Is genetic engineering a dream or a nightmare? – with Matthew Cobb

For the last 50 years, new genetic techniques have transformed science – but is this a dream or a nightmare for humanity?

Matthew's new book 'The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest To Edit Life' is out now: https://geni.us/IooHt
Watch the Q&A with Matthew here: https://youtu.be/t9h3IQL5vj4

New genetic techniques have transformed science, giving us new technology, putting food in our fields, and healing bodies. But every development has been counterbalanced by fears of disaster. What if scientists were going to introduce DNA from a cancer-causing virus into a bacterium that lives in our gut? What if scientists wanted to swap DNA between species, mixing up genes without any idea of what might happen? What if scientists wanted to make viruses even more transmissible and dangerous? And what if scientists wanted to edit and implant human embryos? All of these scenarios have happened – find how how and why with Matthew Cobb's lecture.

Matthew Cobb is Professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester where his research focuses on the sense of smell, insect behaviour and the history of science. He has also written several books, including 'The Egg & Sperm Race' and is regularly featured in articles in The Guardian and New Scientist. Matthew can also be frequently heard on BBC radio programmes commenting on genetics, smell, aliens, and joining in the fun that is 'The Infinite Monkey Cage'.

This talk was produced in collaboration with The Genetics Society: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh97CIn_TLKJ-hBflpN23YQ

It was filmed at the Royal Institution on 22 February 2022.

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Видео Is genetic engineering a dream or a nightmare? – with Matthew Cobb канала The Royal Institution