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On Tuesday (July 27), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their mask guidance, saying fully vaccinated people should resume wearing masks in public indoor spaces if there is substantial coronavirus transmission in their area.

Data from the U.S. and other countries indicates that some vaccinated people infected with the delta variant may be contagious and spread the virus to others. Still, breakthrough infections are uncommon and most coronavirus transmission is occurring through unvaccinated individuals, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director said.

Full Story: LiveScience (7/27)

(Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

More than 50 U.S. medical groups, representing millions of health care professionals, are calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all health and long-term care workers, according to news reports.

A vaccination mandate “is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health care workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being,” according to a joint statement released by the medical organizations.

Full Story: LiveScience (7/26)

COVID-19 ‘The war has changed,’ against new delta variant, internal CDC presentation says (Shutterstock) The coronavirus delta variant may be as contagious as chickenpox and cause more severe illness than previous variants, according to an internal presentation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccines continue to be highly effective, especially at preventing severe illness and death, but may be less effective at preventing infection or transmission of the delta variant, according to the internal report. Full Story: LiveScience (7/30)

As COVID-19 spread, BioNTech cofounders U?ur ?ahin and Özlem Türeci had one goal: to make a safe, effective vaccine faster than ever before. In this illuminating conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, the immunologists (and married couple) share the fascinating story of how their decades of mRNA research powered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — and forecast what this breakthrough science could mean for the future of vaccines and other immunotherapy treatments.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference, and was featured by our editors on the home page.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

U?ur ?ahin · Physician, immunologist

U?ur ?ahin is the cofounder and CEO of BioNTech and one of the world’s foremost experts on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) medicines. He initiated the historic development of the first mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

Özlem Türeci · Physician, immunologist, cancer researcher

Özlem Türeci is the cofounder and chief medical officer of BioNTech. She leads the clinical development of “Project Lightspeed,” the company’s successful effort to develop and distribute an mRNA-based vaccine against COVID-19, a historic achievement completed in less than one year.

TEDMonterey | August 2021

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• Coronavirus
• Health Care
• Health

(This virtual conversation, hosted by TED technology curator Simone Ross, was recorded March 12, 2021.) Biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shares lessons learned from the global effort to develop COVID-19 vaccines: namely, the power of collaboration and the importance of equitable access to health care. Learn more about the innovative partnerships that helped create the vaccines — and how India became a crucial player in the supply chain delivering millions of doses to the world.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with BCG. Read more about the TED Institute.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw · Biotech entrepreneur

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a biotech entrepreneur, health care visionary, global influencer and passionate philanthropist.

Simone Ross · TED technology curator

Simone Ross has spent her career observing companies, individuals and ideas at the intersection of tech, the economy and society.

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Learn more about Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s work and thoughts on innovation.

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ABOUT TED INSTITUTE

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Learn more about TED Institute

TED@BCG | March 2021

Related tags

• Collaboration
• Vaccines
• Pandemic

When a new pathogen emerges, our bodies and healthcare systems are left vulnerable. And when this pathogen causes the outbreak of a pandemic, there’s an urgent need for a vaccine to create widespread immunity with minimal loss of life. So how quickly can we develop vaccines when we need them most? Dan Kwartler describes the three phases of vaccine development. [Directed by Good Bad Habits, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Landon Trimble / Playdate Audio].

MEET THE EDUCATOR

Dan Kwartler · Educator

ABOUT TED-ED

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.

Consider the following scenario: a highly infectious, sometimes deadly respiratory virus infects humans for the first time. It spreads rapidly worldwide, and the WHO declares a pandemic. The death toll starts to rise and everyone is asking the same question: when will the pandemic end? Alex Rosenthal details the three main strategies governments can use to contain and end a pandemic. [Directed by Visorama, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Bamm Bamm Wolfgang].

MEET THE EDUCATOR

Alex Rosenthal · Producer

Alex Rosenthal takes everyday experiences and turns them into mind-bending puzzles.

ABOUT TED-ED

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.

5,549,863 views

TED-Ed | June 2020

Related tags

• TED-Ed
• Education
• Animation

For almost a decade, scientists chased the source of a deadly new virus through China’s tallest mountains and most isolated caverns. They finally found it in the bats of Shitou Cave. The virus in question was a coronavirus that caused an epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in 2003. So what exactly is a coronavirus, and how does it spread? Elizabeth Cox explains. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Jarrett Farkas].

MEET THE EDUCATOR

Elizabeth Cox · Educator

ABOUT TED-ED

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.

Your hands, up close, are anything but smooth. With peaks and valleys, folds and rifts, there are plenty of hiding places for a virus to stick. If you then touch your face, the virus can infect you. But there are two extraordinarily simple ways you can keep that from happening: soap and water, and hand sanitizer. So which is better? Alex Rosenthal and Pall Thordarson investigate. [Directed by Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson].

