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How has the DNA revolution impacted all of us? | Mechelle Wu | TEDxCanadianIntlSchool


dead dead dead

dead dead dead everyone and everything dies eventually

everyone and everything dies eventually

everyone and everything dies eventually until they don’t

until they don’t

until they don’t in the book of disquiet Fernando Pessoa

in the book of disquiet Fernando Pessoa

in the book of disquiet Fernando Pessoa has said my soul is a hidden Orchestra I

has said my soul is a hidden Orchestra I

has said my soul is a hidden Orchestra I know not what instruments what fill

know not what instruments what fill

know not what instruments what fill strings and harps drums interval I sound

strings and harps drums interval I sound

strings and harps drums interval I sound inside myself I here is a symphony what

inside myself I here is a symphony what

inside myself I here is a symphony what if I told you someone out there

if I told you someone out there

if I told you someone out there deciphered your symphony no not just

deciphered your symphony no not just

deciphered your symphony no not just that they’ve mastered it it’s techniques

that they’ve mastered it it’s techniques

that they’ve mastered it it’s techniques the beauty and flourish of the piece yet

the beauty and flourish of the piece yet

the beauty and flourish of the piece yet to be perfected and still the making but

to be perfected and still the making but

to be perfected and still the making but nonetheless existing this was in 1982

nonetheless existing this was in 1982

nonetheless existing this was in 1982 was it seemingly limitless possibilities

was it seemingly limitless possibilities

was it seemingly limitless possibilities to even immortality the notion of

to even immortality the notion of

to even immortality the notion of genetic manipulation artificial cell

genetic manipulation artificial cell

genetic manipulation artificial cell replication the DNA revolution still

replication the DNA revolution still

replication the DNA revolution still unknown and quite on from there to the

unknown and quite on from there to the

unknown and quite on from there to the few whose curiosities were claimed

few whose curiosities were claimed

few whose curiosities were claimed claimed by the study of just how much we

claimed by the study of just how much we

claimed by the study of just how much we could push the boundaries of nature as

could push the boundaries of nature as

could push the boundaries of nature as we know it well some still seek the

we know it well some still seek the

we know it well some still seek the secrets this world so hold others others

secrets this world so hold others others

secrets this world so hold others others fear for the unforeseen future if your

fear for the unforeseen future if your

fear for the unforeseen future if your unknown but what is held in the power of

unknown but what is held in the power of

unknown but what is held in the power of the words we speak and if the control of

the words we speak and if the control of

the words we speak and if the control of life and death is too much for us to

life and death is too much for us to

life and death is too much for us to handle according to the World Health

handle according to the World Health

handle according to the World Health Organization 725 thousand individuals

Organization 725 thousand individuals

Organization 725 thousand individuals are killed each year by the so-called

are killed each year by the so-called

are killed each year by the so-called monster that is mosquito seven hundred

monster that is mosquito seven hundred

monster that is mosquito seven hundred twenty five thousand that’s more than

twenty five thousand that’s more than

twenty five thousand that’s more than the total population of Seattle

the total population of Seattle

the total population of Seattle Washington that’s approximately two

Washington that’s approximately two

Washington that’s approximately two hundred and forty-two times our school

hundred and forty-two times our school

hundred and forty-two times our school population of 3,000 students and for

population of 3,000 students and for

population of 3,000 students and for something that has been a problem for so

something that has been a problem for so

something that has been a problem for so long and it’s pretty much a perennial

long and it’s pretty much a perennial

long and it’s pretty much a perennial problem efforts have come a long way

problem efforts have come a long way

problem efforts have come a long way since the first preventive and treatment

since the first preventive and treatment

since the first preventive and treatment measures but some believe that’s on

Aastha Tech is a biotechnology company

Aastha Tech is a biotechnology company working with what they believe to be the

working with what they believe to be the

working with what they believe to be the solution to this issue by inserting a

solution to this issue by inserting a

solution to this issue by inserting a self-editing self-limiting gene that is

self-editing self-limiting gene that is

self-editing self-limiting gene that is altered to work only in insect cells the

altered to work only in insect cells the

altered to work only in insect cells the male Aedes aegypti mosquito now have the

