thank you one of the things I’d ask you to consider is are we human that may
to consider is are we human that may
to consider is are we human that may sound like a really silly question well
sound like a really silly question well
sound like a really silly question well let’s take the facts we’re made up of
let’s take the facts we’re made up of
let’s take the facts we’re made up of human cells and we’re made up of
human cells and we’re made up of
human cells and we’re made up of microorganisms the microorganisms are
microorganisms the microorganisms are
microorganisms the microorganisms are really somewhat alien to us or are they
really somewhat alien to us or are they
really somewhat alien to us or are they the reality of it is microorganisms are
the reality of it is microorganisms are
the reality of it is microorganisms are pervasive throughout the entire
pervasive throughout the entire
pervasive throughout the entire environment they were part of what
environment they were part of what
environment they were part of what terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years
terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years
terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years ago into the living excision rich
ago into the living excision rich
ago into the living excision rich water rich environment we have today
water rich environment we have today
water rich environment we have today they evolved into every single life-form
they evolved into every single life-form
they evolved into every single life-form and micro biomes are actually everywhere
the reality of it is whether it is
the reality of it is whether it is ourselves where we have many different
ourselves where we have many different
ourselves where we have many different micro biomes that are a part of our own
micro biomes that are a part of our own
micro biomes that are a part of our own body from a hair microbiome to an ear
body from a hair microbiome to an ear
body from a hair microbiome to an ear microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to
microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to
microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to skin we are covered in microorganisms in
skin we are covered in microorganisms in
skin we are covered in microorganisms in a way we really had no idea in fact
a way we really had no idea in fact
a way we really had no idea in fact they’ve just recently identified a
they’ve just recently identified a
they’ve just recently identified a rather robust microbiome in the brain so
rather robust microbiome in the brain so
rather robust microbiome in the brain so the microbiome are part of us and become
the microbiome are part of us and become
the microbiome are part of us and become part of us at a very young age in fact
part of us at a very young age in fact
part of us at a very young age in fact when we are born we pick up the mother’s
when we are born we pick up the mother’s
when we are born we pick up the mother’s microbiome during birth and during
microbiome during birth and during
microbiome during birth and during feeding and as we live our lives we pick
feeding and as we live our lives we pick
feeding and as we live our lives we pick up various other microorganisms to fill
up various other microorganisms to fill
up various other microorganisms to fill out our own microbiome now let’s put
out our own microbiome now let’s put
out our own microbiome now let’s put this in a little perspective because the
this in a little perspective because the
this in a little perspective because the question I started with are we human or
question I started with are we human or
question I started with are we human or what is a good question because one of
what is a good question because one of
what is a good question because one of the things we know is that the
the things we know is that the
the things we know is that the communication between our microbiome is
communication between our microbiome is
communication between our microbiome is very intense so even though we have
very intense so even though we have
very intense so even though we have these foreign invaders on our body they
these foreign invaders on our body they
these foreign invaders on our body they control more than we ever thought we’re
control more than we ever thought we’re
control more than we ever thought we’re learning that they do things like tell
learning that they do things like tell
learning that they do things like tell us when we’re hungry what we may want to
us when we’re hungry what we may want to
us when we’re hungry what we may want to eat when we want to eat fact recent
eat when we want to eat fact recent
eat when we want to eat fact recent studies have even showed potentially
studies have even showed potentially
studies have even showed potentially your own microbiome and a partner’s
your own microbiome and a partner’s
your own microbiome and a partner’s microbiome might be communicating to
microbiome might be communicating to
microbiome might be communicating to actually bring you two together the
actually bring you two together the
actually bring you two together the facts about the microbiome are hard to
facts about the microbiome are hard to
facts about the microbiome are hard to get your head around yet science is just
get your head around yet science is just
get your head around yet science is just starting to figure this out but let’s
starting to figure this out but let’s
starting to figure this out but let’s talk about the real statistics and that
talk about the real statistics and that
talk about the real statistics and that is for every one gene you have as a
is for every one gene you have as a
