hello what do you think you’re looking at here when you look at the screen do
at here when you look at the screen do
at here when you look at the screen do you see stars and distant galaxies
you see stars and distant galaxies
you see stars and distant galaxies perhaps as if you’re looking through a
perhaps as if you’re looking through a
perhaps as if you’re looking through a telescope in fact you’re looking through
telescope in fact you’re looking through
telescope in fact you’re looking through a microscope so what you’re seeing is a
a microscope so what you’re seeing is a
a microscope so what you’re seeing is a very small sample of water taken from
very small sample of water taken from
very small sample of water taken from the ocean and that sample has been
the ocean and that sample has been
the ocean and that sample has been stained with the fluorescent dye that
stained with the fluorescent dye that
stained with the fluorescent dye that lights up any DNA the color green DNA is
lights up any DNA the color green DNA is
lights up any DNA the color green DNA is the blueprint of life so what you’re
the blueprint of life so what you’re
the blueprint of life so what you’re seeing is life those very small green
seeing is life those very small green
seeing is life those very small green dots in fact are viruses the ocean is
dots in fact are viruses the ocean is
dots in fact are viruses the ocean is full of viruses but don’t worry these
full of viruses but don’t worry these
full of viruses but don’t worry these viruses couldn’t care less about you
viruses couldn’t care less about you
viruses couldn’t care less about you they’re not there to hurt you their job
they’re not there to hurt you their job
they’re not there to hurt you their job is to infect bacteria which are the
is to infect bacteria which are the
is to infect bacteria which are the larger green dots in that picture
larger green dots in that picture
larger green dots in that picture what are bacteria well they look
what are bacteria well they look
what are bacteria well they look something like this and maybe when you
something like this and maybe when you
something like this and maybe when you think about them you think about
think about them you think about
think about them you think about diseases like cholera or the plague or a
diseases like cholera or the plague or a
diseases like cholera or the plague or a strep throat well just like viruses in
strep throat well just like viruses in
strep throat well just like viruses in the world the bacteria is the back the
the world the bacteria is the back the
the world the bacteria is the back the bacteria are everywhere excuse me and
bacteria are everywhere excuse me and
bacteria are everywhere excuse me and most of them don’t care about you either
most of them don’t care about you either
most of them don’t care about you either they’re not there to make you sick they
they’re not there to make you sick they
they’re not there to make you sick they are there to live their lives happily
are there to live their lives happily
are there to live their lives happily and freely so here’s what a bacteria
and freely so here’s what a bacteria
and freely so here’s what a bacteria might look like if we were to draw a
might look like if we were to draw a
might look like if we were to draw a cartoon of it bacteria are alive their
cartoon of it bacteria are alive their
cartoon of it bacteria are alive their cells not unlike our own they have a
cells not unlike our own they have a
cells not unlike our own they have a cell membrane and a cell wall to protect
cell membrane and a cell wall to protect
cell membrane and a cell wall to protect them from the outside world some of them
them from the outside world some of them
them from the outside world some of them even have little tails called flagella
even have little tails called flagella
even have little tails called flagella like this one others have finger like
like this one others have finger like
like this one others have finger like appendages that help them to move around
appendages that help them to move around
appendages that help them to move around and survive in their environments on the
and survive in their environments on the
and survive in their environments on the inside of a bacterial cell just like on
inside of a bacterial cell just like on
inside of a bacterial cell just like on the inside of our cell is DNA the
the inside of our cell is DNA the
the inside of our cell is DNA the blueprint for all life this DNA allows
blueprint for all life this DNA allows
blueprint for all life this DNA allows bacteria to produce the proteins that it
bacteria to produce the proteins that it
bacteria to produce the proteins that it needs to live allows it to eat food and
needs to live allows it to eat food and
needs to live allows it to eat food and to avoid its enemies what a viruses look
to avoid its enemies what a viruses look
to avoid its enemies what a viruses look like this is a cartoon of a virus and
like this is a cartoon of a virus and
like this is a cartoon of a virus and again when you think of viruses perhaps
again when you think of viruses perhaps
again when you think of viruses perhaps you think of the nasty ones HIV
you think of the nasty ones HIV
you think of the nasty ones HIV poliovirus the flu these are the ones
poliovirus the flu these are the ones
