In this episode, we’re talking about the most exciting thing to happen in biology in the last ten years, the development of the CRISPR-CAS9 gene-editing system, more commonly known as CRISPR. It’s a molecular tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to DNA, even within living cells. In the near future, CRISPR will have an impact on pretty much everything–from medicine to conservation, to the very food we eat.
Our guest, Nessa Carey, knows the story of CRISPR well. Nessa is a molecular biologist who worked in the biotech industry for 13 years and a visiting professor at Imperial College London. Her new book, “Hacking the Code of Life: How Gene Editing Will Rewrite Our Futures” examines the origins of CRISPR and gives us a glimpse of what we can expect from the technology in the future. While it’s mostly positive, there are some areas of concern, particularly in regards to editing the human genome. We discuss all of this and more, so give it a watch.
Links
Hacking the Code of Life: How Gene Editing Will Rewrite Our Futures
https://sciencentric.com/link/hacking-the-code-of-life-how-gene-editing-will-rewrite-our-futures/