What’s the Future of Gene Editing?
Summary
Hosts Jana Levin and Steve Strogatz interview Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna about her pioneering work on CRISPR gene editing. Doudna explains the bacterial immune mechanism’s origins, its evolution into a versatile genetic tool, and its rapid clinical application in treating rare diseases like Baby KJ’s metabolic disorder. The discussion also covers ethical concerns regarding germline editing and CRISPR’s potential to address climate change and food security.
Topics discussed
Introduction to CRISPR and guest Jennifer Doudna
Doudna's early career and interest in RNA
The discovery of the CRISPR mechanism in bacteria
Developing CRISPR as a gene-editing tool
Clinical applications: Baby KJ and cardiovascular health
Barriers to scaling and delivery challenges
Ethical concerns and the He Jiankui embryo scandal
Agricultural applications and future research directions
Reflections on serendipity in science and conclusion
Listen ad-free on Castria