poliovirus the flu these are the ones we’re very concerned about but again
we’re very concerned about but again
we’re very concerned about but again most viruses look something like this
most viruses look something like this
most viruses look something like this and their job is to infect bacteria this
and their job is to infect bacteria this
and their job is to infect bacteria this virus is not really alive it is an inert
virus is not really alive it is an inert
virus is not really alive it is an inert protein shell that’s
protein shell that’s
protein shell that’s floating around in the world looking for
floating around in the world looking for
floating around in the world looking for a home every virus needs a home
a home every virus needs a home
a home every virus needs a home it can’t replicate without one and in
it can’t replicate without one and in
it can’t replicate without one and in this case that viruses home is a
this case that viruses home is a
this case that viruses home is a bacteria inside of the head of this
bacteria inside of the head of this
bacteria inside of the head of this lunar landing module type apparatus is
lunar landing module type apparatus is
lunar landing module type apparatus is the DNA for the virus the DNA is what
the DNA for the virus the DNA is what
the DNA for the virus the DNA is what unites all life on the planet so over my
unites all life on the planet so over my
unites all life on the planet so over my career as a researcher and in my
career as a researcher and in my
career as a researcher and in my laboratory in San Francisco we’ve been
laboratory in San Francisco we’ve been
laboratory in San Francisco we’ve been very fascinated in the interactions
very fascinated in the interactions
very fascinated in the interactions between these viruses and those bacteria
between these viruses and those bacteria
between these viruses and those bacteria since the world is full of them were
since the world is full of them were
since the world is full of them were fascinated by a very simple question how
fascinated by a very simple question how
fascinated by a very simple question how do bacteria protect themselves from
do bacteria protect themselves from
do bacteria protect themselves from viruses why are we so fascinated by this
viruses why are we so fascinated by this
viruses why are we so fascinated by this question I take you back to this picture
question I take you back to this picture
question I take you back to this picture and I hope it invokes in you a very
and I hope it invokes in you a very
and I hope it invokes in you a very fundamental feeling in all of us and
fundamental feeling in all of us and
fundamental feeling in all of us and that is one of basic curiosity that’s
that is one of basic curiosity that’s
that is one of basic curiosity that’s something that unites all scientists
something that unites all scientists
something that unites all scientists were fascinated by how the world works
were fascinated by how the world works
were fascinated by how the world works and in my in my role how biology works
and in my in my role how biology works
and in my in my role how biology works how life is living on this planet and so
how life is living on this planet and so
how life is living on this planet and so we want to know how viruses and bacteria
we want to know how viruses and bacteria
we want to know how viruses and bacteria get along with each other the second and
get along with each other the second and
get along with each other the second and perhaps more tangible example here is
perhaps more tangible example here is
perhaps more tangible example here is that bacterial viruses are very good at
that bacterial viruses are very good at
that bacterial viruses are very good at doing one thing and that is killing
doing one thing and that is killing
doing one thing and that is killing bacteria and in this era we are in
bacteria and in this era we are in
bacteria and in this era we are in trouble we are risking running out of
trouble we are risking running out of
trouble we are risking running out of antibiotics to use to treat bacterial
antibiotics to use to treat bacterial
antibiotics to use to treat bacterial infections so in my laboratory and in
infections so in my laboratory and in
infections so in my laboratory and in many others around the world we look to
many others around the world we look to
many others around the world we look to nature where we find bacterial viruses
nature where we find bacterial viruses
nature where we find bacterial viruses that can teach us how we can kill
that can teach us how we can kill
that can teach us how we can kill bacteria better that’s a big goal for my
bacteria better that’s a big goal for my
bacteria better that’s a big goal for my lab and the last point I’ll share with
lab and the last point I’ll share with
lab and the last point I’ll share with you today is how studying the
you today is how studying the
you today is how studying the interactions between viruses and
interactions between viruses and
interactions between viruses and bacteria have generated tools that
bacteria have generated tools that
bacteria have generated tools that scientists desperately need and I’m not
scientists desperately need and I’m not
scientists desperately need and I’m not talking about hammers and nails I’m
talking about hammers and nails I’m
talking about hammers and nails I’m talking about molecular tools that allow
