Cooperation between Bacteria and Viruses: New Tools Emerging from This Duo

There are approximately the same number of bacterial cells in our bodies as human cells (Sender et al, 2016). These microorganisms help us with many of our own functions and, through billions of years of co-evolution, we have formed a symbiotic relationship. We provide a suitable environment for the bacteria and, in return, they help to process nutrients and many other activities in our bodies. The bacteria undergo constant evolution to further improve their fitness (their ability to grow and reproduce). This has caused a great strain on our healthcare system, as this evolution has led to the spread of harmful things, like antibiotic resistance.

Continue reading “Cooperation between Bacteria and Viruses: New Tools Emerging from This Duo”

The Reality of Food Fraud: Adulteration

With today’s global connectiveness, when food trends quickly explode, millions of companies are able to capitalize on them. Sometimes it’s easy to integrate these innovations, because the trendy item is abundant and readily available. But some things, like rare or exotic ‘super ingredients,’ can be a logistical nightmare to incorporate, requiring suppliers to be able to produce enough product for a global population; sometimes this can lead to food adulteration, which is not only deceptive, but may also be harmful to the consumer.

Continue reading “The Reality of Food Fraud: Adulteration”