The potential benefits and risks of developing "mirror life"
Synthetic biologists are hard at work developing artificial biological molecules as the first step toward developing a mirror cell that would be immune from infection. If they're successful, it could transform the world of medicine. But while the potential of mirror life is great, so too are the risks. There are warnings of a catastrophic impact if the cells can't be controlled. And that's prompted calls for a moratorium on the research. Guests Associate Professor Kate Adamala — Synthetic biologist and professor of genetics, University of Minnesota Professor Andrew Ellington — Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas at Austin Professor Heather Douglas — Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University Ajay Kshatriya — CEO Aizen Therapeutics
Future Tense · Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (mediacore-live-production.akamaized.net) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Synthetic biologists are hard at work developing artificial biological molecules as the first step toward developing a mirror cell that would be immune from infection. If they're successful, it could transform the world of medicine. But while the potential of mirror life is great, so too are the risks. There are warnings of a catastrophic impact if the cells can't be controlled. And that's prompted calls for a moratorium on the research.
Guests
Associate Professor Kate Adamala — Synthetic biologist and professor of genetics, University of Minnesota
Professor Andrew Ellington — Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas at Austin
Professor Heather Douglas — Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University
Ajay Kshatriya — CEO Aizen Therapeutics