Episode 08 - "A Better You?"

Genome engineering, CRISPR-Cas9, gene drives, designer babies, and so much more. Recent breakthroughs have given us the tools and techniques to alter the genetic code of living things around us and even dabble in playing with the very DNA that makes us human. But as the speed of these technological advancements accelerates, we have to ask, "Are we ready?"

This week we explore all this and more in "A Better You?" - an in depth look at gene editing and what this means for us today and the very near future.

If you want to skip straight to the good stuff and avoid the science talk, jump to 19 minutes.

Chapters

• 00:00:50 Brief History of Gene Therapy
• 00:05:19 What is CRISPR?
• 00:08:21 2012 Cas9 Breakthrough
• 00:09:51 Benefits of CRISPR
• 00:19:18 Biohacking
• 00:33:27 Combining Tracking with Genetic Data
• 00:36:07 Gene Drives
• 00:44:10 Designer Babies
• 00:48:09 Unintended Consequences
• 00:49:50 Lack of Biodiversity
• 00:51:39 Social Conformity, Inequality, and Stratification in Society (and Sports)
• 00:57:09 Adapting to Underlying Societal Flaws
• 01:02:58 What Could Have Been
• 01:04:17 What Can We Do?

A full transcript is available as well as detailed links and sources (plus credits and more) on our website ashesashes.org.

Find more information along with relevant news and links on your favorite social network @ashesashescast.

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