talking about molecular tools that allow
talking about molecular tools that allow us to alter the DNA of living organisms
us to alter the DNA of living organisms
us to alter the DNA of living organisms so we can study them learn from them and
so we can study them learn from them and
so we can study them learn from them and cure disease so this first point basic
cure disease so this first point basic
cure disease so this first point basic curiosity I hope this picture of a girl
curiosity I hope this picture of a girl
curiosity I hope this picture of a girl looking through a magnifying glass
looking through a magnifying glass
looking through a magnifying glass brings you back to a time when you were
brings you back to a time when you were
brings you back to a time when you were a child who was fascinated with how the
a child who was fascinated with how the
a child who was fascinated with how the world worked whether it was looking at
world worked whether it was looking at
world worked whether it was looking at Iraq or collecting frogs from a local
Iraq or collecting frogs from a local
Iraq or collecting frogs from a local pond this is something that I think we
pond this is something that I think we
pond this is something that I think we all share at a fundamental level and as
all share at a fundamental level and as
all share at a fundamental level and as scientists we like to look at things too
scientists we like to look at things too
scientists we like to look at things too here is a picture I took as a grad
here is a picture I took as a grad
here is a picture I took as a grad to a student using an electron
to a student using an electron
to a student using an electron microscope where I was able to zoom in
microscope where I was able to zoom in
microscope where I was able to zoom in on the world at a hundred thousand times
on the world at a hundred thousand times
on the world at a hundred thousand times and I’m showing you a picture of the
and I’m showing you a picture of the
and I’m showing you a picture of the bacterial viruses we study again they
bacterial viruses we study again they
bacterial viruses we study again they have a head full of DNA and a tail that
have a head full of DNA and a tail that
have a head full of DNA and a tail that they inject that DNA through we can look
they inject that DNA through we can look
they inject that DNA through we can look even closer we can see DNA the DNA
even closer we can see DNA the DNA
even closer we can see DNA the DNA that’s inside of that virus’s head but
that’s inside of that virus’s head but
that’s inside of that virus’s head but we don’t really like to look at DNA we
we don’t really like to look at DNA we
we don’t really like to look at DNA we like to sequence it you may be familiar
like to sequence it you may be familiar
like to sequence it you may be familiar with the a C’s T’s and G’s that make up
with the a C’s T’s and G’s that make up
with the a C’s T’s and G’s that make up our DNA and the DNA of everything on the
our DNA and the DNA of everything on the
our DNA and the DNA of everything on the planet that sequence is the blueprint
planet that sequence is the blueprint
planet that sequence is the blueprint scientists love sequencing DNA because
scientists love sequencing DNA because
scientists love sequencing DNA because it gives us the basic building blocks of
it gives us the basic building blocks of
it gives us the basic building blocks of life and it allows us all to talk to
life and it allows us all to talk to
life and it allows us all to talk to each other whether you’re studying
each other whether you’re studying
each other whether you’re studying viruses or bacteria or humans they’ve
viruses or bacteria or humans they’ve
viruses or bacteria or humans they’ve all got DNA and that DNA has a job to
all got DNA and that DNA has a job to
all got DNA and that DNA has a job to code for the production of amino acids
code for the production of amino acids
code for the production of amino acids that are strung together and make
that are strung together and make
that are strung together and make proteins like the one shown here
proteins like the one shown here
proteins like the one shown here three-dimensional machines that are what
three-dimensional machines that are what
three-dimensional machines that are what make our cells function what make
make our cells function what make
make our cells function what make bacterial cells function and what makes
bacterial cells function and what makes
bacterial cells function and what makes viruses function so once we understand
viruses function so once we understand
viruses function so once we understand these basic building blocks of life we
these basic building blocks of life we
these basic building blocks of life we can manipulate and study them and learn
can manipulate and study them and learn
can manipulate and study them and learn from them the second point I want to
from them the second point I want to
from them the second point I want to make is bacterial viruses are very good
make is bacterial viruses are very good
make is bacterial viruses are very good at killing bacteria here’s an example of
at killing bacteria here’s an example of
at killing bacteria here’s an example of one that in my laboratory we work on day
one that in my laboratory we work on day
