Venomous #392

October 21, 2016

This week we're looking at some of the animals, insects, and creatures we fear the most and the venom that makes them so powerful. Biologist and science blogger Christie Wilcox returns to talk about her first book "Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry". And Jim Olson, a physician scientist and Director of Project Violet, tells us about "Tumor Paint", a fluorescent molecule that binds to solid tumors to help guide surgeons during surgeries, which was partially derived from the venom of the deathstalker scorpion.

Guests:

  • Christie Wilcox
  • James Olson
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Guest Bios

Christie Wilcox

Christie Wilcox, PhD, is a biologist and science writer. She has blogged about science since 2008, and currently pens Science Sushi for Discover Magazine and tweets as @NerdyChristie. At five years old, she told her teacher she liked to "open the mouths of dead geckos to look at their tongues"—an obsession with animals that has only deepened. You can read all about her adventures in her upcoming first popular science book, "Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry".

James Olson

Dr James Olson is a physician scientist who cares for children with brain tumors and discovers and develops new cancer therapies. He is currently a full member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a Professor at the University of Washington, an attending physician at Seattle Children's Hospital, the Director of Project Violet, and founder of Presage Biosciences and Blaze Bioscience. He and his lab team discovered Tumor Paint, a targeted fluorescent molecule that binds to solid tumors to help guide surgeons during cancer resection.