Episode 5
4. Insuring Food Safety? Yes! With DNA Barcodes in SPORES!
DNA stores information. Ellen and the team at Aanika Biosciences are using a unique technique to label food with barcodes programmed into DNA fragments housed in spores that are sprayed on produce. Ellen also shares her love for biotech, science communication and why she started community biotech…
Show notes
DNA stores information. Ellen and the team at Aanika Biosciences are using a unique technique to label food with barcodes programmed into DNA fragments housed in spores that are sprayed on produce. Ellen also shares her love for biotech, science communication and why she started community biotech labs.
Grow Everything brings to life the bioeconomy when hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories from the field and interview leaders and influencers in the space. Life is a powerful force and it can be engineered. What are we creating?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Topics: synthetic biology, entrepreneurship, policy, community, education, biotech, life sciences, bioeconomy, biomanufacturing
In this episode you will learn:
- 00:01:45 Will 'no Code' Biology Revolutionize the Field of Biology?
- 00:04:11 Tracking and Tracing Through Supply Chains: Applying Biology to Revolutionize the Process
- 00:05:35 Unlocking the Secrets Of DNA: Exploring the Potential of Using DNA As a Storage Device
- 00:06:06 Unlocking the Secrets Of DNA: Exploring the Possibilities of Epigenetics to Correct
- 00:06:17 Modern Science Unlocks the Secrets Of DNA: Unlocking the Recipe Book for Proteins
- 00:06:47 Scientists Unlock New Possibilities for Storing Data In DNA
- 00:08:37 Spy Uses DNA-encoded Fingerprints to Send Secret Messages to The Moon
- 00:09:39 Craig Venter Pioneers New Way of Signing Artwork with Synthetic DNA
- 00:10:07 Scientist Encodes Name and Fineman Quote in DNA Barcode for Rapid Information
- 00:14:01 Revolutionary Technique for Tracing Produce Contamination to Its Origin
- 00:14:31 Finding Needles in A Haystack: Uncovering Short Strands of DNA
- 00:15:25 Engineering Inert DNA Barcodes: Ensuring Safety and Security of Short DNA Sequences
- 00:15:55 One-way Trip: Scientists Create Non-living Product Through Sporulation Process
- 00:18:04 Biotech Company Achieves Success with Help from Leafy Greens Industry
- 00:18:30 Uncovering the Invisible: Exploring the Conceptual and Physical Nature Of DNA
- 00:19:01 Unlocking the Mystery of Global Location Numbers: A New Way to Trace the Origin of Products
- 00:22:11 Engineering Barcodes into Bacteria: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in DNA Technology
- 00:22:34 New Spore Solution Offers More Durable Option for Leafy Greens and Produce Industry
Episode Links:
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Topics: bioeconomy, biomanufacturing, Biotechnology, synthetic biology, entrepreneurship, community, education, biotech, life sciences, insurance, farming, agriculture, produce, barcodes
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
About Grow Everything
Grow Everything reveals the world of biology as technology. Hosts Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder talk with the founders, scientists, and executives biologizing entire industries — biomaterials from waste, precision fermentation, cultivated food — and unpack how the bioeconomy is solving health and climate challenges. Winner of SynBioBeta's 2026 Impact Award.