This Is How Science Will Cure Diseases and End Hunger With Melinda Kliegman

The Rhys Show

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and it is a genome editing technology that allows scientists to cut DNA with precision and insert or delete DNA to correct unwanted mutations. In this episode I talk with Melinda Kliegman about this tool that was discovered ten years ago and how it can benefit humanity by healing genetic disease, by enabling a sustainable agriculture to ensure food security, by helping achieve a carbon-neutral economy to sustain the environment, and making it accessible and affordable to all. IGI tries to align genome-engineering innovations with societal values. Public education, sharing resources and guiding the ethical use of genome engineering are meant to serve the public so it is crucial that as many people as possible engage in CRISPR, genome editing, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering dialogues. This informs scientists ongoing work and helps them with accurate decision making. Furthermore we talk about regulations and policies in CRISPR technology and how important they are for responsible use. Who is Melinda Kliegman? Melinda (Belisle) Kliegman has a Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University. She is the Public Impact Director at Innovative Genomics Institute, a non-profit academic partnership between UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco that supports collaborative research driven by the real possibility of using genome engineering to treat human diseases and end hunger. Formerly she worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She also served as a science advisor to the Foreign Agricultural Service. Topics we touch: Welcome Melinda Kliegman to The Rhys Show: (00:00) Transition from biotech to public policy: (01:52) IGI’s work in human health, climate & genome engineering: (04:27) CRISPR - Inserting or deleting DNA to correct unwanted mutations: (07:13) Making CRISPR more affordable: (10:01) CRISPR cost per-base-pair compared to genome sequencing & synthesis: (13:15) Education system around CRISPR & its impacts: (15:30) IGI’s work in climate: (17:52) CRISPR - Working with plants: (19:17) Advancing genome engineering: (20:54) Biggest opportunity & biggest challenge with CRISPR: (24:23) Optimus future in regards to societal engagement: (27:46) Regulations & law around CRISPR technology: (31:17) What the biosphere will look like in 25 years by changing genes: (38:11) Advice to those who want to lead in a disciplinary career like Melinda: (42:16) Ranking in order of importance - sequencing, genome editing vs synthesis and CRISPR: (44:19) Learn more about CRISPR & IGI: (45:52) Mentioned resources: Jillian Banfield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jillian_Banfield Connect with Melinda Kliegman: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-kliegman/ Web “Innovative Genomics Institute”, IGI: https://innovativegenomics.org/about-us/ Twitter “Innovative Genomics Institute”: https://twitter.com/igisci