one that in my laboratory we work on day and night called Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and night called Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and night called Pseudomonas aeruginosa the World Health Organization has told
the World Health Organization has told
the World Health Organization has told us that it is the number two organism on
us that it is the number two organism on
us that it is the number two organism on the list of bacterial pathogens that we
the list of bacterial pathogens that we
the list of bacterial pathogens that we desperately need new antibiotics for
desperately need new antibiotics for
desperately need new antibiotics for this is a drug-resistant bacteria that
this is a drug-resistant bacteria that
this is a drug-resistant bacteria that infects people with cystic fibrosis as
infects people with cystic fibrosis as
infects people with cystic fibrosis as well as burn wounds in my lab we study
well as burn wounds in my lab we study
well as burn wounds in my lab we study viruses that kill this particular
viruses that kill this particular
viruses that kill this particular bacteria and we hope to learn how they
bacteria and we hope to learn how they
bacteria and we hope to learn how they do that and one day we may be better
do that and one day we may be better
do that and one day we may be better able to engineer strategies to kill this
able to engineer strategies to kill this
able to engineer strategies to kill this bacteria and many other drug-resistant
bacteria and many other drug-resistant
bacteria and many other drug-resistant like it okay so what do we actually do
like it okay so what do we actually do
like it okay so what do we actually do we have the basic building blocks we
we have the basic building blocks we
we have the basic building blocks we have a goal in mind which is to learn
have a goal in mind which is to learn
have a goal in mind which is to learn how to kill bacteria and then we return
how to kill bacteria and then we return
how to kill bacteria and then we return to this question who wins the battle
to this question who wins the battle
to this question who wins the battle when a virus and the bacteria bump into
when a virus and the bacteria bump into
when a virus and the bacteria bump into each other does the virus win and kill
each other does the virus win and kill
each other does the virus win and kill the bacteria or it is the bacteria win
the bacteria or it is the bacteria win
the bacteria or it is the bacteria win and go on surviving and living its life
and go on surviving and living its life
and go on surviving and living its life so what happens normally a virus
so what happens normally a virus
so what happens normally a virus attaches to a bacterial cell like shown
attaches to a bacterial cell like shown
attaches to a bacterial cell like shown here the DNA from the head
here the DNA from the head
here the DNA from the head goes through the tail into the bacteria
goes through the tail into the bacteria
goes through the tail into the bacteria and this virus has one goal it’s to
and this virus has one goal it’s to
and this virus has one goal it’s to replicate to very high numbers inside of
replicate to very high numbers inside of
replicate to very high numbers inside of its host and burst it open killing the
its host and burst it open killing the
its host and burst it open killing the bacteria of producing about a hundred
bacteria of producing about a hundred
bacteria of producing about a hundred new progeny viruses to go on in the
new progeny viruses to go on in the
new progeny viruses to go on in the environment and find a new home about
environment and find a new home about
environment and find a new home about ten years ago researchers made an
ten years ago researchers made an
ten years ago researchers made an amazing discovery that changed how we
amazing discovery that changed how we
amazing discovery that changed how we view this process that discovery is
view this process that discovery is
view this process that discovery is called CRISPR CRISPR is an immune system
called CRISPR CRISPR is an immune system
called CRISPR CRISPR is an immune system that bacteria have against viruses just
that bacteria have against viruses just
that bacteria have against viruses just like we make antibodies against viruses
like we make antibodies against viruses
like we make antibodies against viruses bacteria used CRISPR what is CRISPR
bacteria used CRISPR what is CRISPR
bacteria used CRISPR what is CRISPR exactly well you heard you heard from
exactly well you heard you heard from
exactly well you heard you heard from Jennifer Doudna that this is basically a
Jennifer Doudna that this is basically a
Jennifer Doudna that this is basically a memory it’s a vaccinated mugshot the
memory it’s a vaccinated mugshot the
memory it’s a vaccinated mugshot the CRISPR system has seen this virus before
CRISPR system has seen this virus before
CRISPR system has seen this virus before and what it does just like this little
and what it does just like this little
and what it does just like this little pac-man inside of the cell it’s waiting
pac-man inside of the cell it’s waiting
pac-man inside of the cell it’s waiting for the virus DNA to come through that
for the virus DNA to come through that
for the virus DNA to come through that tail of the virus and it’s going to chew
tail of the virus and it’s going to chew
