February 10, 2014

Gene Hack, Man

Listen Later

54 minutes

Computers and DNA have a few things in common. Both use digital codes and are prone to viruses. And, it seems, both can be hacked. From restoring the flavor of tomatoes to hacking into the president’s DNA, discover the promise and peril of gene tinkering.

Plus, computer hacking. Just how easy is it to break into your neighbor’s email account? What about the CIA’s?

Also, one man’s concern that radio telescopes might pick up an alien computer virus.

Guests:

George Weinstock – Microbiologist, geneticist, associate director at the Washington University Genome Institute, St. Louis

Jim Giovannoni – Plant molecular biologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cornell University campus

Andrew Hessel – Faculty member, Singularity University, research scientist at Autodesk, and co-author of “Hacking the President’s DNA” in the November 2012 issue of The Atlantic

Dan Kaminsky – Chief scientist of security firm DHK

Dick Carrigan – Scientist emeritus at Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois

Descripción en español

First released December 10, 2012

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Big Picture Science

By Big Picture Science

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February 10, 2014

Gene Hack, Man

Listen Later

54 minutes

Computers and DNA have a few things in common. Both use digital codes and are prone to viruses. And, it seems, both can be hacked. From restoring the flavor of tomatoes to hacking into the president’s DNA, discover the promise and peril of gene tinkering.

Plus, computer hacking. Just how easy is it to break into your neighbor’s email account? What about the CIA’s?

Also, one man’s concern that radio telescopes might pick up an alien computer virus.

Guests:

George Weinstock – Microbiologist, geneticist, associate director at the Washington University Genome Institute, St. Louis

Jim Giovannoni – Plant molecular biologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cornell University campus

Andrew Hessel – Faculty member, Singularity University, research scientist at Autodesk, and co-author of “Hacking the President’s DNA” in the November 2012 issue of The Atlantic

Dan Kaminsky – Chief scientist of security firm DHK

Dick Carrigan – Scientist emeritus at Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois

Descripción en español

First released December 10, 2012

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more

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