is for every one gene you have as a human
human
human your human microbiome has 100 genes so
your human microbiome has 100 genes so
your human microbiome has 100 genes so your genetic material that you walk
your genetic material that you walk
your genetic material that you walk around with is swamped by microorganisms
around with is swamped by microorganisms
around with is swamped by microorganisms you’re actually outnumbered in your body
you’re actually outnumbered in your body
you’re actually outnumbered in your body forty trillion microorganism cells
forty trillion microorganism cells
forty trillion microorganism cells versus 30 trillion a lot of people
versus 30 trillion a lot of people
versus 30 trillion a lot of people didn’t know that now put it even in a
didn’t know that now put it even in a
didn’t know that now put it even in a Wilder perspective is that those
Wilder perspective is that those
Wilder perspective is that those microorganisms have a mutation rate
microorganisms have a mutation rate
microorganisms have a mutation rate that’s very high so it changes
that’s very high so it changes
that’s very high so it changes constantly in fact in the next 12 hours
constantly in fact in the next 12 hours
constantly in fact in the next 12 hours every human in here will have a hundred
every human in here will have a hundred
every human in here will have a hundred and twenty billion mutations in their
and twenty billion mutations in their
and twenty billion mutations in their own microbiome so where did drugs come
own microbiome so where did drugs come
own microbiome so where did drugs come from the interesting part is over the
from the interesting part is over the
from the interesting part is over the last sixty seventy years most drugs have
last sixty seventy years most drugs have
last sixty seventy years most drugs have come from microorganisms and all
come from microorganisms and all
come from microorganisms and all microorganisms come from microbiome
microorganisms come from microbiome
microorganisms come from microbiome somewhere and that’s either directly
somewhere and that’s either directly
somewhere and that’s either directly indirectly or inspirationally because
indirectly or inspirationally because
indirectly or inspirationally because science has showed us some chemic
science has showed us some chemic
science has showed us some chemic property that we like and we take it
property that we like and we take it
property that we like and we take it into the lab and we modify it and then
into the lab and we modify it and then
into the lab and we modify it and then use it as a drug so some of the first
use it as a drug so some of the first
use it as a drug so some of the first drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s
drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s
drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s aware of is something like penicillin it
aware of is something like penicillin it
aware of is something like penicillin it was two microorganisms in battle in 1928
was two microorganisms in battle in 1928
was two microorganisms in battle in 1928 in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to
in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to
in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to each other and the researcher noticed
each other and the researcher noticed
each other and the researcher noticed that the mold that was producing a
that the mold that was producing a
that the mold that was producing a chemical kept the bacteria away
chemical kept the bacteria away
chemical kept the bacteria away ultimately that was turned into the
ultimately that was turned into the
ultimately that was turned into the first real antibiotic and used
first real antibiotic and used
first real antibiotic and used extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of
extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of
extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of people but it came from microorganisms
people but it came from microorganisms
people but it came from microorganisms other places drugs have come from are
other places drugs have come from are
other places drugs have come from are things like plants other creatures the
things like plants other creatures the
things like plants other creatures the reality of it is something like taxol
reality of it is something like taxol
reality of it is something like taxol came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree
came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree
came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree so as they were looking at the bark of
so as they were looking at the bark of
so as they were looking at the bark of the tree they noticed that it could kill
the tree they noticed that it could kill
the tree they noticed that it could kill cancer and it’s an active cancer killing
cancer and it’s an active cancer killing
cancer and it’s an active cancer killing agent even today and the belief is it
agent even today and the belief is it
agent even today and the belief is it came from the tree the reality is we’re
came from the tree the reality is we’re
came from the tree the reality is we’re also learning about horizontal gene
also learning about horizontal gene
also learning about horizontal gene transfer
transfer
transfer we knew that genes could transfer from
we knew that genes could transfer from
we knew that genes could transfer from micro organisms to other organisms
micro organisms to other organisms
micro organisms to other organisms animal organisms rather easily but now
animal organisms rather easily but now