tail of the virus and it’s going to chew it up that’s what CRISPR does in nature
it up that’s what CRISPR does in nature
it up that’s what CRISPR does in nature CRISPR is programmed to kill bacterial
CRISPR is programmed to kill bacterial
CRISPR is programmed to kill bacterial viruses and to up their DNA as a
viruses and to up their DNA as a
viruses and to up their DNA as a graduate student
graduate student
graduate student Iko discovered the next layer in this
Iko discovered the next layer in this
Iko discovered the next layer in this battle I discovered anti CRISPR proteins
battle I discovered anti CRISPR proteins
battle I discovered anti CRISPR proteins so the viruses are not passive they
so the viruses are not passive they
so the viruses are not passive they don’t want to let their DNA get chewed
don’t want to let their DNA get chewed
don’t want to let their DNA get chewed up by the CRISPR pac-man inside of the
up by the CRISPR pac-man inside of the
up by the CRISPR pac-man inside of the cell they want to stop it so of course
cell they want to stop it so of course
cell they want to stop it so of course what do they do
what do they do
what do they do the viruses encode a very small protein
the viruses encode a very small protein
the viruses encode a very small protein like a wedge that they can throw into
like a wedge that they can throw into
like a wedge that they can throw into pac-man’s mouth we call that the anti
pac-man’s mouth we call that the anti
pac-man’s mouth we call that the anti CRISPR what does this enable well it
CRISPR what does this enable well it
CRISPR what does this enable well it enables the virus to do exactly what it
enables the virus to do exactly what it
enables the virus to do exactly what it wants to do it turns off the CRISPR
wants to do it turns off the CRISPR
wants to do it turns off the CRISPR machine and it replicates to high
machine and it replicates to high
machine and it replicates to high numbers and it breaks open the bacteria
numbers and it breaks open the bacteria
numbers and it breaks open the bacteria and importantly it kills the bacteria
and importantly it kills the bacteria
and importantly it kills the bacteria this is what we want we want to
this is what we want we want to
this is what we want we want to understand how viruses kill bacteria and
understand how viruses kill bacteria and
understand how viruses kill bacteria and CRISPR could stand in our way because it
CRISPR could stand in our way because it
CRISPR could stand in our way because it stops viruses so the discovery of anti
stops viruses so the discovery of anti
stops viruses so the discovery of anti crispers allows us to make better
crispers allows us to make better
crispers allows us to make better viruses and allows us to kill deadly
viruses and allows us to kill deadly
viruses and allows us to kill deadly bacteria
bacteria
bacteria with the last part of my talk I wanted
with the last part of my talk I wanted
with the last part of my talk I wanted to tell you more about the tools
to tell you more about the tools
to tell you more about the tools scientists need tools you may know that
scientists need tools you may know that
scientists need tools you may know that in every cell of your body you have 3
in every cell of your body you have 3
in every cell of your body you have 3 billion letters of DNA 3 billion a C’s
billion letters of DNA 3 billion a C’s
billion letters of DNA 3 billion a C’s GS and T’s and I told you earlier that
GS and T’s and I told you earlier that
GS and T’s and I told you earlier that were powered by curiosity we’ve
were powered by curiosity we’ve
were powered by curiosity we’ve sequenced the human genome we know those
sequenced the human genome we know those
sequenced the human genome we know those a C’s T’s and G’s but for a long time we
a C’s T’s and G’s but for a long time we
a C’s T’s and G’s but for a long time we were relegated to only being able to
were relegated to only being able to
were relegated to only being able to look we couldn’t fix
look we couldn’t fix
look we couldn’t fix for example cystic fibrosis is caused by
for example cystic fibrosis is caused by
for example cystic fibrosis is caused by a single mutation we know where that
a single mutation we know where that
a single mutation we know where that mutation is in the in the 3 billion
mutation is in the in the 3 billion
mutation is in the in the 3 billion letters of people with cystic fibrosis
letters of people with cystic fibrosis
letters of people with cystic fibrosis we can say that’s where your mutation is
we can say that’s where your mutation is
we can say that’s where your mutation is and then you might say well could you
and then you might say well could you
and then you might say well could you change it the answer had been no until
change it the answer had been no until
change it the answer had been no until now by studying the arms race between
now by studying the arms race between
now by studying the arms race between viruses and bacteria CRISPR has provided
viruses and bacteria CRISPR has provided
viruses and bacteria CRISPR has provided us with such a tool let me show you what
us with such a tool let me show you what
us with such a tool let me show you what it looks like
it looks like
it looks like CRISPR Castine is the real name for the
CRISPR Castine is the real name for the
CRISPR Castine is the real name for the tool and cast night is a protein it’s a
