CRISPR Update and Two Noteworthy AI Finds | Fazale "Fuz" Rana and Jeff Zweerink

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.
CRISPR Update
In December of 2023, the FDA approved two revolutionary new treatments for the blood disorders sickle cell anemia and ß-thalassemia, both based on gene-editing technology. This approval represents an important milestone for gene therapy and the treatment of thousands of genetic disorders. It also serves as a stepping stone for human enhancements and adds to the legitimacy of transhumanism.
In this episode, biochemist Fuz Rana describes these new gene therapies and discusses the ethical issues connected to them. He also offers a Christian response to the prospects of human enhancements and transhumanism.
Two Noteworthy AI Finds
As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) advances, research continues to show both the promise and peril of using AI. For example, most AIs work well within a single domain (e.g., classifying signs, responding to language, playing a game). Recent work in game play resulted in an AI capable of mastering multiple games that in the past required different approaches. However, the AI (called Student of Games) mastered multiple different games using a single algorithm. This development represents a significant step (the promise) on the journey to make an artificial general intelligence. Yet, other research demonstrates that a wide variety of AIs are highly vulnerable to malicious attacks. Specifically, the algorithms AIs use to recognize images are easily exploited and manipulated (the peril).
In this episode, astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink explains the breakthrough and why a Christian perspective is needed when considering such advances.
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LINKS & RESOURCES -
Sara Reardon, “FDA Approves First CRISPR Editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease,”
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
Michael Le Page, “Sickle Cell CRISPR ‘Cure’ Is the Start of a Revolution in Medicine,”
www.newscientist.com/article/...
Martin Schmid et al., “Student of Games: A Unified Learning Algorithm for Both Perfect and Imperfect Information Games,” www.science.org/doi/10.1126/s...
North Carolina State University, “AI Networks Are More Vulnerable to Malicious Attacks Than Previously Thought,” www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
Thomas Paniagua, Ryan Grainger, and Tianfu Wu, “QuadAttack: A Quadratic Programming Approach to Ordered Top-K Attacks,” arxiv.org/abs/2312.11510
Additional Resources
Fazale Rana, Humans 2.0, support.reasons.org/purchase/...
PLAYLIST - Stars, Cells, and God
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[@DuelScreen]

The CRISPR talk is a very interesting discussion. Here's my 2 cents: I have a number of health problems. They aren't related to my genetics as far as I know but if there were gene enhancements with near-zero side effects I would look into that. I'm not planning to run a marathon to win a gold medal. It would be only for my own personal benefit and quality of life. So why not? I'm tired of being sick and tired.

[@meanman6992]

Impressive yes, concerning for how it could be (will be) misused… hearing Elon musk say “By the time these court battles are settled, we will have a digital god” 😬 I see mankind perfecting our imperfection in a sense. I don’t think we can stop the development of these technologies…. I do think we should be very cautious of them, how we use them, and maybe most importantly, the character of the people in charge of development of them.

[@lab4746]

I found the final discussion mentally stimulating. What is the diversity sustainable before an enhanced being lacks humanity?

[@ji8044]

Good science but I'm not sure how there can be a religious perspective (any religion not just Christianity) on CRISPR tech. Worth a listen in any case.

[@DillonPeterson]

"Ignorance is Bliss"

[@dinomiles7999]

Eyes mind heart and soul wide open. NO FEAR !

[@dinomiles7999]

SIN ? 😂.

[@dinomiles7999]

The human mind is DEAD ! We have FU$KED things up as a human species ❤! The human mind is so flawed! I can't Waite for Ai . ❤ Eyes mind heart and soul wide open. NO FEAR !❤

[@dinomiles7999]

Look how smart these guys are ! ( LoL ). Low i.q. 😢. ❤.

[@dinomiles7999]

Get these guys OFF ! They have no clue , they are so lost and out of touch .

[@Healitnow]

Satanic Side of Science As a younger Christian it seems to me that scientists are not the bastions of truth and fact as they are presented to be by the schools. Most are just trying to find one more piece of fantasy to prevent anyone believing Chriistianity. Now that Christian scientists have debunked almost every lie these secular scientists have come up with, "here we go again". Another lie good enough to create confusion for a few more years while taking as many people on a false path away from God as possible during the time the lie lasts. Every time one is dispoven they come up with another. That appears to be more the puropose of science that establishing truth and fact. They are unwittingly the agents of Satan on planet earth, leeding millions on a path to hell with often deliberate sometimes even intelligent sounding disinformation. Gods word states that for those that do this , "It is better that a millstone were hanged around your necks and you were drowned in the sea than you offend one of these ittle ones", meaning younger impressionable people. When judgment day comes it will suck to be you. Hell is as eternal as Heaven. To avoid this fate God through Jesus is merciful. Start here than find a good church full of people that believe in Jeses, Attend and learn. Here is how. Jesus, I believe in you, forgive me all my sins, come into my life, and help me to live it better, in Jesus' name, Amen”. God Bless.