Fyodor Urnov, a leading expert from UC Berkeley, dives into the revolutionary world of CRISPR technology. He discusses how gene editing can cure diseases like sickle cell and HIV, highlighting its transformative potential in medicine. Urnov also explores the ethical dilemmas of designer babies and the public's perception of genetic modifications. The conversation touches on the urgency of societal implications and the need for regulation as we navigate the future of human engineering.
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Gene Editing's Double-Edged Sword
Gene editing offers disease cures but raises ethical concerns, like the creation of super-soldiers.
The ease of CRISPR technology makes regulating its use challenging.
insights INSIGHT
CRISPR: A Game Changer
CRISPR-Cas9, adapted from bacterial defense mechanisms, revolutionized gene editing.
This technology allows precise DNA targeting and modification, like a word processor for genes.
insights INSIGHT
Gene Editing: A Word Processor for DNA
Gene editing precisely targets DNA sequences, acting like a word processor for genetic code.
Fyodor Urnov coined the term "gene editing" to emphasize this precision.
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In this book, Sean Carroll argues that the crisis in physics since 1927, stemming from the gaps in quantum mechanics, can be resolved by accepting the Many-Worlds theory. He explains that every quantum event results in the creation of multiple worlds, each with different outcomes. Carroll tackles major objections to this theory and provides a lucid explanation of how it reconciles quantum mechanics with Einstein’s theory of relativity. The book challenges conventional notions of reality and offers a new understanding of our place in the universe and the nature of spacetime.
Not too long ago nobody carried a mobile phone; now almost everybody does. That’s the kind of rate of rapid progress we’re seeing with our ability to directly edit genomes. With the use of CRISPR-Cas9 and other techniques, gene editing is becoming commonplace. How does that work — and perhaps more importantly, how are we going to put it to use? Fyodor Urnov has worked in this area from its beginning, having coined the term “gene editing.” We talk about how this new technology can be used to cure or prevent disease, as well as the pros and cons of designer babies.
Fyodor Urnov received his Ph.D. in Biology from Brown University. He is currently professor of Genetic, Genomics, and Development in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley, as well as Director for Technology and Translation at the Innovative Genomics Institute. His research focuses on using CRISPR gene-editing techniques to develop treatments for sickle cell disease, radiation injury, and other conditions, as well as guiding IGI researchers as they bring these therapies from the lab to the clinic.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 