male Aedes aegypti mosquito now have the

male Aedes aegypti mosquito now have the ability to pass on this change was

ability to pass on this change was

ability to pass on this change was offspring when releasing the wild so

offspring when releasing the wild so

offspring when releasing the wild so their heritage of this strain would in

their heritage of this strain would in

their heritage of this strain would in turn caused them to die before reaching

turn caused them to die before reaching

turn caused them to die before reaching adulthood therefore limiting the local

adulthood therefore limiting the local

adulthood therefore limiting the local mosquito population in the face of major

mosquito population in the face of major

mosquito population in the face of major outbreaks like Zika which was estimated

outbreaks like Zika which was estimated

outbreaks like Zika which was estimated to result in the financial burden of 3.5

to result in the financial burden of 3.5

to result in the financial burden of 3.5 billion in 2016 this method will be

billion in 2016 this method will be

billion in 2016 this method will be brought to use and as according to

brought to use and as according to

brought to use and as according to Oxitec the facility trials they have

Oxitec the facility trials they have

Oxitec the facility trials they have performed have demonstrated the

performed have demonstrated the

performed have demonstrated the reduction of the wild population to up

reduction of the wild population to up

reduction of the wild population to up to 90% but some sympathy that that’s not

to 90% but some sympathy that that’s not

to 90% but some sympathy that that’s not enough that’s when the method of CRISPR

enough that’s when the method of CRISPR

enough that’s when the method of CRISPR cast nine comes in not only our

cast nine comes in not only our

cast nine comes in not only our scientists testing the waters of this

scientists testing the waters of this

scientists testing the waters of this new form technology our mosquitoes but

new form technology our mosquitoes but

new form technology our mosquitoes but other experiments have also been

other experiments have also been

other experiments have also been conducted to correct major genetic flaws

conducted to correct major genetic flaws

conducted to correct major genetic flaws in animal models including mutations

in animal models including mutations

in animal models including mutations responsible for muscular dystrophy and

responsible for muscular dystrophy and

responsible for muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis CRISPR casts nine when

cystic fibrosis CRISPR casts nine when

cystic fibrosis CRISPR casts nine when it comes to the ability to successfully

it comes to the ability to successfully

it comes to the ability to successfully and efficiently remove replace rearrange

and efficiently remove replace rearrange

and efficiently remove replace rearrange and ultra the DNA of as according to the

