Nels and Vincent discuss how the loss of an enzyme in marine mammals millions of years ago now makes them at risk for neurotoxicity caused by human-made organophosphorous pesticides.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Click arrow to play
Download TWiEVO 34 (50 MB .mp3, 82 min)
Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
- Ancient losses of paraoxonase I (Science) 5:52, 15:49
- Big Yellow Taxi (YouTube) 1:00:04
- Image credit
- Letters read on TWiEVO 34 1:03:47
Hey farmer farmer put away the chlor-pyri-fus
I don’t care about spots on my apples
Leave me the manatee and walruses
Science Picks 1:13:56
Nels – New dinosaur discovered in Utah
Vincent – The Song of the Dodo by David Quammen
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles
Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Thanks for featuring our study on PON1! I enjoyed the episode. I can answer a few of the questions that came up about this interesting enzyme. For starters, PON1 has been extensively studied in humans as well, and we generally have strong protective activity against chlorpyrifos and diazinon. Like you suggested, there are human alleles with differing activities, and so certain individuals are more susceptible. Interestingly, those same alleles are also associated with risk for atherosclerosis. Next, yes, the high dN/dS ratios in the bats and primates are intriguing to us, but we haven’t been able to pin the reason down yet. Any ideas that you or your listeners have would be helpful! I hope all is well in Utah and New York.
Awesome!