Here at Biology Fortified, we've got a lot of projects going on. From databases of research, to infographics, blog posts, citizen science and more, we do what we do because we love science and we want more people to understand…
Tag: video
Why don’t farmers save seeds?
Written by Nir Oksenberg Until recently, I never put too much thought into where farmers get the seeds that they grow into the foods we eat. I assumed they saved seeds from their previous crop. I thought this would give…
Play it Hard – A Tribute to Dr. Norman Borlaug
The International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) and Biology Fortified have produced a special video tribute to the late Dr. Norman Borlaug, a legendary CIMMYT scientist who developed high-yielding, semi-dwarf wheat that started the Green Revolution which is…
Harmonious Coexistance
Here's a catchy tune - about coexistence! Back when genetically engineered canola was new in Canada, there was a conversation between two farmers - one who grew organic canola, and the other, GE. That conversation turned into this song: As…
How to Breed Fruit Trees
Have you ever wondered what goes into breeding your favorite fruit varieties? Breeding apples, plums, oranges and pears is made understandable with this video that explains the basic biology, origins, and techniques involved in breeding fruit trees. This is the…
Mark Lynas’s Oxford Farming Conference Speech
Years ago, environmental activist and author Mark Lynas campaigned against genetically engineered crops, sometimes ripping them up with his own hands. But in a speech given at the 2013 Oxford Farming Conference on January 3rd, he apologized for these actions,…
Plant Genetics – Gangnam Style
A big hat tip to Pam Ronald for finding this. The Weigel Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, which studies the molecular biology of plants and animals, has put together what might be one of the best…
Genetic modification of insects as pest control part 2
In part 1 of this series, I discussed the history of genetic modification in insects as pest control. We've been creating insect GMOs for the purposes of controlling pests for awhile. If you bombard insects with radiation, it can kill…
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Genetic modification of insects as pest control – Part 1
Vector borne diseases (VBDs) are generally pretty bad. Yellow fever, the disease which stopped the Panama canal dead in it's tracks, makes your liver fail and turns you yellow... hence the name. Malaria is caused by a parasite which ruptures…
Read More Genetic modification of insects as pest control – Part 1
Jorge Cham and chili peppers
Jorge Cham, the creator of the hilarious and successful online comic strip, Piled Higher and Deeper (Ph.D.), just visited NMSU's Chili Pepper Institute, and took video! Check it out. PHD Tales from the Road - NMSU's Chile Pepper Institute from…