MEET THE EDUCATORS

Alex Rosenthal · Producer

Alex Rosenthal takes everyday experiences and turns them into mind-bending puzzles.

Pall Thordarson · Educator

ABOUT TED-ED

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.

Inside you, a daily battle is being waged and your immune system is at the frontline. Most of the time, you may not even notice it’s there, but over the course of your life your immune system will guard you against hundreds of potentially fatal threats. Emma Bryce explores the different components of this system and how, together, they do their vital work. [Directed by Felipe Grosso & Odirlei Seixas, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Vadeco Schettini].

MEET THE EDUCATOR

Emma Bryce · Educator

ABOUT TED-ED

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional

Translation (mRNA to protein) | Biomolecules | MCAT | Khan Academy

850,192 views

Jun 7, 2016  Khan Academy

A deep dive into how mRNA is translated into proteins with the help of ribosomes and tRNA. Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep… Missed the previous lesson? https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep… MCAT on Khan Academy: Go ahead and practice some passage-based questions! About Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We’ve also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content. For free. For everyone. Forever. #YouCanLearnAnything Subscribe to Khan Academy’s MCAT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkK… Subscribe to Khan Academy: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_…

mRNA Translation (Basic)

Mar 22, 2010  DNA Learning Center

Originally created for DNA Interactive ( http://www.dnai.org ). TRANSCRIPT: When the RNA copy is complete, it snakes out into the outer part of the cell. Then in a dazzling display of choreography, all the components of a molecular machine lock together around the RNA to form a miniature factory called a ribosome. It translates the genetic information in the RNA into a string of amino acids that will become a protein. Special transfer molecules, the green triangles, bring each amino acid to the ribosome. The amino acids are the small red tips attached to the transfer molecules. There are different transfer molecules for each of the twenty amino acids. Each transfer molecule carries a three letter code that is matched with the RNA in the machine. Now we come to the heart of the process. Inside the ribosome, the RNA is pulled through like a tape. The code for each amino acid is read off, three letters at a time, and matched to three corresponding letters on the transfer molecules. When the right transfer molecule plugs in, the amino acid it carries is added to the growing protein chain. Again, you are watching this in real time. And after a few seconds the assembled protein starts to emerge from the ribosome. Ribosomes can make any kind of protein. It just depends what genetic message you feed in on the RNA. In this case, the end product is hemoglobin. The cells in our bone marrow churn out a hundred trillion molecules of it per second! And as a result, our muscles, brain and all the vital organs in our body receive the oxygen they need.

DNA vs RNA (Updated

1,495,503 views  Aug 29, 2019  Amoeba Sisters

Why is RNA just as cool as DNA? Join the Amoeba Sisters as they compare and contrast RNA with DNA and learn why DNA should be sharing the limelight! Video has updated handout here https://www.amoebasisters.com/handouts and is updated from the old version of this video: https://youtu.be/0Elo-zX1k8M Table of Contents: 00:00 Intro 0:54 Similarities of DNA and RNA 1:35 Contrasting DNA and RNA 2:22 DNA Base Pairing 2:40 RNA Base Pairing 2:57 mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA 4:06 Quick Quiz! Factual Reference: OpenStax Biology 2nd Edition, Biology 2e. OpenStax CNX. Aug 19, 2019 http://cnx.org/contents/8d50a0af-948b…. ****Further Reading Suggestions******************************** -Why did we say DNA is “generally” double stranded and RNA is “generally” single-stranded? Check out these fascinating exceptions! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti… -What do we mean when we encouraged exploring the chirality of DNA—and other important characteristics—that our cartoons cannot show well? Check out https://www.nature.com/scitable/topic… -RNA World Hypothesis? Here is a great resource from NOVA to learn more: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/la… *************************************************************** The Amoeba Sisters videos demystify science with humor and relevance. The videos center on Pinky’s certification and experience in teaching biology at the high school level. Learn more about our videos here: https://www.amoebasisters.com/our-videos Support Us? https://www.amoebasisters.com/support-us Our Resources: Biology Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list… GIFs: https://www.amoebasisters.com/gifs.html Handouts: https://www.amoebasisters.com/handout… Comics: https://www.amoebasisters.com/paramec… Unlectured Series: https://www.amoebasisters.com/unlectured Connect with us! Website: http://www.AmoebaSisters.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AmoebaSisters Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmoebaSisters Tumblr: http://www.amoebasisters.tumblr.com Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AmoebaSister­s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoebasiste… Visit our Redbubble store at https://www.amoebasisters.com/store TIPS FOR VIEWING EDU YOUTUBE VIDEOS: Want to learn tips for viewing edu YouTube videos including changing the speed, language, viewing the transcript, etc? https://www.amoebasisters.com/pinkys-… MUSIC: Our intro music designed and performed by Jeremiah Cheshire. End music in this video is listed free to use/no attribution required from the YouTube audio library https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/… COMMUNITY: We take pride in our AWESOME community, and we welcome feedback and discussion. However, please remember that this is an education channel. See YouTube’s community guidelines and how YouTube handles comments that are reported by the community. We also reserve the right to remove comments. TRANSLATIONS: While we don’t allow dubbing of our videos, we do gladly accept subtitle translations from our community. Some translated subtitles on our videos were translated by the community using YouTube’s community-contributed subtitle feature. After the feature was discontinued by YouTube, we have another option for submitting translated subtitles here: https://www.amoebasisters.com/pinkys-… We want to thank our amazing community for the generosity of their time in continuing to create translated subtitles. If you have a concern about community contributed contributions, please contact us.

