The youngest sex chromosomes on the block, and how to test a Zika vaccine without Zika cases

Science Magazine Podcast

Science Podcast

News, News Commentary, Science

4.3 • 842 Ratings

🗓️ 13 September 2018

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Strawberries had both male and female parts, like most plants, until several million years ago. This may seem like a long time ago, but it actually means strawberries have some of the youngest sex chromosomes around. What are the advantages of splitting a species into two sexes? Host Sarah Crespi interviews freelance journalist Carol Cruzan Morton about her story on scientists’ journey to understanding the strawberry’s sexual awakening. In 2016, experimental Zika vaccines were swiftly developed in response to the emergence of serious birth defects in the babies of infected woman. Two years after the height of Zika cases, there’s so little spread of the virus in the Americas that it has stymied vaccine trials. Researchers hope to overcome this hurdle with “human challenge experiments”—vaccinating people, then intentionally infecting them with Zika to see whether they’re protected from the virus. Meagan Cantwell talks with staff writer Jon Cohen about his news story that highlights the risks and rewards of human challenge experiments. This week’s episode was edited by Podigy. Download a transcript of this episode (PDF) Listen to previous podcasts. About the Science Podcast [Image: Public domain; Music: Jeffrey Cook] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Morgan State University, a Baltimore, Maryland Carnegie R2 doctoral research institution,
0:05.0	offers more than 100 academic programs and awards degrees at the Baccliorate, Masters, and Doctoral Levels,
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0:16.0	Morgan continues to address the needs and challenges of the modern urban environment.
0:20.0	With a four-year
0:21.6	quadrupling of research, more than a dozen new doctoral programs, and eight new
0:26.4	national centers of excellence, Morgan is positioned to achieve Carnegie R1 designation in the next
0:32.4	five years. To learn more about Morgan and their ascension to R1, visit morgan.edu slash research.
0:40.4	This week's episode is brought to you in part by Lego Technic.
0:43.6	Lego Technic isn't just another Lego set with bricks.
0:47.0	It's real-life advanced building.
0:49.4	Some sets have interconnecting rods, working gears, even real electric motors.
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1:07.0	To find your next Technic build and see how Lego recently built a life-sized drivable supercar out of Technic
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1:19.4	Lego-E-N-I-C.
1:20.1	Lego-Real for Real.
1:31.3	Welcome to the Science Podcast for September 14, 2018.
1:32.9	I'm Sarah Crespi.
1:39.4	On this week's show, I talk with science writer Carol Cruzon-Morton about the sexual awakening of the strawberry. In the last million years or so, some species have divided into two sexes, giving researchers new
1:45.9	insight into making sex chromosomes. And Megan Cantwell talks to staff writer John Cohen about
	...

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