Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share DNA: Nature's Hard Drive
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
DNA: Nature's Hard Drive
(Repeat) The biotech tool CRISPR lets us do more than shuffle genes. Researchers have embedded an animated GIF into a living organism’s DNA, proving that the molecule is a great repository for information. This has encouraged speculation that DNA could be used by aliens to send messages.
Meanwhile, nature has seized on this powerful storage system in surprising ways. Scientists have learned that the 98% of our genome – once dismissed as “junk” – contains valuable genetic treasure. Find out what project ENCODE is learning about the “dark genome.”
Plus, how viruses became the original stealth coders, inserting their DNA into ancient bacteria and eventually leading to the development of CRISPR technology. Discover the potential of this powerful tool, from curing disease to making pig organs transplant-friendly, and the possible dark side of quick-and-easy gene editing.
Guests:
Paul Davies- Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University
Yin Shen- Assistant professor, Department of Neurology, Institute for Human Genetics, University of California – San Francisco, member of ENCODE team
Sam Sternberg- Assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, and co-author of “A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution”
Hank Greely- Director, Center for Law and the Biosciences; Chair of the Steering Committee of the Center for Biomedical Ethics; and Director, Stanford Program in Neuroscience and Society
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
View all episodes
By Big Picture Science
4.5
899899 ratings
(Repeat) The biotech tool CRISPR lets us do more than shuffle genes. Researchers have embedded an animated GIF into a living organism’s DNA, proving that the molecule is a great repository for information. This has encouraged speculation that DNA could be used by aliens to send messages.
Meanwhile, nature has seized on this powerful storage system in surprising ways. Scientists have learned that the 98% of our genome – once dismissed as “junk” – contains valuable genetic treasure. Find out what project ENCODE is learning about the “dark genome.”
Plus, how viruses became the original stealth coders, inserting their DNA into ancient bacteria and eventually leading to the development of CRISPR technology. Discover the potential of this powerful tool, from curing disease to making pig organs transplant-friendly, and the possible dark side of quick-and-easy gene editing.
Guests:
Paul Davies- Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University
Yin Shen- Assistant professor, Department of Neurology, Institute for Human Genetics, University of California – San Francisco, member of ENCODE team
Sam Sternberg- Assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, and co-author of “A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution”
Hank Greely- Director, Center for Law and the Biosciences; Chair of the Steering Committee of the Center for Biomedical Ethics; and Director, Stanford Program in Neuroscience and Society
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More shows like Big Picture Science
View all
Science Friday
6,133 Listeners
The Deadpod
1,207 Listeners
Nature Podcast
757 Listeners
Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
1,345 Listeners
Science Magazine Podcast
811 Listeners
Science Quickly
612 Listeners
Radio Detective Story Hour
393 Listeners
Common Sense with Dan Carlin
11,326 Listeners
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
63,544 Listeners
Astronomy Cast
2,866 Listeners
Meditation Oasis
3,922 Listeners
Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone
817 Listeners
Philosophy Bites
1,532 Listeners
Science In Action
344 Listeners
Unexpected Elements
355 Listeners
Universe Today Podcast
546 Listeners
Ask a Spaceman!
804 Listeners
The Quanta Podcast
504 Listeners
SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy
320 Listeners
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum
8,243 Listeners
Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
2,307 Listeners
The Supermassive Podcast
287 Listeners
Why This Universe?
363 Listeners