🧬 How 3D Genome Mapping Is Changing Everything We Know About DNA | Ivan Liachko (Part 3/4) The Biotech Startups podcast

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🧬 How 3D Genome Mapping is Changing Everything We Know About DNA | Ivan Liachko (Part 3/4)

2d ago 35:30

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"If you get a new kind of information, suddenly you can do something with it that you couldn't do before at all."

In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko shares how scientific curiosity and unexpected collaborations took him from DNA replication research in yeast at Cornell to a breakthrough in 3D genome mapping and the founding of Phase Genomics.

Embracing Hi-C technology at the University of Washington, Ivan and his team unlocked a new kind of biological information, enabling scientists to assemble genomes and map complex microbial communities and their viruses—transforming what was once impossible into a new standard for genomics. His journey highlights how creativity, collaboration, and seizing serendipitous moments can drive the most impactful scientific innovations.

Key topics covered:

Scientific Serendipity: Collaborations and chance encounters that propelled Ivan’s career
Comparative Biology: Probing DNA replication by comparing diverse yeast “machines”
The Move to Genomics: Shifting from classic genetics to high-throughput genomics at UW
3D Genome Mapping: Hi-C technology unlocking the secrets of genome structure
Microbiome and Phage Discovery: Sequencing breakthroughs revealing hidden microbial worlds

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Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee

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Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:

Website: https://flow.page/kyojin

Resources & Articles:

MCM Proteins and DNA Replication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955067406000251

Hi-C Technology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-C_(genomic_analysis_technique)

Kitty Biome Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catbiome/kittybiome-kitty-microbiomes-for-cat-health-and-bi

Genome Startup Day: https://genomestartupday.com/

ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics

Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:

Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com

University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/

Animal Biome: https://www.animalbiome.com/pages/our-company?srsltid=AfmBOope9rX1mixuGLFD44P81n_UJsHdYSHTlHJ7qUYmd3FRAscR2DxQ

Maitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/

Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/

Jay Shendure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-shendure-32b2a96/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:12 Ivan’s early research at Cornell on DNA replication and yeast biology

05:52 Move to University of Washington and postdoc opportunity

09:49 Life and culture in the Pacific Northwest

13:04 Experimental evolution and comparative biology in yeast

17:16 Discovering Hi-C technology and 3D genome mapping

24:40 Using Hi-C for genome assembly and the jigsaw puzzle analogy

30:23 Applications of Hi-C in microbiome research and phage discovery

33:04 Mapping phages and plasmids to their microbial hosts

34:23 Founding of Phase Genomics and commercialization of technology

34:29 Outro

The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

155 episodes

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