Thank you for this interesting interview. The possibilities are mind-boggling, and of course also the ethical issues that might arise and how to handle them. In this regard, I was particularly interested in the segment on whether editing can slow the aging process. On the one hand, it would be stupendous to be able to use these technologies to prevent/mitigate Alzheimer’s and similar debilitating diseases that are not only devastating for the individual, but also for their families. On the other hand, efforts to adjust bodily processes that constitute “normal” aging seem fraught with the danger of age denialism and associated prioritization of resources toward that end to the detriment of more quotidian medical and support needs we all have as we age. Thanks for yet another thought-provoking interview on a very heady topic!
Thanks! You’re right, Susan. Modulating the aging process may be the most formidable challenge of all. But it may be possible via epigenetic editing of specific immune cells, one of many contemplated strategies.
This was a great interview! This may be tangential, but I think gene drive technology associated with CRISPR might be something to keep me up at night. As I understand it, the technology could let an unfavorable gene be passed down through the population at increasingly frequent rates. Taken to the extreme, this could be an existential thread to humanity.
Thank you for this interesting interview. The possibilities are mind-boggling, and of course also the ethical issues that might arise and how to handle them. In this regard, I was particularly interested in the segment on whether editing can slow the aging process. On the one hand, it would be stupendous to be able to use these technologies to prevent/mitigate Alzheimer’s and similar debilitating diseases that are not only devastating for the individual, but also for their families. On the other hand, efforts to adjust bodily processes that constitute “normal” aging seem fraught with the danger of age denialism and associated prioritization of resources toward that end to the detriment of more quotidian medical and support needs we all have as we age. Thanks for yet another thought-provoking interview on a very heady topic!
Thanks! You’re right, Susan. Modulating the aging process may be the most formidable challenge of all. But it may be possible via epigenetic editing of specific immune cells, one of many contemplated strategies.
This was a great interview! This may be tangential, but I think gene drive technology associated with CRISPR might be something to keep me up at night. As I understand it, the technology could let an unfavorable gene be passed down through the population at increasingly frequent rates. Taken to the extreme, this could be an existential thread to humanity.
thread -> threat