tool and cast night is a protein it’s a
tool and cast night is a protein it’s a molecular machine that lives inside of
molecular machine that lives inside of
molecular machine that lives inside of bacterial cells normally and how the
bacterial cells normally and how the
bacterial cells normally and how the bacteria programs it is by this purple
bacteria programs it is by this purple
bacteria programs it is by this purple sequence here that purple RNA a cousin
sequence here that purple RNA a cousin
sequence here that purple RNA a cousin of DNA allows cast 9 to locate with
of DNA allows cast 9 to locate with
of DNA allows cast 9 to locate with precision any DNA sequence that matches
precision any DNA sequence that matches
precision any DNA sequence that matches it and just like that pac-man these
it and just like that pac-man these
it and just like that pac-man these scissors enable the cutting of the DNA
scissors enable the cutting of the DNA
scissors enable the cutting of the DNA sequence now imagine how challenging
sequence now imagine how challenging
sequence now imagine how challenging this must be we have 3 billion letters
this must be we have 3 billion letters
this must be we have 3 billion letters in our DNA we program cast 9 in the lab
in our DNA we program cast 9 in the lab
in our DNA we program cast 9 in the lab literally on the computer we tell it
literally on the computer we tell it
literally on the computer we tell it what to cut and we give it 20 letters it
what to cut and we give it 20 letters it
what to cut and we give it 20 letters it can serve a 3 billion letters and find
can serve a 3 billion letters and find
can serve a 3 billion letters and find 20 and cut with remarkable precision
20 and cut with remarkable precision
20 and cut with remarkable precision so on the next slide I want to show you
so on the next slide I want to show you
so on the next slide I want to show you what cast 9 really looks like of course
what cast 9 really looks like of course
what cast 9 really looks like of course it doesn’t look like this this cartoon
it doesn’t look like this this cartoon
it doesn’t look like this this cartoon what you’re looking at here is a
what you’re looking at here is a
what you’re looking at here is a structure of cast 9 what that means is
structure of cast 9 what that means is
structure of cast 9 what that means is every little gray blob on this screen is
every little gray blob on this screen is
every little gray blob on this screen is a carbon or oxygen or hydrogen atom this
a carbon or oxygen or hydrogen atom this
a carbon or oxygen or hydrogen atom this is an atomic structure basically a
is an atomic structure basically a
is an atomic structure basically a picture taken with one of the most
picture taken with one of the most
picture taken with one of the most powerful microscopes on the planet and
powerful microscopes on the planet and
powerful microscopes on the planet and inside of it is that orange guide
inside of it is that orange guide
inside of it is that orange guide sequence the RNA that tells cast 9 where
sequence the RNA that tells cast 9 where
sequence the RNA that tells cast 9 where go and what to cut in purple is the
go and what to cut in purple is the
go and what to cut in purple is the target DNA that it has found and it’s
target DNA that it has found and it’s
target DNA that it has found and it’s going to cut that DNA however cast nine
going to cut that DNA however cast nine
going to cut that DNA however cast nine is not perfect you might imagine in
is not perfect you might imagine in
is not perfect you might imagine in those three billion letters where we’re
those three billion letters where we’re
those three billion letters where we’re asking it to find just 20 that it might
asking it to find just 20 that it might
asking it to find just 20 that it might make a mistake every now and then and it
make a mistake every now and then and it
make a mistake every now and then and it does we it cuts and can introduce a
does we it cuts and can introduce a
does we it cuts and can introduce a mutation in places where we don’t want
mutation in places where we don’t want
mutation in places where we don’t want scientists around the world are working
scientists around the world are working
scientists around the world are working to solve this problem and I guarantee
to solve this problem and I guarantee
to solve this problem and I guarantee you the problem will be solved our
you the problem will be solved our
you the problem will be solved our strategy is to go back to that virus and
strategy is to go back to that virus and
strategy is to go back to that virus and bacterial arms race to learn how does
bacterial arms race to learn how does
bacterial arms race to learn how does the natural world solve this problem how
the natural world solve this problem how
the natural world solve this problem how can we stop cast 9 from looking around
can we stop cast 9 from looking around
can we stop cast 9 from looking around ourselves and cutting at the wrong place
ourselves and cutting at the wrong place
ourselves and cutting at the wrong place well the answer to us is clear we can
well the answer to us is clear we can
well the answer to us is clear we can turn it off how could we possibly turn
turn it off how could we possibly turn
turn it off how could we possibly turn off cast 9 we do it with an anti CRISPR
