The Petri Dish

In this episode, we discuss what is known about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an increasingly discussed issue due to its effects on current and former football players. We discuss who else CTE affects, what is happening in the brain of affected individuals, and how more research is needed to solve this serious problem.

In our inaugural episode of 2014, we discuss how a company called GoldieBlox is helping to create the next generation of female engineers, how the three of us got bitten by the science "bug", and what can be done to get kids more interested in STEM fields.

It’s flu season...In this episode we discuss how vaccines are made and what happens after it is injected into your body.

Ever wished you could change a memory...in a mouse? In this episode, we find out what a memory looks like and how it can be altered in the lab using a novel technology known as optigenetics.

The BRCA1 Gene: Understanding the Acronym Angelina Jolie's powerful op-ed in the NY Times took us through an emotional decision she made due to a genetic mutation. In this episode, we discuss facts and statistics surrounding the BRCA1 gene, patenting genes, and the high cost of testing.

Are You Afraid of the Franken-wheat? Ever wonder what all the fuss is about around genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? In this episode, we attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff in the recent and ongoing controversy surrounding GMOs and the implications of their use for human health and the environment.

Getting Friendly With the Microbes That Call Your Body Home Did you know there are trillions of microbes that colonize the human body? Collectively, they are known as the human microbiome. It’s amazing to think that for each human cell there are ten bacterial cells on or in our bodies. In this episode of the Petri Dish Podcast, we will discuss a promising and exciting area of science that studies the complex relationship between microbes and human health!