Ask Doctor Dawn

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-21-2-24: Dr. Dawn introduces the groundbreaking Cellular Atlas project published in Nature journal, explaining how new technology allows unprecedented analysis of cellular interactions and developmental patterns. She explores the concept of holobionts - viewing symbiotic organisms as composite life forms with their microbiomes as co-equal contributors - challenging traditional views of individual organisms. The show delves into examples of holobiont relationships in nature, from bark beetles carrying fungal spores to the complex bacterial communities in human bodies and plant root systems. Dr. Dawn discusses how the holobiont perspective is revolutionizing our understanding of diseases, from cancer microbiomes to colony collapse disorder in bees. She examines practical applications of holobiont research in agriculture, including drought-resistant crops and methods to reduce methane emissions from cattle. The show explores the gut-brain axis and how microbiome interactions influence various diseases including depression, anxiety, and metabolic disorders. She then discusses research identifying that various cancers co-exist in the body with distinct fungal and bacterial microbiomes of their own Dr. Dawn concludes with a discussion of declining iodine levels in the American population, examining dietary changes and potential health implications.

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