Protein Synthesis (Updated)

3,653,242 views

Jan 18, 2018  Amoeba Sisters

Explore the steps of transcription and translation in protein synthesis! This video explains several reasons why proteins are so important before explaining the roles of mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA in the steps of protein synthesis! Expand details for contents and resources. ?Video handouts and resources on http://www.amoebasisters.com/handouts. This video replaces our old protein synthesis video: https://youtu.be/h5mJbP23Buo Table of Contents: 00:00 Intro 0:46 Why are proteins important? 1:48 Introduction to RNA 2:22 Steps of Protein Synthesis 2:43 Transcription 3:54 Translation 6:08 Introduction to mRNA Codon Chart 7:51 Quick Summary Image Vocabulary in this video includes DNA, mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA. This video mentions that proteins can be made of 1 or more polypeptide chains and that proteins typically experience folding and other modifications (to be functional proteins.) Codons and the amino acids they code for are represented by standard charts that can be found in the public domain. While the rectangle chart is the common format, there may be other ways to represent the information. P.S. If learning about mutations, check out this cool codon chart that includes mutations(!!) in the public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi… Our videos are designed to introduce basic concepts and hopefully to inspire students to stay curious about the content. We simply cannot include all of the exceptions and minute details in a video under 10 minutes, and this is why we so frequently remind people of this in our videos. We want students to go beyond our videos to explore the depth of the material. P.S. On our website, we emphasize that our videos contain science comics- not scientific illustrations. In real life, amoebas don’t look like our characters. Our illustrated cell cartoons are definitely not to scale. Nitrogen and carbon don’t tap dance. DNA is right-handed (but there are exceptions- worth a google) and doesn’t have eyes…a face…or a top hat… Learn more about the purpose of our videos here: http://www.amoebasisters.com/our-vide… The Amoeba Sisters videos demystify science with humor and relevance. The videos center on Pinky’s certification and experience in teaching biology at the high school level. For more information about The Amoeba Sisters, visit: http://www.amoebasisters.com/about-us… We cover the basics in biology concepts at the secondary level. If you are looking to discover more about biology and go into depth beyond these basics, our recommended reference is the FREE, peer reviewed, open source OpenStax biology textbook: https://openstax.org/details/books/bi… Support Us? https://www.amoebasisters.com/support-us Our Resources: Biology Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list… GIFs: https://www.amoebasisters.com/gifs.html Handouts: https://www.amoebasisters.com/handout… Comics: https://www.amoebasisters.com/paramec… Unlectured Series: https://www.amoebasisters.com/unlectured Connect with us! Website: https://www.AmoebaSisters.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AmoebaSisters Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmoebaSisters Tumblr: http://www.amoebasisters.tumblr.com Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AmoebaSister­s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoebasiste… Visit our Redbubble store at https://www.amoebasisters.com/store TIPS FOR VIEWING EDU YOUTUBE VIDEOS: Want to learn tips for viewing edu YouTube videos including changing the speed, language, viewing the transcript, etc? https://www.amoebasisters.com/pinkys-… MUSIC: Music in this video is listed free to use/no attribution required from the YouTube audio library https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/… COMMUNITY: We take pride in our AWESOME community, and we welcome feedback and discussion. However, please remember that this is an education channel. See YouTube’s community guidelines and how YouTube handles comments that are reported by the community. We also reserve the right to remove comments. TRANSLATIONS: While we don’t allow dubbing of our videos, we do gladly accept subtitle translations from our community. Some translated subtitles on our videos were translated by the community using YouTube’s community-contributed subtitle feature. After the feature was discontinued by YouTube, we have another option for submitting translated subtitles here: https://www.amoebasisters.com/pinkys-… We want to thank our amazing community for the generosity of their time in continuing to create translated subtitles. If you have a concern about community contributed contributions, please contact us.