Ep 53: Safety and Ethics in a CRISPR World

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In this episode of "We Love Science," hosts Shekerah and Fatu delve into the safety and ethical considerations surrounding CRISPR gene editing technology. Joined by special guest, Irina Gostimskaya, we explore the complexities and implications of advances in biomedical technology, including the use of CRISPR in humans.

The main purpose of ethical guidelines in biomedicine is to protect patients and ensure responsible scientific conduct. Past abuses of biomedical technology including inhumane medical experiments set the stage for modern bioethics. Key moments that shaped current ethical guidelines include: the 1947 Nuremberg Code developed after the trial of Nazi doctors, and the 1978 Belmont Report issued in response to an unethical Syphilis study conducted on African American men.

Throughout the decades, groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology have compelled the scientific community to unite in discussion to create new guidelines for their responsible and ethical use. The advent of CRISPR genetic engineering has been met with the same commitment to responsible application of the technology and ethical biomedical conduct.

Tune in to learn about:

· Historical context of Bioethics

· Safety concerns with DNA manipulation

· CRISPR-specific safety issues

· Ethical challenges with CRISPR gene editing

· The CRISPR babies scandal

Jump directly to the Last episode in the CRISPR series:

• Ep 55: CRISPR Food Science

Catch up on the previous CRISPR episodes:

· Ep 35: The first CRISPR Chronicles episode: How CRISPR gene therapy is bringing hope to the world

· Ep 38: A foundational discussion explaining the secret behind CRISPR gene therapy

· Ep 41: A look into the ups and downs of how the CRISPR saga developed

· Ep 47: The CRISPR Cure for Sickle Cell Disease

· Ep 50: CRISPR clinical trials

Also check out:

• Irina’s excellent CRISPR review article and slide
• [e-mail]
• Ep 23: The Accidental Discovery of Penicillin

Reach out to Fatu:
www.linkedin.com/in/fatubm
Twitter: @thee_fatu_b
and [e-mail]

Reach out to Shekerah:
www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus
and [e-mail]

Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoor
Music from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

Chapters

1. Ep 53: Safety and Ethics in a CRISPR World (00:00:00)

2. Guest Introduction (00:01:07)

3. Cell and Gene therapy in pets (00:02:32)

4. What are ethical standards in biomedicine? (00:04:21)

5. The Hippocratic Oath (00:06:22)

6. Historical perspective on Ethical guidelines in biomedicine (00:08:30)

7. Genetic Engineering advances from DNA structure discovery to cloning of Dolly the sheep (00:10:57)

8. The Nuremberg Code (00:12:30)

9. The Belmont Report (00:13:07)

10. Safety Concerns relating to DNA manipulation (00:16:23)

11. Asilomar conference (00:18:30)

12. How do we monitor for safety concerns? (00:20:46)

13. Levels of Biosafety standards to protect the public (00:22:49)

14. Safety concerns specifically related to CRISPR technology (00:24:32)

15. Dual-use moratorium prompted by bird flu (H5N1) experiments (00:27:07)

16. Dangers of CRISPR Off-target effects (00:28:47)

17. Dangers of CRISPR double stranded DNA cuts (00:29:48)

18. Dangerous immune response possible with CRISPR gene therapy (00:32:43)

19. Editing germline cells and the CRISPR babies scandal (00:34:26)