation – Researchers demonstrate that the identification of disease-related phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease–patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived midbrain dopamine neurons depends on the type of differentiation protocol utilized. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joshua Brickman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Shuibing Chen from Weill Cornell Medical College discusses her work on stem cells and diabetes. Resources and Links A Ban on Antibacterial Soap – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned soap products containing 19 active ingredients, including the notorious chemical triclosan, marketed as antiseptics. A New Book all about Cursing? – A cognitive scientist Benjamin Bergen’s new book – What the F – examines the nature of profanity and the implications of obscene words for understanding human brains and minds. Mosquito Moms Can Pass Zika to Offspring – This article reveals that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes don’t need to bite someone to pick up Zika virus; youngsters can inherit the virus from their moms according to lab tests. Zika Mosquitos Now in Miami Beach – This article reports that Florida officials confirmed that the Zika virus was detected in three mosquito samples from a small area in Miami Beach. New Info about Bacteria Causing Stillbirth Revealed – Group B Streptococcus secretes protein-filled balloons that can travel up into the uterus causing premature labor and stillbirth. Will Embryonic Stem Cells Ever Cure Anything? – Douglas Melton tries to find ways to replace beta cells of the pancreas using new tissue manufactured from embryonic stem cells. MMP-9 and MMP-2 Contribute to Neuronal Cell Death in iPSC Models of Frontotemporal Dementia with MAPT Mutations – This article reports that matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 production is elevated in human neurons with microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mutations contributing to stress-induced neuronal cell death. Researchers Use a Single Molecule to Command Stem Cells to Build New Bone – Researchers from the University of California, San Diego induce human pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into functional bone-building cells by feeding them adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule in the body. Scientists Engineer Stem Cells to Find Potential Therapy for Medulloblastoma – Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have created a system to study an aggressive subtype of medulloblastoma, which is a rare pediatric brain tumor that generally has a very poor prognosis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shuibing Chen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: CEO and Founder of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Dr. Allen Eaves discusses his transition from a bench scientist to a biotech business man. Resources and Links Tired Parents Don’t Follow Newborn Sleep Guidelines – Babies should be put on their back in an empty crib with firm mattress. Darwin’s Dogs Want Your Dog’s DNA – Darwin’s Dogs, a citizen science project headquartered at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, is looking for good — and bad — dogs to donate DNA. Eating Shuts Off Nerves that Oppose Obesity – This article reports the role of orexin, also known as hypocretin, in weight gain and narcolepsy. Pesticides and Pollination Problems – Butterflies of Northern California join the ranks of honeybees, bumblebees, moths and other organisms that may be feeling the effects of local neonicotinoid pesticide use. Zika Virus Might Affect Learning, Memory in Adults, Study Says – This article reveals that Zika virus can infect neural progenitors in the adult mouse brain. Melatonin Appears to Suppress Growth of Breast Cancer Stem Cells – Researchers at Michigan State University published a study that melatonin, a hormone produced in the human brain, appears to suppress the growth of breast cancer tumors. Transcriptome Profiling of Patient-Specific Human iPSC-Cardiomyocytes Predicts Individual Drug Safety and Efficacy Responses In Vitro – Transcriptome-based toxicology analysis predicted and risk-stratified patient-specific susceptibility to cardiotoxicity, and functional assays in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) patient-specific cardiomyocyte. Using tacrolimus and rosiglitazone, drugs targeting pathways predicted to produce cardiotoxicity, validated inter-patient differential responses. Modeling Dengue Virus-Hepatic Cell Interactions Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells – Researchers differentiated human pluripotent stem cells into hepatocytes, one of the target cells of Dengue virus (DENV), to investigate various aspects of DENV-hepatocyte interaction. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Allen Eaves Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ritchie Ho, a postdoctoral fellow from Cedars-Sinai, joins us with his latest study on an induced pluripotent stem cell in vitro model of ALS. Resources and Links Circadian Clock Influences Young Sunflowers to follow the Sun – Research from University of California, Davis shows how sunflowers use their circadian clock to anticipate the dawn and follow the sun across the sky during the day. Humans Prefer the Gait of Mutant Horses – Researchers examine historic horse remains for the DMRT3 SNP, tracking the origin of gaitedness to Medieval England between 850 and 900 AD. Young Blood Antiaging Trial Raises Questions – A startup company, Ambrosia, has launched the first pay-to-participate clinical trial in the United States to test the antiaging benefits of young blood in relatively healthy people. Science Literacy Isn't Just about What People Know, It's Also about Their Communities – Increasing science literacy will not lead to appreciably greater support for science, but may be shaped by factors such as values and beliefs. NIH Proposes Removal of Moratorium on Chimera Research – A proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy would require extra review for certain studies that create chimeras, or animals with both human and animal cells. Gene Correction of iPSCs from a Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Patient Normalizes the Lymphoid Developmental and Functional Defects – Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were derived from a Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patient (WAS-iPSCs) and the endogenous chromosomal WAS locus was targeted with a wtWAS-2A-eGFP transgene using zinc finger nucleases to generate corrected WAS-iPSCs. Contributions of Mammalian Chimeras to Pluripotent Stem Cell Research – This article highlights the applications and current limitations presented by intra- and inter-species chimeras and their future contribution to the stem cell field. Development of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Secreting Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers report a three-step protocol to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into gonadotropin-releasing hormone-secreting neurons which regulate puberty and reproduction. Direct Induction and Functional Maturation of Forebrain GABAergic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – Scientists identified a set of genetic factors that could robustly induce human pluripotent stem cells into GABAergic neurons with high efficiency. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Ritchie Ho Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: We bring on professor and researcher Dr. Christine Pratt from the University of Ottawa to discuss her research on breast cancer. Resources and Links 2016 Republican Platform against Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Other Science Issues – Live Science examined the Republican Party’s platform against embryonic stem cell research, climate change, fetal tissue research, and other science issues. US behind in Road Safety – The United States tops 19 other high-income countries on overall death rate due to motor vehicle crashes. Antibiotics May Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease – This article reveals that a long course of antibiotics reduced the levels of a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of mice, possibly by changing the species of bacteria in the gut. Biting Your Nails and Sucking Your Thumb Might Have Some Positive Effects – Kids who sucked their thumbs or chewed their nails had lower rates of allergic reactions in lab tests. New Brain Map Most Detailed Yet – Scientists have drawn a new map of the human brain with each side of the outer layer of the brain parceled into 180 distinct areas. Cerebrospinal Fluid Signals Control the Behavior of Stem Cells in the Brain – The choroid plexus, a largely ignored structure in the brain that produces the cerebrospinal fluid, is an important regulator of adult neural stem cells. Cartilage Grown from Stem Cells Could Replace Hip Implants – Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cytex Therapeutics have found a way to program stem cells to grow new cartilage on a 3D template of the ball of a hip joint. Molecular Obstacles to Clinical Translation of iPSCs – This article discusses whether the therapeutic obstacles of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) clones are specific to transcription-factor-mediated reprogramming or inherent to every cellular reprogramming method. Conversion of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells to Multipotent Endodermal Progenitors Using Defined Small Molecules – Researchers describe the derivation of human induced endodermal progenitor cells from gastrointestinal epithelial cells using a cocktail of defined small molecules along with support from tissue-specific mesenchymal feeders. A New Bio-Ink for 3D Printing with Stem Cells – Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed a new kind of bio-ink, which could eventually allow the production of complex tissues for surgical implants. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Christine Pratt Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Neurologist and researcher Dr. Mark Freedman discusses his research, including a new discovery and treatment for multiple sclerosis using stem cells. Resources and Links Greased Up Head Helps Swordfish Swim Fast – This article reveals that a newly discovered oil-producing organ in the fish’s head gives it slick skin that could boost its speed. Activating Reward May Increase Immune System – Feeling good may help the body fight germs; when activated, nerve cells that help signal reward also boost the mice’s immune systems. Major Hole in the Ozone Layer Is Closing – This article reports that the average size of the Antarctic ozone hole has shrunk by about 4.5 million square kilometers, an area larger than India, since 2000. Mass Killings Are Contagious, Media Is the Vector – Mass killings and school shootings spread "contagiously," where one killing or shooting increases the chances that others will occur within about two weeks. Young Stem Cell Scientists Struggle for Funding – A study led by government scientists showed that middle-aged and older stem cell researchers are crowding out younger scientists in competition for federal grants. Zika Virus Disrupts Neural Progenitor Development and Leads to Microcephaly in Mice – Researchers found that Asian Zika virus (ZIKV) strain SZ01 replicates efficiently in embryonic mouse brain by directly targeting different neuronal linages and that ZIKV infection leads to cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of neural progenitor cell differentiation, resulting in cortical thinning and microcephaly. A Stem Cell Therapy to Replace Root Canals? – Scientists from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University's Wyss Institute are developing a new treatment strategy that could someday help heal a damaged tooth using the patient's own stem cells. A New Model of Autism Using Stem Cells – Researchers at the Salk Institute turned skin cells of people with autism spectrum disorder into neurons, showing specific defects compared with those neurons derived from healthy people. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mark Freedman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Stem cell researcher and politician Dr. Raj Kittappa to discuss his political expertise as well as his latest research endeavors with stem cells and Parkinson’s disease. Resources and Links Wine Being Made 6300 Years Ago – Researchers have uncorked the oldest solid evidence of grape-based wine making in Europe, and possibly the world, at a site in northern Greece using a new method of analyzing the chemicals in liquids absorbed by clay containers. Scientists Have Gained Insight to Why Mitochondrial DNA Is Passed Down to Children by Their Mothers — But Not Their Fathers – DNA inside energy-producing organelles called mitochondria is destroyed in a dad’s sperm shortly after it fertilizes an egg. A New Cause of Lyme Disease – This article reveals that a new species of bacteria is causing Lyme disease, adding to worries that the infection will continue its relentless escalation across the United States. Functional Coupling with Cardiac Muscle Promotes Maturation of hPSC-Derived Sympathetic Neurons – Researchers derive sympathetic neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and show that they can form physical and functional connections with cardiac muscle cells. In Vivo Tracking of Human Hematopoiesis Reveals Patterns of Clonal Dynamics during Early and Steady-State Reconstitution Phases – Scientists discovered that in vitro-manipulated hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells retain the ability to return to latency after transplant and can be physiologically reactivated, sustaining a stable hematopoietic output. Derivation of Diverse Hormone-Releasing Pituitary Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells – This article presents a simple and efficient strategy to derive human pituitary lineages from human pluripotent stem cells using monolayer culture conditions suitable for cell manufacturing. Retinoic Acid Is Sufficient for the In Vitro Induction of Mouse Spermatocytes – Researchers report that retinoic acid is sufficient for inducing leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes from cultured mouse spermatogonial stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Raj Kittappa Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe