The Gene: Unlocking the Human Code, with Siddhartha Mukherjee

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Genetics has revolutionised not just how we think of biology but how we think of ourselves. We are, in the words of one geneticist, the first organism that has ‘learned to read its own instructions’. Now, with the breakthrough of gene-editing technology - whose precision allows us to alter a single letter of DNA - we can now not only decipher but rewrite our genetic code. We may soon be able to treat diseases such as cancer not simply with drugs, but with genetic manipulation. Yet behind this medical revolution lies the prospect of something altogether more worrying. Already, we possess the technology to add to our genetic code at will, and thus create the world’s first generation of ‘transgenic’ humans. As we intervene genetically on ourselves with ever more accuracy, do we risk changing what it means to be human? In a potential quest for the genetically ‘normal’, will we risk annihilating the very diversity and mutations on which evolution depends?
These are some of the questions that the Pulitzer prize-winning author, cancer geneticist and stem-cell biologist Siddhartha Mukherjee will be exploring when he comes to the Intelligence Squared stage. Joining him will be neuroscientist and BBC broadcaster Daniel Glaser, director of the Science Gallery at King’s College London and former Head of Engaging Science at the Wellcome Trust.
As we enter a new era of ‘previvors’ (people who have been screened for certain genetic predispositions) and post-humans (those who have altered their genetic propensities), will we use this technology responsibly? Can we, as Mukherjee will ask, make our genomes a ‘little better’ without risking the possibility of making ourselves substantially worse?

[@roseoftibet]

The moderator wanted to cover all bases of complex scientific/philosophical issues in less than an hour, an impossible task. His anxiety did not help. Luckily, Dr. Mukherjee is a wonderful, assertive and concise communicator, who was able to convey the message of how important it is for **us** to understand what we are doing. This and Earth's climate crisis will be the challenges of our century.

[@hari.santoso]

Yuval Noah Harari once said that the problems of philosophy are now become problems of engineering. He gave an example of algorithm for smart car, but after watching this I think it applies in all fields of science.

[@hasmukhgohil1520]

Right

[@nousnavi2167]

The moderator is off-putting, wagging his finger at Siddhartha, interrupting him, patronizing him, and even comically pretending to have the advantage over the guest speaker. To Sid's credit, he remained unprovoked and cool all the way.

[@dipakhaksar2741]

Fascinating , the moderator was very good to keep the narrative going and taking us thru the whole sequence of human genomes and helping to understand this science. Siddharth was as usual suberb, I am a great fan of his.

[@marilucearaujo-cox5438]

Great information! thanks.

[@TheHiLiteShow7]

The moderator hurt this presentation. It's a good one nonetheless, thanks!

[@theobserver9131]

Oh my gosh. Daniel really needs to take a chill pill.

[@rajeshbachani3847]

absolutely irritating moderator. why does he need to break the conversations all the while..

[@derekholland3328]

ithink the speaker handles the moderator issue graciously..its just the moderator's personality..hes not so bad..the speaker manages to get through without a hitch.

[@lbazemore585]

I love this author’s mind!!!!

[@avinashasitis]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@theobserver9131]

The worse world events get, the more I enjoy basking in science and the natural world.

[@marilucearaujo-cox5438]

agree

[@amf4173]

that moderator is unbearably bad.

[@SteveNanda]

What’s up with the moderator?

[@bennguyen1313]

Regarding the lack of consensus on epigenetics (27m mark), it's interesting to hear some of those arguments.. On the Smart Drug Smarts podcast episode 208, they mention how genes are selectively activated based on location or function, so there seems to be a higher level control over the genes. For example, how certain variants of the MTHFR gene, will have a decreased methylation function.. the ability to metabolize folic acid and folate to methylfolate. On the After-On Podcast (Episode 16), Robert Green mentions how some monogenic Mendelian mutations have 100% penetrance (ex. Huntington's Disease). Other disorders may be polygenic (common complex) spanning many genes and environmental factors and so it becomes a matter of probability. For example, one copy of the gene associated with Alzheimer's (ApoE) increases your risk by 2-3x, while 2 copies it's 8-10x. They also mention how Israel has reduced Tay-Sachs disease by genetic screening. There was a good discussion with Peter Attia on Dr. Rhonda Patrick's podcast (30m mark) on phenotype over genotype. Interestingly, the recent Innovation Hub podcast ("Human Story Behind Our Genes") talks about how Sickle Cell didn't evolve based on race but rather where malaria was common. On London Real, Bruce Lipton talks about the (~7) diseases that are autosomal dominant (14m20s).. the rest are multiple genes and depend on the environment. Radiolab had a great episode ('You Are What Your Grandpa Eats' and 'Inheritance') that talked about how while the genes remain the same, what traits are expressed when you're born, may depend a-lot on the conditions your grandparents lived in! Regarding CRISPR/CAS9 there was some great comments made by Dr. Laura Kahn on another Intelligence Squared episode ("End of Antibiotics?"), where she mentions how viruses have developed a strategy against the bacteria's Crispr/Cas9 mechanism! See 51:10, 55:28 and the 1:11:30 marks. There was also a good interview by Sam Harris with the Crispr pioneer, Jennifer Doudna!

[@squamish4244]

U r smart.

[@jw1741]

I'm checking out all the podcasts you brought up they sound awesome! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

[@Rocky-xb3vc]

Dude, I work in the podcasting industry and consider myself a pod-bug, but DAMN you know your stuff well.

[@newsgirl47]

Moderator talks wayyyyyy to much! Spoiled it for me too!

[@vibhadadheech9360]

Aapka lecture suna gene ke bare me,mere bde bete ko ,Bipoler disorder,schizophrenia dignos kia ja rha hai,pata nahi,ye bimari hai bhi ya kuchh aur,beta uchch-shikshi,bahu pratibha shali hai,kya aapki shodh ka labh in bimariyo ko thik karne me ho sakegj?Dhanyvad

[@mtootoonian]

The moderator was awful. How he got to this job!!

[@kevindoyle3614]

Moderator was annoying

[@JVRChicago]

Incredible book. Great author. Awful moderator.

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@vikiviked]

The moderator is annoying

[@unintentional666]

Taking audience questions in batches? Is that rare or it's just that I haven't seen enough?

[@rajeshbachani3847]

what was the first question, ian flemming or ... john ? i didn't get that reference.

[@sourabhchoudhary]

John le Carré

[@braveindian4870]

What about 10,000 years old Gotra system?

[@sharveshthakur1096]

What about it? What's your question?

[@muhammaduzayr9249]

My dad and brother also have mjor depression. Are we all doomed just because Gene's happen?

[@videogamerulr]

the host was simply not very good, he kept interrupting and not letting us hear Dr. Sid, who is blessing us with knowledge.

[@hugaung1210]

The moderator is so bad

[@malachytavira8949]

A moderator without mediating skills or nuance - a narcissist.

[@txhypnotist]

GENESIS 32:30 :…AND JACOB CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE PENIEL/PINEAL GLAND, FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE”

[@teedeww5049]

boy if i am that smart, i wouldnt be this stupid

[@octatonicgardenmarcospi4978]

Terrible moderator.