Laura Boykin: How we're using DNA tech to help farmers fight crop diseases

The video discusses the challenges of food insecurity and the need for diverse scientific teams to address these issues. The speaker shares their journey to becoming a computational biologist and their involvement in the cassava crisis in Africa. They highlight the challenges faced by African farmers due to pests and pathogens and introduce the Tree Lab initiative, which uses portable genomic technology to provide quick solutions to farmers, significantly improving their yield and livelihood.

Why is it important for science to be diverse and inclusive according to the speaker?

• To reduce the cost of scientific research

• To ensure everyone has a job

• To solve global challenges like food insecurity

• To make science more interesting

What led the speaker to become a computational biologist?

• A family tradition in science

• A random job in a herbarium

• A lifelong passion for biology

• A scholarship in computer science

What is the significance of cassava in East Africa?

• It is a luxury food item

• It feeds millions and is a source of income

• It is used for industrial purposes

• It is a new crop introduced recently

What are the main threats to cassava crops in Africa?

• Lack of market demand

• Drought and floods

• Whiteflies and viruses

• Over-farming and soil erosion

What was the main challenge in using genomic technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa?

• Unavailability of seeds

• High cost and infrastructure requirements

• Government restrictions

• Lack of interest from local farmers

What innovative technology did the team use to help farmers in East Africa?

• Satellite imaging

• Portable DNA sequencer

• Robotic farming equipment

• Drones for pest control

How did the Tree Lab project impact the farmers?

• It increased their workload

• It provided quick solutions to crop diseases

• It made farming more expensive

• It reduced the variety of crops they could grow

What was the outcome for Asha after the Tree Lab intervention?

• She had to abandon farming

• She moved to a different village

• She switched to a different crop

• She increased her yield significantly

How does the speaker describe the power of diversity and inclusion in science?

• It complicates scientific processes

• It enables innovative solutions and faster results

• It only benefits large corporations

• It is unnecessary for scientific progress

What was the main goal of the Tree Lab project?

• To provide farmers with timely and effective solutions

• To increase the cost of farming

• To replace traditional farming methods

• To introduce new crops to the region