Star Warsologies 26: Molecular & Cellular Biology
Molecular and cellular biologist (and sci-fi book and game store owner) Karim Si-Tayeb joins us to talk making clones and midichlorians on this episode of Star Warsologies
In this latest episode of Star Warsologies, we talk about all molecular and cellular biology in Star Wars!
Let’s look at the DNA of Star Wars! You might not expect Star Wars to connect to the world of molecular and cellular biology (the field of biology looking at things at the cellular level and smaller), but it does in a few key ways: the genetic manipulation and cellular development that goes into making clones like Boba Fett as well as midichlorians and their real-life inspiration, mitochondria. We examine the microscopic world of living cells in the galaxy far, far away with our guest expert Karim Si-Tayeb, PhD, in the field of genetic reprogramming and stem cells, and owner of Librairie Ludique Portails, a store specializing in sci-fi and fantasy books, comics, and games, in Nantes, France.
In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It’s a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!
Dr. Karim Si-Tayeb in the molecular and cellular biology laboratory.
Inside Librairie Ludique Portails, the book and game store owned and managed by Karim Si-Tayeb in Nantes, France
Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!
Show Links
- Karim Si-Tayeb’s store: Libraire Ludique Portails
- Les Utopiales, international science-fiction convention in Nantes
- The Body on a Chip, a Utopiales 2018 panel on organoids, with Karim Si-Tayeb and Jim C. Hines (in French)
- Article about Karim Si-Tayeb’s post-doctoral work at the Medical College of Wisconsin
- Online course video: Karim Si-Tayeb explaining stem cell differentiation into liver cells (in French)
- List of scientific articles by Karim Si-Tayeb on PubMed
- Karim Si-Tayeb on Twitter
Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com
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