A glimpse into the future that combines molecular biology, genomics, AI and “Re-genesis”– Where are we going?

Cliff notes on the first half hour of the 80 minute video – please watch the full video for the other half hour plus 10 minutes of questions.

(Apologies for not citing the fellow SubStacker’s name that provided the link to the video below that was sponsored by the Templeton Foundation).

Scientist Stories: George Church, The Future of the Genome Editing Revolution - YouTube

Cliff notes begin here:

Regular briefings on genetics to Congress since 2005.

Genetic sequencing means you must know ALL of the sequence in order to edit it.

Sequencing is predictive – for 40 current diseases, for example. A genetic odyssey can result in a discovery of a fault in a couples DNA.

Preventative medicine? People’s medical records are already in someone else’s hands – worth 20 times more than your credit card information on the black market. Reference to Angelina Jolie – 87% cancer before operation – 5% after = preventative medicine.

Ethics list for George Church:

Tough problems on !equality” in the “reading writing and revolution” philosophy.

Revolution = CRISPr

Other words that capture the revolution = comprehensive data, not anecdotes. Recombination – cutting, splicing to make what you want. Go from a single DNA molecule to a living organism.

Exponentially shrinking cost of sequencing genome. Will be free soon. For reading AND writing DNA.

Miniaturize, multi-plex and self assembly “invented” in 2003 and 2004. Atomically precise, micro fabrication in reading/writing. Can’t do one without the other. Sequencing by synthesis of a genome (genome must be known in its entirety!).

There is more than one (CRISPr) editor – NINE editors exist that can scan 6 billion base pairs for the, say, twenty base pairs the machine seekswhicht can cut or recombine. The scans can be done via proteins (more complicated but better understood).

CRISPr used because it is cheap and easy. Maybe notthe last editor to be developed  – paper developed alternative method for  almost all the protein coding genes 18,000 – so can’t be that hard to invent another editor.

CRISPr last editing method? Maybe, or maybe not. Homologous recombination of mammalian cells.

Constancy of editing efficiency is what is celebrated. How accurate in a clinical setting or lots of cells simultaneously – make an error, get a tumour. Want a low (miniscule) error rate.

Single nucleotide checking. (Bio Archive journal).Bring down the error rate (one in ten thousand cells when treating 6 billion cells?)

Off target errors v on-target errors. CRISPr not ideal – race between repair and cell vandalism.

Gifts from microbial world. On target success by not making double strand breaks.

Most radical genome engineering changed 4 million base pair to change one codon. Not restricted by amino acids of nature. Can create the amino acids. Can REVERSE the process.

Make an organism resistant to all viruses – as long as they iuse the genetic code of the host. From one codon change to seven.

Writing the genome beyond editing – engineering humans. Starting with cells for diagnosis and testing. Alter the genome by as little as one codon and make it into an ORGANOID to test cause and effect. Involves HUMAN ORGANOIDS.

Key concepts (for me) where "reversal" and "organoids" plus "on" and "off target" - error reduction.

I wonder just how far this can go.

Maybe in a few years, new species can be created that combine "error free" (no aging) with AI with, hopefully, built-in ethics routines (like Asimov’s “three rules of robotics”).

Will these new species (Organoids?) be subservient and perform all the hygiene factors required by mankind? You would hope so. after all, you could have “organoid farm treadmills” or similar, that power entire cities and grow the food in every available space - whilst treating every ailment!

interesting that Church’s solution to over-population was, essentially, building cities in space, well, off-planet anyway.

Now, all we need is a way to control the next level from 5G and into 6G/7G where reading and writing are performed by AI based organoids!

Remember, every utility is metered. You read the electricity/water or gas meter, send the reading and get billed. Same goes for grocery and clothes shopping. AI and 6G/7G make this redundant in the same way the CBDC makes cash redundant. Right now, politicians – like Trudeau – can instruct someone else – an insurance company or bank to stop providing a service. In future, anyone can do it, legally via government or illegally via a hacker.

That is the ethics question that “reading, writing and revolution” doesn’t address. Politicians are generally egotistical, tribal idiots. They need to be prevented from any and all control of personal liberty. Fat chance when they get rewarded for doing so and are supported by an alphabet soup of federal agencies whose existence depends on abuse of power.

Onwards!

Please upgrade to paid, or donate a coffee (I drink a lot of coffee) - “God Bless You!” if you can’t or don’t want to contribute. Coffee donations here: https://ko-fi.com/peterhalligan