Speaking of Mol Bio

Some genetic variants may help explain why different psychiatric disorders share overlapping biology.

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Jess McAfee, PhD, and Alejandro Gomez from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about their work studying pleiotropic variants associated with psychiatric disorders. Jess explains how genome-wide association studies can identify regions of the genome linked to disease risk, but often cannot pinpoint which specific variants are functionally important. Her work used massively parallel reporter assays, or MPRAs, to test whether different alleles in non-coding regulatory regions alter gene expression. Alejandro then describes how CRISPRi can help take the next step by targeting those variants in the genome and asking which nearby genes respond. Together, these approaches provide a clearer path from statistical genetic association to functional biological insight.

The episode also highlights two early-career scientists whose paths into molecular biology were anything but linear. Jess moved from plant genetics to human genomics, while Alejandro shifted from chemistry and industry into CRISPR-based neuroscience research. Along the way, they reflect on mentorship, lab culture, persistence, AI, and the excitement of working with technologies that are still rapidly evolving.

NOTE: This episode may contain general information relating to various medical conditions or their treatment.  This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for advice provided by a doctor or other qualified health care professional.  Patients should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice or information about diagnosis and treatment.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Great science doesn’t always translate into a scalable product, and that gap can stall even the most promising innovations.

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Steve Lewis explores a common challenge in biotech: moving from a validated assay or prototype to a commercially viable product. While scientific teams often achieve strong early results, scaling requires coordination across design, engineering, materials, and manufacturing, which typically involves multiple vendors. This fragmented process introduces delays, misalignment, and risk. The episode highlights how physical product design, especially for consumables like microfluidic cartridges or custom plastics, can ultimately determine whether a solution reaches the market. By integrating design, prototyping, and manufacturing under one roof, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Plastics Prototyping Services aim to streamline this transition. Early consideration of materials, manufacturability, and reagent compatibility enables faster iteration and more efficient scale-up, particularly for startups navigating growth stages.

Ultimately, the message is clear: if your biology works but your product doesn’t scale, the problem is solvable. With the right integrated approach, innovation doesn’t have to stall, it can move efficiently from idea to impact.

Helpful resources and links:

Learn more about Thermo Fisher Plastics Prototyping Services

Access information about reagents and raw materials for use in your product(s)

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Not all experiments are created equal, and neither are the decisions behind them. In this episode, Cam Cyr explores how scientists navigate the balance between cost and performance in molecular biology workflows.

Drawing from his experience as a technical sales specialist, Cam breaks down what “performance” really means in practice, from enzyme fidelity and sensitivity to reproducibility and inhibitor tolerance. He highlights how these factors become critical in high-stakes applications like antibody engineering or single-cell analysis, where errors can propagate and compromise entire workflows. Through examples like reverse transcription enzymes and high-fidelity polymerases, Cam illustrates why premium products are often essential when working with rare samples or build-critical steps. At the same time, he explains where cost-saving approaches make sense where results are binary and easy to replicate, such as genotyping or routine screening.

Ultimately, the conversation reframes how scientists should think about cost, not as price per reaction, but as cost per successful result. Along the way, Cam shares his career journey from bench science to a customer-facing role, offering perspective on the many paths available in life sciences and the importance of staying curious.

Suggested Links: 

View Thermo Fisher reverse transcription and PCR enzymes

Learn more about Thermo Scientific™ EquiPhi29™ DNA Polymerase

Explore careers at Thermo Fisher Scientific

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

HIV research is one of the clearest examples of molecular biology in action. In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Dr. Ryan Jeep walks through how fundamental molecular techniques power everything from detection to drug resistance studies to cure-focused research.

Ryan begins with HIV biology and detection, explaining how qRT-PCR enables highly sensitive viral load measurement. These assays not only detection strategies but also support research to monitor treatment efficacy and viral rebound. From there, he moves into drug resistance, describing how sequencing, RT-PCR, and cloning strategies help researchers map resistance-associated mutations. By generating recombinant reporter viruses and measuring infectivity against different drugs, scientists can better understand treatment failure and move toward more personalized therapeutic strategies.

Finally, Ryan explores cutting-edge cure research, including CRISPR-Cas9 approaches aimed at either disabling integrated viral genomes or engineering HIV-resistant immune cells. Across all three areas one theme remains constant: PCR, sequencing, and cloning form the technological backbone of HIV research. As these tools continue to evolve, so too does the potential to improve outcomes and one day eliminate the virus entirely.

Since recording this episode, Ryan has joined KBI Biopharma as a Scientist l in their Formulation Development Group.

Helpful resources and links:

Access Stanford University’s HIV Drug Resistance Database.

Visit International AIDS Society’s Towards an HIV Cure site, which includes resources. 

Access Thermo Fisher PCR resources and products.

Learn about RT-qPCR, which is relevant to HIV research. 

Explore the cloning technologies referenced in this episode. 

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Dr. Leif Larsen, Director of Biology at Vipergen, about the power of DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) in modern drug discovery. DEL technology enables researchers to screen extremely large chemical libraries by attaching a unique DNA barcode to each compound, allowing millions, or even hundreds of millions, of compounds to be analyzed simultaneously through sequencing. 

Larsen explains how Vipergen’s platform flips traditional screening methods by storing massive compound libraries in a single tube and identifying binding interactions through DNA sequencing. He also describes their proprietary Binder Trap Enrichment (BTE) method, which links DNA barcodes when compounds successfully bind their protein targets. One of the company’s most innovative advances is performing DEL screening inside living Xenopus oocytes. By expressing target proteins in these large cells and microinjecting DNA-encoded libraries, researchers can evaluate binding events in a physiologically relevant environment.

The discussion also explores how this technology accelerates early drug discovery timelines and enables screening of difficult targets such as transcription factors and membrane proteins. Larsen closes by highlighting emerging areas such as PROTAC-based targeted protein degradation and how DEL screening can help identify molecules suitable for these next-generation therapeutic strategies.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.