Base Pairs

SPECIAL EPISODE! [We strongly recommend listening to Base Pairs episode 17 to contextualize this extended discussion.] Some of the most sought after gifts this holiday season are at-home DNA tests. These tests let anyone send a sample of his or her DNA to get analyzed for various results: the geographic location of ancestors; predisposition to illness; and other data points a person’s genetic code can reveal about themselves. But there is more to personal genotyping than simply learning about ourselves. Host Brian Stallard sat down with Dr. Yaniv Erlich, a Watson School of Biological Sciences alumnus who is currently the Chief Scientific officer at MyHeritage DNA, to get his unique academic and commercial perspective on the use of personal genetic information. Listen as Erlich discusses privacy concerns, using genetics for justice, and his list of pros and cons for finding out about your genetic code.

Mail-order genetic testing —more accurately known as genotyping— is a growing trend. But what exactly is this data that's send back? And what can people (even law enforcement) DO with that data? We explore the tricky situation posed by private genetic information in an "open data" world.

Biofuels are the wave of the future, and a small plant called duckweed could be a significant part of that. Hear more from Professor Rob Martienssen about how genetic modification and advances in genome mapping technology factor in to the future of fuel. On our pop culture segment, we dive into some cinematic biofuels of the future, both hopeful and dystopian. -- Disclaimer: This product is a not-for-profit learning resource. All film clips included are solely for the purposes of critique and education. They are solely the property of Warner Bros. production, Warner Bros. Pictures, and in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and Groucho Film Partnership. Music and sounds from White Noise Factory.

As concentrations of greenhouse gasses continue to rise, scientists are working hard to develop ways to ween the world off our need for fossil fuels. Biofuels are one promising solution, and they're commonly made from food crops like corn, or even byproducts like husks. Now CSHL Professor Rob Martienssen is trying to pull fuel from something surprisingly unique: pond scum.

Immunotherapy has been receiving much more attention over the past few years, but the history of this promising type of cancer therapy is a long one. Adding to the story of William Coley’s early immunotherapy from Base Pairs 15, “The Immune System, Unleashed!” we hear about how his daughter used a barn full of case notes to start the Cancer Research Institute. Then, Professor Doug Fearon talks about on why the immune system is able to identify certain types of cancer cells more easily than others. Finally, in our pop culture segment, we talk about how invaders in the body are often met with the might of the white blood cell, no matter what (or who) they are! -- Disclaimer: This product is a not-for-profit learning resource. All film clips included are solely for the purposes of critique and education. They are solely the property of South Carolina ETV, Nelvana, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Warner Bros., and Conundrum Entertainment.