Tonight, the Perpetual Notion Machine again explores the realm of gene editing. Five years ago this month, PNM talked with biomedical engineer Kris Saha about the process and techniques of gene editing. Borrowing an innate immunity mechanism in bacteria called CRISPR, and its Cas9 protein, scientists have been learning how to use, or essentially program, […]
Stuart Newman on CRISPR, commercialization of genes
On the day before the Nobel Prize for Chemistry is awarded to the developers of the novel CRISPR gene-splicing technology, Jan Miyasaki speaks to Stuart Newman, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy at the New York Medical College, about the technology, its applications, safety in human genetic engineering, and commercialized gene patenting.
Genetically Edited and Organic?
If you shop at an organic food store or co-op, you’ll likely see many fruits and vegetables proudly labeled as organic, and “GMO-free.” To many consumers, “genetically modified organism” suggests a Dr. Frankenstein conglomeration of weird pieces of genetic code, like salmon genes in a tomato, welded together through the techniques of genetic engineering/. But, […]
The Risks of Gene Editing
In the February 18 edition of the Perpetual Notion Machine, we revisit the incredible and controversial process of gene editing. You may remember that we discussed gene editing with our guest Krishanu Saha, professor and scientist in biomedical engineering at UW-Madison (go to the January 21 post to hear the show). But we really just […]