Think genetically engineered crops are unable to spread their transgenes to other plants?

Who: Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith, Oregon State University
Title: When gene flow matters: coexistence of GE and non-GE crops
Date: Monday, April 26, 2010
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Venue: Room A104, Clark Building [map]
Host: Bethany Econopouly, Soil & Crop Sciences

Gene flow is often raised as one of the major issues surrounding the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) crops because it can lead to the adventitious presence of the transgene. Gene flow via pollen was the initial issue raised with the introduction of GE crops, usually in regards to crossing with wild or weedy relatives. Gene flow occurs to some degree in all crops, even those that are predominantly self-pollinated. However, gene flow also can occur through movement of seed or vegetative propagules. For many crops, gene flow via seed will be the most common avenue of movement. The consequences of gene flow are dependent on the biology of the crop, the trait in question, and market issues surrounding the acceptance of the transgene. The traits that have been deregulated to date do not provide a fitness advantage in most instances but some newer traits may. It is difficult to predict under which circumstances gene flow will occur but there are many potential avenues. It is critical that gene flow be considered with the introduction of GE crops. However, there can be coexistence between GE and non-GE crops but tolerance levels must be set that can be met in the marketplace.

Carol Mallory-Smith, PhD is a professor and associate department head in the Crop and Soil Science Department at Oregon State University and also runs the Weed Science research group. Read more about her research interests here. Please contact Bethany if you would like to meet with Dr. Mallory-Smith during her visit to CSU.

Think all cancers are alike? Think modern proteomics science makes cancer diagnosis infallible? Think all lab experiments are held to the same standard? Think again. Please join us for a very special talk and learn the truth about cancer diagnosis and experimental design.

Who: Dr. Keith Baggerly, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas
Title: Proteomics, ovarian cancer, and experimental design
Date: Monday, April 19, 2010
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Venue: Room A104, Clark Building [map]
Host: Dana Gammelgaard, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Just as microarrays let us measure expression levels of thousands of genes, mass spectrometry lets us measure the expression of hundreds of proteins. Using spectra from easily available samples (e.g., serum), we seek proteins linked to differences like the presence or absence of cancer. This approach was claimed to provide near perfect diagnostic accuracy for ovarian cancer, and a home-brew test (OvaCheck) was publicly advertised. In this talk, we introduce the mass spectrometry variants of matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization/time of flight (MALDI-TOF), and surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization (SELDI-TOF). We then take a pictorial tour through the raw data. However, the data most clearly shows not biological structure, but rather the need for careful experimental design (our broader theme).

Keith A. Baggerly, PhD  is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Read more about his research interests here. Please contact Dana if you would like to meet with Dr. Baggerly during his visit to CSU.

Think fighting world hunger is just about the calories? Think iron deficiency is not the most important cause of global malnutrition? Think molecular biology won’t help feed the planet? Think again. Please join us for a very special talk and learn the truth about iron biogenesis.

Who: Dr. Janneke Balk, University of Cambridge
Title: Unraveling the biogenesis of Fe-S and Moco enzymes
Date: Monday, March 22, 2010
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Venue: Room 231, Wagar Building [map]
Host: Wiebke Tapken, Biology

Many of life’s biochemical processes are catalysed by metal cofactors. Organisms have developed elaborate molecular machinery to acquire the metals, transport them safely and insert them correctly into proteins. The genes involved in metal cofactor assembly are generally highly conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, but compartmentalization adds an extra layer of complexity in eukaryotes. Our studies on iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster assembly in yeast and plants show that the mitochondria play a pivotal role in the biogenesis of cytosolic and nuclear Fe-S cofactors. The mitochondrial cysteine desulfurase, as well as an ABC transporter across the inner mitochondrial membrane are required for this process. Interestingly, the same ABC transporter also plays a role in the assembly of molybdenum cofactor (Moco), both in plants and mammals. Immuno-localization in Arabidopsis showed that the first step of Moco assembly takes place in the mitochondrial matrix, and not in the cytosol as previously thought.

Janneke Balk is a Royal Society Research Fellow in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Read more about her research interests here. Please contact Wiebke if you would like to meet with Dr. Balk during her visit to CSU.

Who: Dr. Eugenie Scott, National Center for Science Education
Title: Not over after Dover: what we learned from Kitzmiller v. Dover
Date: Monday, January 25, 2010
Time: 3:00PM – 4:00PM, discussion panel and reception afterward
Venue: East Ballroom, Lory Student Center
Host: Jeric Harper, Biology

The 2005 Kitzmiller v Dover trial was a test of the constitutionality of teaching intelligent design – and ID failed. In response, the creationist movement has evolved new strategies calling for teaching the “strengths and weaknesses of evolution” or the “critical analysis of evolution”, but these turn out to be creationism in disguise. Dr. Scott will discuss the Kitzmiller trial and its aftermath. This presentation for the Colloquium in the Life Sciences is sponsored by ASCSU and is open to the public. Please contact Jeric if you would like to meet with Dr. Scott during her visit to CSU.

Eugenie Scott is the executive director of NCSE, the premier institution dedicated to keeping evolution in the classroom. Check out their Facebook page, or follow their good fight on Twitter.

Who: Dr. Anthony Cognato,  Michigan State University
Title: Recent advances in the knowledge of bark beetle systematics
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009
Time: Mixer at 3:30 PM, talk at 4:00 PM
Venue: Room 109, Natural Resources Building [map]
Host: Shiloh McCollum, BSPM

In addition to being an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at MSU, Anthony Cognato is also the Director of the AJ Cook Arthropod Research Collection. Read more about his research interests here. Please contact Shiloh if you would like to meet with Dr. Cognato during his visit to CSU.

We here at The Colloquium in the Life Sciences are very excited about our schedule for the new year. The Colloquium provides an opportunity to connect with some of the biggest thinkers in life science research today. So don’t get left out: nominate your favourite speaker for our upcoming seminar series!

This year’s theme is: learn the truth. This exciting new series of talks will shatter stereotypes and set straight some of the public misconceptions about science. We are looking for dynamic speakers, scientists, teachers, philosophers, researchers, journalists, authors and policymakers from all areas of life science.

If you would like to participate in this year’s events, simply click on the tab above labeled Speaker Nomination for all you need to know about getting your favourite speaker to CSU.

We also now have a Twitter feed up and running. Follow us to receive seminar reminders, links to speaker profiles and for the latest news on Colloquium activities!

As always, feel free to email us with any questions or suggestions you may have.

Join the conversation. Get involved.