Summary
In a podcast episode titled "Rewriting Genomes to Eradicate Disease and Aging," Dr. George Church discusses the latest advancements in synthetic biology and their implications for society. He talks about the potential benefits of synthetic biology in improving agriculture, preserving biodiversity, and creating multivirus-resistant cells. He also discusses the progress made in gene editing, including the editing of pig genomes to make them resistant to viral infections to facilitate pig-to-human organ transplants, and the use of CRISPR and base editing to eliminate viruses from livestock and plants. Dr. Church believes that gene editing could also be used to cure diseases of aging, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and to reset the aging clock through fertilization, cloning, and transcription factors.
Dr. Church also discusses the complex issue of germline editing and the challenges associated with educating people and establishing well-reasoned conclusions. He emphasizes the need for cautious consideration of the social and ethical consequences of this technology. Furthermore, he addresses the double standards around germline engineering and GMOs, and how understanding the unknown and genetic variants thought to be deleterious may actually have advantages. He mentions the potential benefits of neurodivergence while discussing his own experience with narcolepsy.
The podcast also mentions Dr. Church's work on Rejuvenate Bio, which uses gene therapy to treat aging and age-related diseases. The therapy uses soluble factors that act like young blood to restore and regenerate tissue. Dr. Church also discusses his groundbreaking book "Regenesis," which was encoded into DNA and his current efforts in recording physiological data in living organisms. The episode ends with a discussion on his new book and its potential impact. Finally, Dr. Church also shares how he copes with narcolepsy and the methods he uses to prevent drowsiness during conversations.
