PhD Student Olivier Belli joins me from Switzerland to talk about genetics and gene editing. We talk about the human genome, epigenetics, and CRISPR technology!

• (0:00:35) A little background. 
• (0:01:32) What is Molecular Biology?
• (0:02:20) Gene editing and the academic path. 
• (0:03:30) The Human Genome: Where we are. 
• (0:04:33) The Human Genome: What is it?
• (0:05:36) Epigenetics.
• (0:08:10) Genetics: A young field.
• (0:09:00) Classical genetics of the past vs the present approach.
• (0:10:23) 23 and me: Genetics and our environment.
• (0:13:11) The evolution of essential genes and their effects.
• (0:14:59) Sickle cell disease and genetics.
• (0:19:20) Correcting a mutation: Hemoglobin and genetics.
• (0:20:30) What is CRISPR?
• (0:23:17) CRISPR: Not a scary thing, just an easier one.
• (0:25:05) The side effects of genetic modification: A work in progress. 
• (0:26:00) Genetic Modification: A centuries old practice in agriculture.
• (0:28:16) Cloning. 
• (0:29:20) CRISPR and DNA breaks.
• (0:31:46) Technology development in CRISPR: The study of disease mechanisms. 
• (0:33:43) The study and work with the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.
• (0:34:35) How viruses can infect and hijack our cells.
• (0:36:35) The next five years: What's coming next?
• (0:38:50) Ethical boundaries: Where do you draw the line?
• (0:40:00) Embryo editing and eugenics: A Pandora's box.
• (0:41:20) Science communication: Why it's so important.
• (0:44:10) Politicizing science: Taking a stand in the public debate.
• (0:45:30) Academics vs non-academics: The disconnect and how to solve it. 
• (0:48:06) Music, Monoatomic God and playing the bass. 
• (0:49:36) Science fiction and CRISPR.
• (0:50:57) Alien DNA.
• (0:52:13) Biology: Still so much to discover.
• (0:53:32) Future plans.

Follow Olivier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/olivier_belli

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