The Well | Why gene editing is still humanity’s most powerful tool | Walter Isaacson @The-Well | Uploaded May 2023 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
Forget AI. Gene editing is still our most powerful—and dangerous—technology.
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In a world where the once far-off concept of gene editing has become a medical reality, journalist and author Walter Isaacson's latest book chronicles the discovery of this groundbreaking technology. Jennifer Doudna was a young scientist captivated by RNA's potential, while her contemporaries focused on DNA and the human genome project. In her research, Doudna discovered how to repurpose CRISPR, a system used by bacteria to fight viruses, to edit the genetic code — a discovery that could change the future of the entire human species.
The perils of gene editing technology loom large as scientists grapple with its ethical implications. Jennifer Doudna herself has had nightmares about the potential misuse of CRISPR, fearing its capacity to aid eugenics. Isaacson urges a focus on using CRISPR to address pressing medical needs like sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's disease, while avoiding a dystopian future where the wealthy can buy better genes for their children.
Patients like Victoria Gray, who was successfully treated with CRISPR for sickle cell disease in 2022, are already benefiting from the technology. For Isaacson, the story of Jennifer Doudna and CRISPR is a testament to the awe-inspiring potential of human innovation when approached with curiosity and caution.
Read the full video transcript: bigthink.com/the-well/gene-editing-crispr-should-we-be-worried
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Forget AI. Gene editing is still our most powerful—and dangerous—technology.
❍ Subscribe to The Well on YouTube: bit.ly/welcometothewell
❍ Up next: Would a society based on genetics be… good? youtu.be/RQDvRoyZFls
In a world where the once far-off concept of gene editing has become a medical reality, journalist and author Walter Isaacson's latest book chronicles the discovery of this groundbreaking technology. Jennifer Doudna was a young scientist captivated by RNA's potential, while her contemporaries focused on DNA and the human genome project. In her research, Doudna discovered how to repurpose CRISPR, a system used by bacteria to fight viruses, to edit the genetic code — a discovery that could change the future of the entire human species.
The perils of gene editing technology loom large as scientists grapple with its ethical implications. Jennifer Doudna herself has had nightmares about the potential misuse of CRISPR, fearing its capacity to aid eugenics. Isaacson urges a focus on using CRISPR to address pressing medical needs like sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's disease, while avoiding a dystopian future where the wealthy can buy better genes for their children.
Patients like Victoria Gray, who was successfully treated with CRISPR for sickle cell disease in 2022, are already benefiting from the technology. For Isaacson, the story of Jennifer Doudna and CRISPR is a testament to the awe-inspiring potential of human innovation when approached with curiosity and caution.
Read the full video transcript: bigthink.com/the-well/gene-editing-crispr-should-we-be-worried
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
❍ About The Well ❍
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.
So what do they think?
How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions?
Let’s dive into The Well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The Well on your favorite platforms:
❍ Facebook: bit.ly/thewellFB
❍ Instagram: bit.ly/thewellIG
