Genomics, Cattle, and Solar Powered Vaccines – Dr. Grant Woronuk
By mixing cocktails of enzymatic probes to illuminate key sections of DNA, Grant Woronuk turns up the (nucleo)base on cattle. Using such tech to identify cattle capable of efficient growth, enabling feedyards to commit fewer grazing lands to growth, and endearing him to the industry such that they have enlisted him to solve their biggest unsolved problems…. widespread use of antibiotics in their animals. Our solution: edible vaccines packed into the animals’ feedcrop. In formulating this solution, we targeted an evolutionary nuance that results in crops that produce maximal vaccine in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. This talk will highlight some of the processes, problems, and the future of edible vaccination of animals with plants!
Dr. Grant Woronuk is the Lead Research Scientist of Quantum Genetix responsible for developing molecular genetics testing and now leading a transgenenics team for novel crop development. Somehow, Grant emerged from his academic training with a diverse conceptual and applied skillset: a PhD in transcriptomics of chilled legumes from Saskatchewan; an MSc from Guelph in molecular signaling direct pre-pollen to become grown canola without fertilization; a fellowship from UBC in the ‘omics’ of perfume biosynthesis; and a largely forgotten BSc that focused on neuroscience from Lethbridge. If there’s any consistency with this guy, perhaps it’s the belief that big impacts can be made when we understand the small stuff.