From wound healing to cell growth to bone formation, fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) are responsible for a diverse range of biological processes. This episode begins with the basics: the functions of FGFs and FGFRs. We will then move on to an indepth dive into the structure of FGFRs and how they work with FGFs to initiate the desired cellular response. Finally, we will end the episode by exploring the three main pathways used by FGFs and their corresponding receptors.

FGFR Model: https://images.app.goo.gl/FaZjvuh5H1QnTgfa8

Cancer is a disease that has a chokehold on today’s society. With approximately 2 million new cancer diagnoses in the US every year paired with 10 million cancer-caused deaths worldwide, scientists have been struggling for centuries to find a cure. In today’s episode, we discuss the two main classes of genes that lead to cancer: proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. We will dive into the functions of these genes along with how and why they induce cancer.

When we think about the air surrounding us, we often relate this gaseous mixture to oxygen, the giver of life. However, there is another vital element in the air that we too often disregard: nitrogen. The Earth’s biosphere would be nothing without nitrogen. Life as we know it today would not exist if it were not for this element. This episode will discuss the five different processes that convert nitrogen-containing compounds from one form to another: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, anammox, denitrification, and ammonification. We will then proceed to talk about why we even have this episode about nitrogen. Why is it important? Why is it necessary for life? Finally, we will close out the episode with a discussion on how we as humans have artificially inserted ourselves into the nitrogen cycle and the detriments this has led to for the environment.