COVID-19 anti-vaxxers and skeptics alike have their (not so good) reasons for opposing or questioning vaccines. The speed at which certain vaccines were developed though should definitely not be one of them. In Walter Isaacson’s recent book, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, he details in part how research on vaccines used to fight COVID-19 were years in the making. The book, which had been recommended on this reading list, also covers a number of other fascinating topics, including designer babies and of course, the story of the gene editing star herself, Jennifer Doudna. What I appreciated most though was Isaacson’s telling of how we were prepared to fast-track a COVID-19 vaccine because of significant research that had recently been done on the molecular superstar, RNA.

This podcast episode details why humanity was well-prepared to develop the two main RNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) that have protected so many of us against COVID-19. Host Sebastian Stone gives scientific context and background into RNA, and the research that scientists like Jennifer Doudna published in the decade prior to the pandemic. He also discusses the implications for the future of biotechnology and what it means for humanity at large, including why any advances require a thoughtful framework. Otherwise, gene editing technology could lead to uncontrolled and negative outcomes, such as increased inequality and modern day Frankensteins.  

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