The Future Conceived

In this episode of The Future Conceived, host Cam Schmidt sits down with Dr. Jim Ferrell, Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology at Stanford University. Known for his pioneering work in the logic of cell signaling, Dr. Ferrell discusses the "mechanism" of life through the lens of physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

Dr. Ferrell shares his journey from a triple major at Williams College to becoming a leading voice in Systems Biology. The conversation dives deep into:
Biological Circuits: How evolution uses motifs like negative feedback and relaxation oscillators to create "all-or-none" switches and rhythmic pulses in cells.
The "Blender" Experiment: A fascinating look at how frog egg extracts can self-organize from "homogenized garbage" back into complex, cell-like structures.
Quantitative Reasoning: Why thinking like a physicist—using ordinary differential equations and reaction-diffusion models—is essential for moving biology beyond "stamp collecting" and toward a unifying theory of how life builds and repairs itself.
Whether you are a trainee or an established researcher, this episode offers a profound perspective on how the integration of physical forces and biochemical activities brings about the events of life.

In this episode of the Future Conceived podcast, we celebrate the remarkable achievement of Dr. Diana Monsivais, this year's recipient of the prestigious SSR Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Award. This award recognizes outstanding research completed and published within the twelve years (or within the years) after earning a doctoral degree, signifying scientific excellence and dedication to advancing reproductive health.
 
Dr. Monsivais is known for her innovative work that deepens our understanding of uterine biology and holds important translational implications for women's health.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, we delve into the extraordinary moment life begins: egg activation, the precise signal that jolts the egg out of its arrested state and launches embryonic development.

We are joined by Professor Karl Swann (Cardiff University), a world-leading expert who has spent four decades decoding the chemical interactions between sperm and egg.

Dr. Swann explains why the entire process depends on a series of small, rapid bursts of calcium . These repeated calcium oscillations are the vital trigger, lasting for hours, and are necessary to fully commit the egg to development. We discuss the challenge of accurately capturing these minute, long-running chemical signals in the lab.

Central to our conversation is Dr. Swann’s groundbreaking discovery of the sperm-delivered protein that causes these calcium pulses. This protein acts as the 'switch' that the sperm injects into the egg, causing the egg's internal stores to release calcium in a repetitive, rhythmic fashion.

We explore the importance of this specific activation mechanism—including how the egg powers this demanding process using its mitochondria—and address a crucial clinical issue: why current methods used in fertility clinics to artificially activate eggs are often ineffective, relying on outdated technology that only produces a single calcium burst instead of the necessary rhythm.

In this highly insightful episode of The Future Conceived, host Cam Schmidt talks with Dr. Carmen Williams, Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the 2025 winner of the SSR Research Award.
Dr. Williams, whose lab investigates the critical events of fertilization, shares groundbreaking findings on calcium signaling during egg activation. You will learn:
Why the simple components of in vitro culture media, specifically calcium and magnesium ratios, dramatically control the frequency of calcium oscillations and influence the quality and development of the resulting embryo.
New, compelling evidence linking these early calcium signals to metabolism (TCA cycle) and ribosomal RNA synthesis in the early embryo.
The continued importance of research into endocrine disruptors, particularly plant estrogens, and their impact on reproductive tract differentiation.
Dr. Williams also discusses her journey from electrical engineering to clinical medicine to basic science, and closes with a powerful message acknowledging the essential role of trainees in driving scientific success.

Join host Cameron A. Schmidt, PhD, as he kicks off a new series celebrating the vital role of the egg in sexual reproduction. This episode features a conversation with pioneering developmental biologist Dr. Mariana Wolfner of Cornell University.
Dr. Wolfner has spent nearly fifty years utilizing the powerful genetics of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to dissect the fundamental mechanisms guiding sex determination and development, spanning from genetics and molecular biology to evolutionary development.
Key Topics in this Episode:
The Power of Model Organisms: Discover why Drosophila is an indispensable tool for uncovering conserved biological mechanisms shared across diverse species, including mammals.
Defining Conservation: Dr. Wolfner explores the difference between biochemical functional conservation and developmental functional conservation in evolutionary biology.
The Mystery of Egg Activation: Learn about this critical, yet poorly understood, process where a terminally differentiated egg transitions into a totipotent cell capable of creating an entire organism.The Calcium Signal: Discuss the pivotal role of calcium in triggering activation and how the initiating impulse differs between organisms like mammals (sperm-delivered enzyme) and insects (mechanical/environmental cues upon ovulation).

Sexual Conflict and Cooperation: An updated perspective on the role of male accessory gland secretions (seminal fluid) and how molecules transferred during mating influence female physiology and behavior, challenging older interpretations of sexual conflict in favor of a more nuanced view of cooperation and cross-talk between the sexes.
This discussion offers a fascinating look at how small-scale molecular events ultimately inform large-scale developmental and evolutionary phenomena.