323 - CRISPR and the future of gene editing: scientific advances, genetic therapies, & more

[@PeterAttiaMD]

We discuss: 0:01:32 - Feng’s background, experience in developing optogenetics, and his shift toward improving gene-editing technologies 0:10:05 - The discovery of CRISPR in bacterial DNA and the realization that these sequences could be harnessed for gene editing 0:21:48 - How the CRISPR system fights off viral infections and the role of the Cas9 enzyme and PAM sequence 0:29:48 - The limitations of earlier gene-editing technologies prior to CRISPR 0:39:08 - How CRISPR revolutionized the field of gene editing, potential applications, and ongoing challenges 0:51:59 - CRISPR’s potential in treating genetic diseases and the challenges of effective delivery 0:57:55 - How CRISPR is used to treat sickle cell anemia 1:05:51 - Gene editing with base editing, the role of AI in protein engineering, and challenges of delivery to the right cells 1:13:10 - How CRISPR is advancing scientific research by fast-tracking the development of transgenic mice 1:17:43 - Advantages of Cas13’s ability to direct CRISPR to cleave RNA and the advances and remaining challenges of delivery 1:27:55 - CRISPR-Cas9: therapeutic applications in the liver and the eye 1:40:15 - The ethical implications of gene editing, the debate around germline modification, regulation, and more 1:52:45 - Genetic engineering to enhance human traits: challenges, trade-offs, and ethical concerns 1:58:25 - Feng’s early life, the influence of the American education system, and the critical role teachers played in shaping his desire to explore gene-editing technology 2:13:15 - Feng’s optimism about the trajectory of science

[@parsias5381]

Feng is an EXCELLENT science communicator, in addition to being a world-class researcher. Rare combo. Kudos to you both!

[@tukity]

What an amazing conversation. This is the science communication that we need

[@raizosgoldandtravel]

Peter, this is the best discussion you’ve had so far. Thank you! Feng is a genius and I have so much respect for him.

[@SkipYearSix]

I’m so thankful that there are humans like these 2 out there trying to find cures for chronic diseases. 🙏

[@cosbro5389]

This type of content should have 8 billion views within the 1st 24 hours and 32 billion views after 96 hours ...Thanks to you both and youtube

[@RangeMcrangeface]

I would encourage you to think big.

[@Hshjshshjsj72727]

32 b views… each person on earth watch 4 times? 😂

[@tohian]

Sure. A discussion on CRISPR & gene editing should be view by everyone on earth. 🙄

[@RangeMcrangeface]

@@tohian you missed the joke.

[@AA-oe6su]

Hoping you’re doing well Peter. Thanks for the podcast

[@tracibrennan8177]

Amazing video ..watched every minute and will watch again!!! The future is promising if maintained in the right hands.

[@aryangod2003]

We need more of Podcasts like these, with eminent scientists and Nobel laureates, and less of "Self Help" type of Podcast that Dr Attia does. Something heavy on science and facts and less on wishful thinking.

[@ashdgee]

What a fascinating episode. Feng is smart

[@Mark-f6z]

Jennifer Doudna, Nobel prize, anyone?

[@bikojalal3120]

My son has Ethylmalonic Encephalopathy, a very rare disease. There are companies that could create a medication for this condition, but they have said they don’t have enough funding to develop that specific treatment, and these companies are reluctant to invest in something with limited profit potential. I have contacted countless organizations, doctors, and hospitals, but they are unwilling to conduct any research on this disease. He is a patient at the University of Michigan. I also brought him to Stanford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital in Texas.😢

[@micaxmica]

Thank you for this video, much respect for both of you. Also for mentioning the attack on meritocracy 💚

[@HassanWorld]

CRISPR is the technology. It's here to stay. I cover it in details for those interested.

[@ngana8755]

The FDA recently approved two treatments for sickle cell disease, one by Bluebird Bio using gene therapy and the other using "base-editing" CRISPR by Vertex. Do you have any comments on which treatment is better? BlueBird Bio's Lyfgenia, costing $3.1 million, is more expensive than Vertex's Casgevy, which costs $2.2 million.

[@treewx]

Awesome guest!

[@pathologicaldoubt]

I don’t think the average joe realizes how much of a big shot Zhang is. He’s essentially the Elon Musk of gene therapy. With his leadership, the Broad Institute essentially has the best claim to the patent of CRISPR tech

[@joemoya9743]

But... where the key difference is that Elon Musk takes credit for other's technological developments.

[@kapribadi]

I'm not sure Zheng is the Elon musk of gene therapy. Maybe he is. I thought about this before seeing your comment. The question that Attia asked about scaling these therapies currently in trial, don't have a clear path. It's also not clear that Zheng is driving the scaling of this technology. He's much more on the scientist discovery side. Whereas Elon is much more on the industrial Mogul side, driving up manufacturing scale and driving down cost. I think we have yet to see an Elon musk like person run with this tech and disrupt big pharma... (Disclosure: I've worked for one of Elon's companies as an engineer for many years and have seen it on the inside)

[@elefante1986]

talking about palindromes and the number of episodes is 323... Great episode

[@brightflower144]

Brilliant stuff!

[@TheProactivePatients]

Peter, I think you need to change your term "overexpression" to a "gain of function" versus "loss of function" mutations. Gain of function does not necessarily mean "over expression" just an expression of a gene product that is competing with the normal function or causing an abnormal effect just on it's own (build up of an abnormal product that creates plaques or other issues). Overepression can be of a normal gene product that we need at some level, just have too much (like Her2 in many cancers).

[@patrickturner8628]

Mother Nature is so amazing! Awe inspiring.

[@jjjames6894]

Ahh man this gonna be a good one thanks doc🙌

[@Tuti23-yt1vw]

Imagine your resume says Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. Wow 😮

[@savead6628]

Best ever. Thank you

[@esgee3829]

where Doudna or Charpentier?

[@aaronfrank9649]

Fascinating.

[@enRod.]

2:07:00 The first time I heard Peter asking a totally inadequate questio.

[@808Hawaiian]

Darwin? You’re describing what a God put together!

[@Abbale]

Intelligence is paramount to health

[@zacharysbrennan5376]

what’s the hold up? This will not happen for at least 25 years? Other therapies will happen before this.

[@renaed00bdavis86]

Do you know anything about lichen sclerosis? I’ve been diagnosed and don’t know what to do. There are no doctors that can help.

[@novelas3536]

I love this mf

[@joshydillens148]

Very interested in changing ApoE4 staus

[@esgee3829]

@@joshydillens148 not so easy for certain disease causing alleles like ApoE4 in adults. If you listen from 1:40:00 to 2:00:00 or so you'll gain some understanding as to why.

[@NicholasWilliams-uk9xu]

I read that this palindrome sequence has a function of repairing DNA, it's bidirectional symmetry? Charge imbalance on one side allows it to bend in the middle?

[@capgains]

Thoughts on Dr Jack Kruse?

[@laserhobbyist9751]

OMG, they are using gene editing for my potato chips, it says CRISPER right on the bag.

[@felixlavoie-perusse9271]

Great conversation, and I'm a big fan of this podcast, but disappointing. It never got to the main point of Feng's contribution to gene editing and crispr 😔

[@TheProactivePatients]

Took a while to get back to the Eugenics issues potentially associated with this tech if used, especially at the germline level. Genetics as a field has a very poor ethical start. We need to make aure that we don't wnd up where we started.

[@币圈翻身哥]

wow

[@capgains]

As most try to find meaning in their daily survival Good lord awareness is a fn curse

[@goldstandardaviation1667]

This makes the anti-vax and anti-immigration crowd's ears bleed

[@Abbale]

Immigration?😂 take your meds

[@ExecutiveZombie]

@@Abbale💀🫡🇺🇸

[@novelas3536]

​@@AbbaleBros still living in 2016

[@Ashmar00]

Please reply to me

[@billmarko5143]

Please consider Peter's comments about meritocracy and the left's discrimination of Dr. Zhang's ethnicity in your vote next week.

[@ExecutiveZombie]

The Freak Show you continue instead of organic learning, brain health and spiritual, mental, physical health. HUMAN Engineering….🧟‍♀️ It’s starts out great to help diseases-Blah Blah Blah-- and turns into “The Blob” freak show in the movie “The Substance.”

[@ahsanmohammed1]

Face too close. Back up.

[@ahsanmohammed1]

13:21 Good topic. Tried. Cannot understand. Stopped watching.