From bats to cancer – the power of gene regulation

04/09/25 • 33 min

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Nadav Ahituv, a leader in human genetics and gene regulation at UCSF. He shares his personal journey from scoliosis patient to genetic researcher, exploring the mysteries of non-coding DNA, massively parallel reporter assays, and CRISPR-based therapeutic innovations.

We dive into his lab’s diverse projects, from decoding bat wing development and diet adaptation to tackling complex diseases like scoliosis and cancer through gene modulation. Learn how cloning is used alongside technologies like AI, genome-wide sequencing, and CRISPR to revolutionize our understanding of regulatory elements and shape the future of precision medicine.

Plus, discover how a surprising approach—using modified fat cells—could be a game-changer in cancer therapy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of genetics, technology, and evolution.

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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.

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.

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

Previous Episode

No more smears – expert tips for electrophoresis success

With prior Mol Bio Minutes episodes covering DNA form migration and staining considerations for nucleic acid gel electrophoresis, we tie it all together with this great set of overall tips, tricks and resources for the topic.

Anyone that’s ever run a gel has undoubtedly produced gels with smeared, faint or poorly separated bands. What causes these and how can you avoid them? Well, Aistė Polikaitytė, Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific is here to cover the likely causes and troubleshooting tips to help avoid the most common gel issues. She touches on how much sample to load, the importance of reagent selection, gel preparation, separation conditions, staining, as well as purification and contamination considerations.

Helpful resource links mentioned 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.

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

Next Episode

Sustainability made simple – greener choices in molecular biology

Sustainability in the lab isn't just a trend—it's a responsibility. In this quick but powerful Mol Bio Minutes episode, sustainability expert Sune Lund Sporring shares actionable tips to reduce energy use, manage lab waste, and transition to greener materials like Thermo Fisher’s Sustain Series bio-based plastics.

Discover the difference between bio-based and biodegradable, why second-generation feedstocks are a game-changer, and how to make low-impact changes without compromising performance. Learn how small shifts—like using aluminum beads instead of water in a bath or switching to carbon-reduced plastics—can significantly cut your lab’s carbon footprint. And remember: if greener options aren’t available, your demand can help shape the market.

Helpful resource links mentioned in this episode:

My Green Lab – Facts and resources about lab sustainability
Energy use of fume hoods – Energy use and savings ideas for fume hoods
Greener by Design – Thermo Fisher’s approach to green solutions
Lab ArmorTM Beads – A sustainable option to replace water in water baths
Instrument trade up program – trade in your equipment to be green and give it a second life
Lab plastic waste – Stats about plastic waste in labs
Doing something about it – Thermo Fisher’s lower carbon plastics solution
Sustain Series PCR plastics – Lower carbon footprint, without workflow interruption
Reasons to believe – Fact sheet about Sustain Series PCR plastics

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.

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