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ASGCT Podcast Network

01 - David Baltimore, PhD - Giants of Gene Therapy

Oct 25, 2022
David Baltimore, a Nobel Prize-winning professor at Caltech, shares insights on the monumental quest for an HIV vaccine and the future of gene therapy. He delves into his transformative summer spent in Bar Harbor that ignited his scientific passion. The conversation also highlights ethical considerations surrounding gene editing, calling for better funding and training for the next generation of scientists. Baltimore's reflections on pioneering research shed light on the potential of gene therapy to change the course of medical history.
39:11

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • David Baltimore's discovery of reverse transcriptase redefined molecular biology and laid essential groundwork for the advancements in gene therapy.
  • The Asilomar conference underscored the ethical responsibilities scientists face as genetic technologies like CRISPR evolve, necessitating regulation and moral deliberation.

Deep dives

Influential Beginnings

David Baltimore's early life in New York's Great Neck shaped his passion for science, heavily influenced by his familial background. His father began from modest beginnings as an orphan, while his mother enjoyed an academic upbringing, which instilled a value for education. Baltimore's interest in science blossomed through school, where he excelled in mathematics and science subjects, eventually leading him to the Jackson Laboratory in Maine for a summer program. This pivotal moment solidified his commitment to a scientific career and provided him an early opportunity to engage with renowned scientists, namely Howard Temin, fostering a connection that would be significant later in his career.

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