animal organisms rather easily but now we even have examples of micro organisms
we even have examples of micro organisms
we even have examples of micro organisms doing horizontal gene transfer to even
doing horizontal gene transfer to even
doing horizontal gene transfer to even plants so when you think about the
plants so when you think about the
plants so when you think about the essence of life and its ability to
essence of life and its ability to
essence of life and its ability to communicate and its ability to change
communicate and its ability to change
communicate and its ability to change and then the capacity to be able to
and then the capacity to be able to
and then the capacity to be able to change so radically so rapidly what it
change so radically so rapidly what it
change so radically so rapidly what it really states is we’re pretty stable
really states is we’re pretty stable
really states is we’re pretty stable because we don’t go through those
because we don’t go through those
because we don’t go through those changes we actually push back on those
changes we actually push back on those
changes we actually push back on those changes dramatically as an organism no
changes dramatically as an organism no
changes dramatically as an organism no matter what that onslaught is but that’s
matter what that onslaught is but that’s
matter what that onslaught is but that’s also one of the reasons it’s very
also one of the reasons it’s very
also one of the reasons it’s very difficult to actually find drugs
difficult to actually find drugs
difficult to actually find drugs it’s not an easy thing to do
it’s not an easy thing to do
it’s not an easy thing to do so back 6070 years ago in the golden age
so back 6070 years ago in the golden age
so back 6070 years ago in the golden age of pharmaceuticals the way they found
of pharmaceuticals the way they found
of pharmaceuticals the way they found drugs was they’d go take samples of
drugs was they’d go take samples of
drugs was they’d go take samples of microorganisms or samples of dirt or
microorganisms or samples of dirt or
microorganisms or samples of dirt or samples of anything and see what they
samples of anything and see what they
samples of anything and see what they could grow well the challenge was even
could grow well the challenge was even
could grow well the challenge was even if I took a sample of the floor right
if I took a sample of the floor right
if I took a sample of the floor right here and put it in a culture plate and
here and put it in a culture plate and
here and put it in a culture plate and incubated it only one out of a hundred
incubated it only one out of a hundred
incubated it only one out of a hundred organisms that I would sample would be
organisms that I would sample would be
organisms that I would sample would be able to grow only one out of a hundred
able to grow only one out of a hundred
able to grow only one out of a hundred would I even have a chance to study but
would I even have a chance to study but
would I even have a chance to study but there’s even a tougher equation to that
there’s even a tougher equation to that
there’s even a tougher equation to that and that is just because I can grow that
and that is just because I can grow that
and that is just because I can grow that one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so
one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so
one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so if I grow that up in a culture and I
if I grow that up in a culture and I
if I grow that up in a culture and I study what it produced odds are it won’t
study what it produced odds are it won’t
study what it produced odds are it won’t produce anything because it takes life’s
produce anything because it takes life’s
produce anything because it takes life’s interactions to produce things and
interactions to produce things and
interactions to produce things and that’s one of the challenges but what
that’s one of the challenges but what
that’s one of the challenges but what turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of
turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of
turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of producing something has led to most
producing something has led to most
producing something has led to most drugs on the shelf what this ended up
drugs on the shelf what this ended up
drugs on the shelf what this ended up doing is it challenged researchers to
doing is it challenged researchers to
doing is it challenged researchers to try to figure out how do we find more
try to figure out how do we find more
try to figure out how do we find more drugs more cures more opportunities and
drugs more cures more opportunities and
drugs more cures more opportunities and one of the things that came along in the
one of the things that came along in the
one of the things that came along in the 60s was a massive chemistry kit known as
60s was a massive chemistry kit known as
60s was a massive chemistry kit known as combinatorial chemistry and when you
combinatorial chemistry and when you
combinatorial chemistry and when you look at having a super incredible
look at having a super incredible
look at having a super incredible chemistry kit to mix up anything and
chemistry kit to mix up anything and
chemistry kit to mix up anything and everything you want you’d think that if
everything you want you’d think that if
everything you want you’d think that if you could automate that and do things
you could automate that and do things
you could automate that and do things with that and create what was ultimately
with that and create what was ultimately
with that and create what was ultimately called combinatorial chemistry you would