off cast 9 we do it with an anti CRISPR
off cast 9 we do it with an anti CRISPR the same protein that the viruses use to
the same protein that the viruses use to
the same protein that the viruses use to stop cast 9 in the wild can be used in
stop cast 9 in the wild can be used in
stop cast 9 in the wild can be used in human cells so when we decide that cast
human cells so when we decide that cast
human cells so when we decide that cast 9 has done its job and fixed the
9 has done its job and fixed the
9 has done its job and fixed the mutation we want it to fix we can turn
mutation we want it to fix we can turn
mutation we want it to fix we can turn it off before it has the chance to make
it off before it has the chance to make
it off before it has the chance to make any mistakes the red protein shown there
any mistakes the red protein shown there
any mistakes the red protein shown there is where the anti CRISPR protein binds
is where the anti CRISPR protein binds
is where the anti CRISPR protein binds it’s very small but it’s very smart it
it’s very small but it’s very smart it
it’s very small but it’s very smart it binds in a very precise location on that
binds in a very precise location on that
binds in a very precise location on that cast 9 protein and turns it off this
cast 9 protein and turns it off this
cast 9 protein and turns it off this structure was solved by a collaborator
structure was solved by a collaborator
structure was solved by a collaborator of mine who goes on in Jennifer Doudna
of mine who goes on in Jennifer Doudna
of mine who goes on in Jennifer Doudna ‘z lab at the University of California
‘z lab at the University of California
‘z lab at the University of California Berkeley a lab that has led the charge
Berkeley a lab that has led the charge
Berkeley a lab that has led the charge on developing as CRISPR casts 9
on developing as CRISPR casts 9
on developing as CRISPR casts 9 technology so to summarize my
technology so to summarize my
technology so to summarize my presentation I want to take you back to
presentation I want to take you back to
presentation I want to take you back to this picture I hope it inspires in you
this picture I hope it inspires in you
this picture I hope it inspires in you the sort of wonder that we feel in my
the sort of wonder that we feel in my
the sort of wonder that we feel in my laboratory when we think about viruses
laboratory when we think about viruses
laboratory when we think about viruses and bacteria in the natural world where
and bacteria in the natural world where
and bacteria in the natural world where they exist in the oceans in the soil and
they exist in the oceans in the soil and
they exist in the oceans in the soil and even in and on your body right now a
even in and on your body right now a
even in and on your body right now a molecular arms race is raging between
molecular arms race is raging between
molecular arms race is raging between the bacteria and the viruses that live
the bacteria and the viruses that live
the bacteria and the viruses that live on your skin and in your gut it’s really
on your skin and in your gut it’s really
on your skin and in your gut it’s really quite remarkable and so this is what
quite remarkable and so this is what
quite remarkable and so this is what powers us everyday is the basic
powers us everyday is the basic
powers us everyday is the basic curiosity to try to understand how this
curiosity to try to understand how this
curiosity to try to understand how this works but also to understand how we can
works but also to understand how we can
works but also to understand how we can turn this into a useful tool to kill
turn this into a useful tool to kill
turn this into a useful tool to kill bacterial viruses
bacterial viruses
bacterial viruses and I told you today as well how
and I told you today as well how
and I told you today as well how scientists need tools to enable the
scientists need tools to enable the
scientists need tools to enable the engineering of human cells not
engineering of human cells not
engineering of human cells not necessarily for designer babies but
necessarily for designer babies but
necessarily for designer babies but secure genetic diseases that is the
secure genetic diseases that is the
secure genetic diseases that is the focus of the CRISPR cast line community
focus of the CRISPR cast line community
focus of the CRISPR cast line community and I’ve told you how first CRISPR cast
and I’ve told you how first CRISPR cast
and I’ve told you how first CRISPR cast 9 came from this natural arms race and
9 came from this natural arms race and
9 came from this natural arms race and we’ve went back to the arms race to
we’ve went back to the arms race to
we’ve went back to the arms race to identify bacterial viruses that produce
identify bacterial viruses that produce
identify bacterial viruses that produce anti CRISPR proteins that stop Castine
anti CRISPR proteins that stop Castine
anti CRISPR proteins that stop Castine from cutting where we don’t want it to
from cutting where we don’t want it to
from cutting where we don’t want it to and we think this will enable precise
and we think this will enable precise
and we think this will enable precise and safe gene editing going forward
and safe gene editing going forward
and safe gene editing going forward thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment