Biologists Being Basic

QBI UCSF
  • 4.9 (12)
  • LIFE SCIENCES

Welcome to Biologists Being Basic, a podcast where we talk about basic research, why we care about it, and why you should too!

  1. SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

    11/24/2021

    SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

    The B3 team is back for an episode discussing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. B3 hosts Robyn and Kelsey are joined by their colleagues Drs. Lorena Zuliani-Alvarez and Ujjwal Rathore, and their guest Laura Gladson, to talk about what vaccines are, as well as our own experiences in getting vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Then we take a look at the common misconceptions, and try to address frequently asked questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. For a full transcript, please visit our website’s transcript page where you can find both the online and downloadable versions. http://biosbeingbasic.podomatic.net/transcripts. If you have any questions or comments you can email us at biologistsbeingbasic@gmail.com or find us on twitter or instagram (@biosbeingbasic).  See our website for more details (http://biosbeingbasic.podomatic.net).

    1h 28m
  2. Updates on SARS-CoV-2 Part 2

    04/21/2021

    Updates on SARS-CoV-2 Part 2

    In our second episode revisiting SARS-CoV-2 research we examine how SARS-CoV-2 infects cardiac cells and causes damage to the heart. We talk to co-authors Sarah Rockwood, Dr. Juan Perez-Bermejo, and Dr. Serah Kang about how they use induced pluripotent stem cells to study the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on heart tissue. News coverage of this study, and the STAT article that is referenced during the episode can be found here: https://abc7news.com/covid-heart-damage-palpitations-san-francisco-gladstone-institutes-attack/10433711/ https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/04/carnage-in-lab-dish-shows-how-coronavirus-may-damage-heart/ The primary peer-reviewed research article, published in Science Translational Medicine, titled “SARS-CoV-2 infection of human iPSC-derived cardiac cells reflects cytopathic features in hearts of patients with COVID-19” can be found here: https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/03/15/scitranslmed.abf7872 If you have any questions or comments you can email us at biologistsbeingbasic@gmail.com or find us on Twitter or Instagram (@biosbeingbasic). See our website for more details (biologistsbeingbasic.com).

    1h 3m
  3. Updates on SARS-CoV-2 Part 1

    03/31/2021

    Updates on SARS-CoV-2 Part 1

    In this episode we revisit SARS-CoV-2 research and take a look at new studies that have built on the work completed early in the pandemic. We focus on a story featuring Plitidepsin, a cancer drug that is being repurposed and tested in clinical trials to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. This discussion features B3 hosts Gina, Mehdi and Robyn who are joined by scientists Dr. Lucy Thorne and Dr. Ann-Kathrin Reuschl. You can find the first article that was published in Science, “Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A” here: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6532/926 You can find the second pre-print article, “Host-directed therapies against early-lineage SARS-CoV-2 retain efficacy against B.1.1.7 variant” at bioRxiv here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.24.427991v2 If you have any questions or comments you can email us at biologistsbeingbasic@gmail.com or find us on twitter or instagram (@biosbeingbasic). See our website for more details (http://biosbeingbasic.podomatic.net).

    1h 4m
  4. Women in Science

    03/08/2021

    Women in Science

    The B3 team is back and in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we produced an episode that focuses on women in science. Join B3 hosts Robyn, Paige, Gina, and Alexa as we have a candid discussion about our own experiences in science and the women scientists we have looked up to and learned about during our careers. If you have any questions or comments you can email us at biologistsbeingbasic@gmail.com or find us on twitter or instagram (@biosbeingbasic). Episode notes: The Sago Show by Rachel Lucero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVE8si4FfnA Food52 article by Amelia Rampe: https://food52.com/blog/24700-maria-orosa-profile Esquire article by Mario Alvaro Limos: https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/maria-orosa-the-war-hero-who-invented-banana-ketchup-a00293-20191109

    48 min
  5. Team Holiday Party

    12/23/2020

    Team Holiday Party

    In our last episode of 2020, come join our B3 holiday party and get to know teammates Robyn, Michael, Alexa, Gina, Paige, Joe, Mehdi and Kelsey! No science in this one, just some holiday cheer as we sit around the proverbial Zoom fireplace to ask and answer some comical questions. Episode notes: If Michael were a wrestler, this is the song he would walk out to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WN0T-Ee3q4 If Mehdi were a wrestler, this is the song he would walk out to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

    29 min
  6. Toxoplasma Gondii Part 2: Pascale Guiton, The Scientist Leading the Research

    12/09/2020

    Toxoplasma Gondii Part 2: Pascale Guiton, The Scientist Leading the Research

    In this episode, Biologists Being Basic (B3) hosts Paige, Gina and Robyn continue their conversation with special guest, Professor Pascale Guiton. Join us for a candid discussion about her path to science, her career in academia, her advocacy of BIPOC voices in STEM, and the importance of diversity, representation, inclusion and equity in the sciences. Further Resources: We highly recommend visiting Professor Guiton’s website, where you can find her publications and keep up with her latest science and BIPOC advocacy highlights: https://guitonlab.com/ In addition, if you are interested in the teaching material that was discussed in the episode, you can find the resource here: https://edarxiv.org/s9wkv/

    42 min
  7. Toxoplasma Gondii Part 1: The Cat Parasite

    11/11/2020

    Toxoplasma Gondii Part 1: The Cat Parasite

    In this episode, Biologists Being Basic (B3) hosts Paige, Gina and Robyn talk to special guest, Professor Pascale Guiton, about her research on the fascinating life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. In part one, we take a deeper look into the science behind the king of parasites. Further Resources: For further information on topics we talked about in Episode 7: Part 1, we highly recommend visiting Professor Guiton’s website and looking into her publications: https://guitonlab.com/ In addition, you can watch Dr. Guiton talk about Toxoplasma gondii and her research on QBI TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckixqEbxZfs For another look at Gina’s question (does this parasite make her love cats so much), check out this Ted-Ed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqno7K2zXi4 Dr. Guiton references work by Dr. Laura Knoll’s team on the role of delta-6-desaturase in Toxoplasma sexual reproduction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31430281/ ...and also discusses this study by Vyas et al on the behavioral changes induced by Toxoplasma infection in mice: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17404235/ Concerned about toxoplasmosis and pregnancy? No you don’t have to give up your cat, instead visit the CDC for more info: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/pregnant.html Dr. Guiton mentioned the call for a One Health framework to study Toxoplasma gondii, described in this review: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10393-019-01405-7 ...and references fluorescent staining of Toxoplasma gondii done by Dr. Sebastian Lourido. For cool videos and images of brightly colored Toxo (and coverage of his most recent research), watch this feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOnhthD3yz4 We talked about Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, who was the first to observe microscopic organisms (“animalcules”): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/07/antoni-leeuwenhoek-microbe-microscope-discovery-contribution/ Still fascinated by parasites and want to learn more? Check out this “hilarious and ever-so-slightly creepy” Ted talk by Ed Yong, who describes the biology behind a handful of parasites (including Toxo): https://www.ted.com/talks/ed_yong_zombie_roaches_and_other_parasite_tales?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare If you have any questions or comments you can email us at biologistsbeingbasic@gmail.com or find us on twitter or instagram (@biosbeingbasic).

    53 min
  8. Bananapalooza! (Bonus)

    10/19/2020

    Bananapalooza! (Bonus)

    In this special bonus episode, Biologists Being Basic (B3) hosts taste a bunch of different varieties of bananas… and that’s it! No science in this one, but if you want to listen in on our pre-COVID-19 pandemic culinary adventure, you can join B3 hosts Joe, Kelsey, Robyn and our friend Sean (with a special late appearance from Gina) as we taste different banana species. The Banana Variety pack was purchased from Miami Fruit (https://miamifruit.org/), and if you are curious about what each banana looks like, check out our pictures on instagram (@biosbeingbasic).

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to Biologists Being Basic, a podcast where we talk about basic research, why we care about it, and why you should too!

Information

  • Creator
    QBI UCSF
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2021
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 QBI UCSF
  • Show Website
    Biologists Being Basic