A CRISPR Bite: How gene-editing technology is changing our food

Corinne Ruff, GEAP3 Network, Lauren Crossland-Marr

CRISPR gene-editing technology came out as a massive biotech breakthrough in the last decade, but most people have still never heard of it. In this five-part series, food anthropologist Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr takes listeners into the labs where researchers are tinkering with food genes, to help break down the problems they’re hoping to solve – and what’s at stake. read less
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Episodes

The First Bite
Sep 27 2023
The First Bite
CRISPR gene-editing technology is making many advances in the medical world, but you’re more likely to first encounter CRISPR on your plate. In this episode, we walk you through how CRISPR works, its opportunities and why some people worry that the risks may outweigh the potential benefits.ResourcesJennifer Doudna’s TedTalkInterviewsSonja Lindberg, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, Iowa State UniversityLink to her co-authored article published in February 2023: “Gene-Edited Food Adoption Intentions and Institutional Trust in the United States: Benefits, Acceptance, and Labeling” in Rural SociologyDr. Michael Antoniou, Reader in Molecular Genetics, King’s College, LondonClaire Robinson, Editor, GM WatchCreditsA CRISPR Bite is supported by the Jean Monnet Network, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union through the GEAP-3 Network of scientists. More on our project here. This podcast does not reflect the views of our funders. This podcast was co-written and hosted by Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr. Our executive producer is Corinne Ruff. She co-wrote, edited and produced the show. Jake Harper edited this episode. The show was sound designed and engineered by Adriene Lilly. Aaron Crossland made our theme music. Rachael Marr designed our logo.  Legal support from New Media Rights.Thank you to the GEAP-3 team! Special thanks to Matthew Schnurr, Klara Fischer, and Glenn Stone for their support and advice on this podcast.Leave a 5-star rating and review of this episode on Apple podcasts to help us spread the word. Have more to say? Email us at acrisprbitepodcast@gmail.com. Follow for updates on Instagram @acrisprbite
Tomatoes
Oct 4 2023
Tomatoes
Can tomatoes made using CRISPR help relieve stress? In this episode, we take you to Japan to learn more about the first CRISPR food available on the market. ResourcesFor a firsthand look at the invention of the first GMO whole food, our team highly recommends Dr. Belinda Martineau’s book,First Fruit: The Creation of the Flavr Savr Tomato and the Birth of Biotech Foods (2001).InterviewsDr. Belinda Martineau, UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy & ResearchHaruka NakataCreditsA CRISPR Bite is supported by the Jean Monnet Network, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union through the GEAP-3 Network of scientists. More about our project here. This podcast does not reflect the views of our funders. This podcast was co-written and hosted by Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr. Our executive producer is Corinne Ruff. She co-wrote, edited and produced the show. Jake Harper edited this episode. The show was sound designed and engineered by Adriene Lilly. Aaron Crossland made our theme music. Rachael Marr designed our logo.  Legal support from New Media Rights.Thank you to the GEAP-3 team! Special thanks to Matthew Schnurr, Klara Fischer, and Glenn Stone for their support and advice on this podcast. Special thanks to Fumino Tamaki for her help with organizing the Japanese interview. Leave a 5-star rating and review of this episode on Apple podcasts to help us spread the word. Have more to say? Email us at acrisprbitepodcast@gmail.com. Follow for updates on Instagram @acrisprbite
Wine
Oct 18 2023
Wine
Is CRISPR the solution to controlling the pest plaguing California’s wine industry? In this episode, we take you to a lab where researchers are using CRISPR to genetically modify a frightening insect responsible for spreading a bacteria and killing vines.Clarification: While Dr. Tim Martinson holds healthy skepticism about the hype around CRISPR technology now, he acknowledges that it's just starting to be used and he believes it will become a valuable tool – one of many in a grape breeder’s toolbox.  ResourcesTo learn more about wine grape breeding techniques, we highly recommend reading up on Dr. Tim Martinson's research on the subject here and here.InterviewsDr. Tim Martinson, Senior Extension Associate (retired), School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell AgriTechDr. Peter Atkinson, Professor of Entomology, University of California, RiversideDr. Linda Walling, Professor and Geneticist, Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, RiversideCreditsA CRISPR Bite is supported by the Jean Monnet Network, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union through the GEAP-3 Network of scientists. More about our project here. This podcast does not reflect the views of our funders. This podcast was co-written and hosted by Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr. Our executive producer is Corinne Ruff. She co-wrote, edited and produced the show. Jake Harper edited this episode. The show was sound designed and engineered by Adriene Lilly. Aaron Crossland made our theme music. Rachael Marr designed our logo.  Legal support from New Media Rights and marketing help from Tink Media. Thank you to the GEAP-3 team! Special thanks to Matthew Schnurr, Klara Fischer, and Glenn Stone for their support and advice on this podcast. Leave a 5-star rating and review of this episode on Apple podcasts to help us spread the word. Have more to say? Email us at acrisprbitepodcast@gmail.com. Follow for updates on Instagram @acrisprbite
Cattle
Oct 25 2023
Cattle
Hornless cattle were once the poster animals for a gene-editing revolution, until the FDA found a pesky mistake in their DNA. In this episode, we go to a California research farm to  explore unintended consequences.Clarification: The FDA has an established process for researchers to request authorization to put animals with investigational genomic alterations, including those made with CRISPR, into the food supply. But the FDA does not issue orders to incinerate those animals. The cattle at the heart of this story were ultimately incinerated.  Interviews:Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, Extension Specialist: Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Department of Animal Science, University of California DavisHer 2022 study "Animal Health and Food Safety Analyses of Six Offspring of a Genome-Edited Hornless Bull."Dr. Alexis L. Norris, Division of Animal Bioengineering and Cellular Therapies Center for Veterinary Medicine, The Food and Drug AdministrationCreditsA CRISPR Bite is supported by the Jean Monnet Network, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union through the GEAP-3 Network of scientists. More about our project here. This podcast does not reflect the views of our funders. This podcast was co-written and hosted by Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr. Our executive producer is Corinne Ruff. She co-wrote, edited and produced the show. Jake Harper edited this episode. The show was sound designed and engineered by Adriene Lilly. Aaron Crossland made our theme music. Rachael Marr designed our logo.  Legal support from New Media Rights and marketing help from Tink Media. Maya Tsingos fact checked this episode.Thank you to the GEAP-3 team! Special thanks to Matthew Schnurr, Klara Fischer, and Glenn Stone for their support and advice on this podcast. Leave a 5-star rating and review of this episode on Apple podcasts to help us spread the word. Have more to say? Email us at acrisprbitepodcast@gmail.com. Follow for updates on Instagram @acrisprbite