A cryo–electron microscope accessible to the masses, and tracing the genetics of schizophrenia

Science Magazine Podcast

Science Podcast

News, News Commentary, Science

4.3 • 842 Ratings

🗓️ 30 January 2020

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Structural biologists rejoiced when cryo–electron microscopy, a technique to generate highly detailed models of biomolecules, emerged. But years after its release, researchers still face long queues to access these machines. Science’s European News Editor Eric Hand walks host Meagan Cantwell through the journey of a group of researchers to create a cheaper, more accessible alternative. Also this week, host Joel Goldberg speaks with psychiatrist and researcher Goodman Sibeko, who worked with the Xhosa people of South Africa to help illuminate genetic details of schizophrenia. Though scientists have examined this subject among Western populations, much less is known about the underlying genetics of people native to Africa. This week’s episode was edited by Podigy. Listen to previous podcasts. About the Science Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	This podcast is supported by the Icon School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, one of America's leading research medical schools.
0:07.8	Icon Mount Sinai is the academic arm of the eight hospital Mount Sinai health system in New York City.
0:13.9	It's consistently among the top recipients of NIH funding.
0:18.0	Researchers at Icon Mount Sinai have made breakthrough discoveries in many fields vital
0:22.8	to advancing the health of patients, including cancer, COVID and long COVID, cardiology,
0:29.3	neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. The Icon School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,
0:34.5	we find a way.
0:48.6	Welcome to the science podcast for January 31st, 2020. I'm Megan Cantwell. In this week's show,
0:55.8	I speak with Eric Hand about researcher's struggles to access cryo-electron microscopes, machines that create detailed models of biomolecules, and the journey of one team of researchers to create a cheaper alternative.
1:02.2	And Joel Goldberg talks with Goodman-Sebeco about the link between genetics and schizophrenia
1:07.0	in a native South African population.
1:13.6	When cryo-electron microscopy, a way to see the structure of biomolecules in extremely high
1:19.9	resolution emerged, researchers were very eager to start using this new technique. But it has
1:26.0	come with some complications.
1:28.2	I'm here with Eric Hand, Science's European News Editor, to talk about his story, which
1:32.5	dives into the challenges of accessing and also using these cryoem machines and the
1:37.9	individuals who are trying to create a cheaper alternative.
1:41.2	Thanks so much for joining me, Eric.
1:42.5	Thanks, Megan.
1:43.4	So I want to start, before we dive
1:45.2	into cryo-electron microscopy, also known as cryoem, talking a little bit about past ways to
1:51.3	look at biomolecules, which is x-ray crystallography. Can you talk a little bit about this method?
	...

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