called combinatorial chemistry you would
called combinatorial chemistry you would have an opportunity to find all sorts of
have an opportunity to find all sorts of
have an opportunity to find all sorts of potential drugs well
No billions and billions of dollars over
No billions and billions of dollars over decades there’s only one drug on the
decades there’s only one drug on the
decades there’s only one drug on the Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask
Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask
Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask a mathematician with what we know today
a mathematician with what we know today
a mathematician with what we know today obviously not what we knew then what we
obviously not what we knew then what we
obviously not what we knew then what we know is that small molecules that are
know is that small molecules that are
know is that small molecules that are the most drug like molecules themselves
the most drug like molecules themselves
the most drug like molecules themselves that there’s nearly an infinite
that there’s nearly an infinite
that there’s nearly an infinite assembling of these because of how the
assembling of these because of how the
assembling of these because of how the elements come together how they
elements come together how they
elements come together how they orientate how they spin what charges
orientate how they spin what charges
orientate how they spin what charges they are in fact it’s estimated that
they are in fact it’s estimated that
they are in fact it’s estimated that there is one and then 500 zeroes
there is one and then 500 zeroes
there is one and then 500 zeroes possibility of small molecules so even
possibility of small molecules so even
possibility of small molecules so even if you had the super duper combinatorial
if you had the super duper combinatorial
if you had the super duper combinatorial chemical capability to do a billion
chemical capability to do a billion
chemical capability to do a billion billion molecules per second every
billion molecules per second every
billion molecules per second every second for the next eight billion years
second for the next eight billion years
second for the next eight billion years you’d only be at one and thirty four
you’d only be at one and thirty four
you’d only be at one and thirty four zeroes so mathematically it’s going to
zeroes so mathematically it’s going to
zeroes so mathematically it’s going to be very tough to just randomly stumble
be very tough to just randomly stumble
be very tough to just randomly stumble upon it but the technologies that were
upon it but the technologies that were
upon it but the technologies that were created are great technologies because
created are great technologies because
created are great technologies because we’ve learned how to take existing
we’ve learned how to take existing
we’ve learned how to take existing molecules we do know and make them
molecules we do know and make them
molecules we do know and make them better or take inspiration or take
better or take inspiration or take
better or take inspiration or take something from nature and that’s
something from nature and that’s
something from nature and that’s important so let’s talk about genomics
important so let’s talk about genomics
important so let’s talk about genomics well we all knew 15-20 years ago that
well we all knew 15-20 years ago that
well we all knew 15-20 years ago that when we had the human genome decoded
when we had the human genome decoded
when we had the human genome decoded we’d learn everything we ever needed to
we’d learn everything we ever needed to
we’d learn everything we ever needed to know we’d know what drugs would work on
know we’d know what drugs would work on
know we’d know what drugs would work on we eat on each people we would know
we eat on each people we would know
we eat on each people we would know exactly how to solve disease well we’ve
exactly how to solve disease well we’ve
exactly how to solve disease well we’ve certainly learned a lot but what
certainly learned a lot but what
certainly learned a lot but what happened is then came along an epigenome
happened is then came along an epigenome
happened is then came along an epigenome and an epigenome is what we go through
and an epigenome is what we go through
and an epigenome is what we go through every day
every day
every day in living life and what they found out
in living life and what they found out
in living life and what they found out is two identical twins in very little
is two identical twins in very little
is two identical twins in very little time whatsoever are hardly alike
time whatsoever are hardly alike
time whatsoever are hardly alike genomically their genetics changes and
genomically their genetics changes and
genomically their genetics changes and that’s the environmental factors it’s
that’s the environmental factors it’s
that’s the environmental factors it’s what you eat it’s potentially your own
what you eat it’s potentially your own
what you eat it’s potentially your own microbiome interacting with you but then
microbiome interacting with you but then
microbiome interacting with you but then we also learned about the microbiome and
we also learned about the microbiome and
we also learned about the microbiome and it’s 100 times the genomics that we have
it’s 100 times the genomics that we have
it’s 100 times the genomics that we have so essentially the complexity of
so essentially the complexity of
so essentially the complexity of genomics has gone to a whole different
genomics has gone to a whole different
genomics has gone to a whole different level
level
level and mathematically to use just genomics
and mathematically to use just genomics
and mathematically to use just genomics to find solutions it’s not possible to
to find solutions it’s not possible to
to find solutions it’s not possible to use genomics with inspiration of other
use genomics with inspiration of other
use genomics with inspiration of other technologies what goes on with real life
technologies what goes on with real life
technologies what goes on with real life absolutely it’s possible so where is the
absolutely it’s possible so where is the
absolutely it’s possible so where is the future source going to be well it’s
future source going to be well it’s
future source going to be well it’s going to be the source that has always
going to be the source that has always
going to be the source that has always worked the best it’s going to be from
worked the best it’s going to be from
worked the best it’s going to be from the microbiome and in fact in June of
the microbiome and in fact in June of
the microbiome and in fact in June of 2016 there was a recognition in a
2016 there was a recognition in a
2016 there was a recognition in a presidential announcement called the
presidential announcement called the
presidential announcement called the microbiome initiative so there already
microbiome initiative so there already
microbiome initiative so there already as a scientific recognition that the
as a scientific recognition that the
as a scientific recognition that the microbiome is absolutely key to our
microbiome is absolutely key to our
microbiome is absolutely key to our knowledge about us as humans and there
knowledge about us as humans and there
knowledge about us as humans and there is a number of approaches to get at what
is a number of approaches to get at what
is a number of approaches to get at what these uncultured microorganisms can
these uncultured microorganisms can
these uncultured microorganisms can potentially offer us and that’s one of
potentially offer us and that’s one of
potentially offer us and that’s one of the things that our company is actually
the things that our company is actually
the things that our company is actually doing as well we’re going and digging
doing as well we’re going and digging
doing as well we’re going and digging into the environment where we can grab a
into the environment where we can grab a
into the environment where we can grab a microbiome and study it and study it to
microbiome and study it and study it to
microbiome and study it and study it to a point to where we can find the
a point to where we can find the
a point to where we can find the chemistry that could potentially be a
chemistry that could potentially be a
chemistry that could potentially be a next cure there’s others looking at the
next cure there’s others looking at the
next cure there’s others looking at the uncultured microorganisms and there’s a
uncultured microorganisms and there’s a
uncultured microorganisms and there’s a lot of different strategies but the
lot of different strategies but the
lot of different strategies but the reality of it is it has a proven
reality of it is it has a proven
reality of it is it has a proven reliable source it’s not easy
reliable source it’s not easy
reliable source it’s not easy nothing’s ever simple as complex as this
nothing’s ever simple as complex as this
nothing’s ever simple as complex as this is it’s going to remain tough but one of
is it’s going to remain tough but one of
is it’s going to remain tough but one of the things that’s happening is when you
the things that’s happening is when you
the things that’s happening is when you look at all the tools that have been
look at all the tools that have been
look at all the tools that have been developed in the last 50 years we’re now
developed in the last 50 years we’re now
developed in the last 50 years we’re now on the verge of being able to use
on the verge of being able to use
on the verge of being able to use microorganisms in a way that we never
microorganisms in a way that we never
microorganisms in a way that we never could 4050 years ago the tools
could 4050 years ago the tools
could 4050 years ago the tools themselves and genomics and synthetic
themselves and genomics and synthetic
themselves and genomics and synthetic chemistry or combinatorial chemistry
chemistry or combinatorial chemistry
chemistry or combinatorial chemistry along with many other technologies are
along with many other technologies are
along with many other technologies are leading us down that pathway to new
leading us down that pathway to new
leading us down that pathway to new cures new treatments and a better world
cures new treatments and a better world
cures new treatments and a better world so there’s one thing I will say to the
so there’s one thing I will say to the
so there’s one thing I will say to the crowd and that is if you have an
crowd and that is if you have an
crowd and that is if you have an opportunity to go to a grad party high
opportunity to go to a grad party high
opportunity to go to a grad party high school or undergrad and you’ve got a
school or undergrad and you’ve got a
school or undergrad and you’ve got a student moving forward into higher
student moving forward into higher
student moving forward into higher education I would say take the
education I would say take the
education I would say take the opportunity to give them one word and
opportunity to give them one word and
opportunity to give them one word and that one word is microbiome thank you
that one word is microbiome thank you
that one word is microbiome thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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