and ultra the DNA of as according to the

and ultra the DNA of as according to the National Geographic any living organism

National Geographic any living organism

National Geographic any living organism even us as can be interpreted by its

even us as can be interpreted by its

even us as can be interpreted by its name this genome editing tool composes

name this genome editing tool composes

name this genome editing tool composes of two main molecules the first caste 9

of two main molecules the first caste 9

of two main molecules the first caste 9 an enzyme acting as a cellular scalpel

an enzyme acting as a cellular scalpel

an enzyme acting as a cellular scalpel or scissor and the other acting as a

or scissor and the other acting as a

or scissor and the other acting as a navigation tool deriving from the unique

navigation tool deriving from the unique

navigation tool deriving from the unique sequence found in bacteria and other

sequence found in bacteria and other

sequence found in bacteria and other organisms that essentially target and

organisms that essentially target and

organisms that essentially target and destroy the genome of invading viruses

destroy the genome of invading viruses

destroy the genome of invading viruses this is a form of power we’ve only ever

this is a form of power we’ve only ever

this is a form of power we’ve only ever dreamed of

dreamed of

dreamed of and as it turns out the fountain of

and as it turns out the fountain of

and as it turns out the fountain of eternal youth and immortality might not

eternal youth and immortality might not

eternal youth and immortality might not be so far off from what our future holds

she wants me or gifted he wants to be

she wants me or gifted he wants to be and feel more beautiful they want to be

and feel more beautiful they want to be

and feel more beautiful they want to be more intelligent we want to be more

more intelligent we want to be more

more intelligent we want to be more athletic we don’t want to get sick we

athletic we don’t want to get sick we

athletic we don’t want to get sick we don’t want to die young we don’t want to

don’t want to die young we don’t want to

don’t want to die young we don’t want to go through the suffering as our bodies

go through the suffering as our bodies

go through the suffering as our bodies tear it into nothingness until it can no

tear it into nothingness until it can no

tear it into nothingness until it can no longer support itself until we have no

longer support itself until we have no

longer support itself until we have no time left maybe we don’t want to die at

time left maybe we don’t want to die at

time left maybe we don’t want to die at all as recent editing of human genome

all as recent editing of human genome

all as recent editing of human genome has reached headlines so has the

has reached headlines so has the

has reached headlines so has the controversy and troubling into

controversy and troubling into

controversy and troubling into implications it brings with it what will

implications it brings with it what will

implications it brings with it what will happen in a world where the wealthy get

happen in a world where the wealthy get

happen in a world where the wealthy get their hands on the newest genetic

their hands on the newest genetic

their hands on the newest genetic enhancements for their children from

enhancements for their children from

enhancements for their children from designer bags to designer babies many

designer bags to designer babies many

designer bags to designer babies many believe that this will be the source of

believe that this will be the source of

believe that this will be the source of greater inequality to the point of

greater inequality to the point of

greater inequality to the point of genetic discrimination as stated by the

genetic discrimination as stated by the

genetic discrimination as stated by the fish incorporation eventually with the

fish incorporation eventually with the

fish incorporation eventually with the rest of the world in tow the potentially

rest of the world in tow the potentially

rest of the world in tow the potentially misuse of this technology for eugenics

misuse of this technology for eugenics

misuse of this technology for eugenics the Han sment of certain human

the Han sment of certain human

the Han sment of certain human characteristics as also herring thought

characteristics as also herring thought

characteristics as also herring thought most how would our society function was

most how would our society function was

most how would our society function was our perception of identity obscured how

our perception of identity obscured how

our perception of identity obscured how would we compare instead of helping us

would we compare instead of helping us

would we compare instead of helping us build a well-balanced and more open

build a well-balanced and more open

build a well-balanced and more open minded society it might bring upon the

minded society it might bring upon the

minded society it might bring upon the downfall of our economy and society as

downfall of our economy and society as

downfall of our economy and society as we know it in the 10 years moving

we know it in the 10 years moving

we know it in the 10 years moving forward regardless of objection and

forward regardless of objection and

forward regardless of objection and disapproval or support and encouragement

disapproval or support and encouragement

disapproval or support and encouragement the scientific world will keep on

the scientific world will keep on

the scientific world will keep on changing and evolving as some things are

changing and evolving as some things are

changing and evolving as some things are just inevitable but the ethical concerns

just inevitable but the ethical concerns

just inevitable but the ethical concerns in mind is also important to note the

in mind is also important to note the

in mind is also important to note the Starling and the saree innovations that

Starling and the saree innovations that

Starling and the saree innovations that this technology has and will be

this technology has and will be

this technology has and will be making that arguably outweigh the

making that arguably outweigh the

making that arguably outweigh the potential risk of misuse that can be

potential risk of misuse that can be

potential risk of misuse that can be avoided with adequate control and

avoided with adequate control and

avoided with adequate control and regulation we like to say our heart

regulation we like to say our heart

regulation we like to say our heart skips a beat at you when a pretty person

skips a beat at you when a pretty person

skips a beat at you when a pretty person walks by or simply we were under a lot

walks by or simply we were under a lot

walks by or simply we were under a lot of pressure for tests we didn’t

of pressure for tests we didn’t

of pressure for tests we didn’t particularly sunny for but we don’t

particularly sunny for but we don’t

particularly sunny for but we don’t truly understand how Sears who came

truly understand how Sears who came

truly understand how Sears who came we’re making at that exact moment on

we’re making at that exact moment on

we’re making at that exact moment on August 2nd

August 2nd

August 2nd merely more than a month ago American

merely more than a month ago American

merely more than a month ago American scientists successfully edited a human

scientists successfully edited a human

scientists successfully edited a human embryo to remove to remove the Harriton

embryo to remove to remove the Harriton

embryo to remove to remove the Harriton form of a heart disease HCM or a

form of a heart disease HCM or a

form of a heart disease HCM or a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affecting

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affecting

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affecting one in 500 individuals this thickening

one in 500 individuals this thickening

one in 500 individuals this thickening of your heart muscles makes it stiff and

of your heart muscles makes it stiff and

of your heart muscles makes it stiff and unable to pump blood through your heart

unable to pump blood through your heart

unable to pump blood through your heart and around your body which further

and around your body which further

and around your body which further raises the question of whether

raises the question of whether

raises the question of whether implementing this genetic tool is more

implementing this genetic tool is more

implementing this genetic tool is more beneficial than not and what our future

beneficial than not and what our future

beneficial than not and what our future will be like with it as this method is

will be like with it as this method is

will be like with it as this method is used to eliminate sources of disease

used to eliminate sources of disease

used to eliminate sources of disease will scientists continue until it

will scientists continue until it

will scientists continue until it eliminates all causes of death this is

eliminates all causes of death this is

eliminates all causes of death this is just the beginning living forever

just the beginning living forever

just the beginning living forever something we dreamed of for since the

something we dreamed of for since the

something we dreamed of for since the beginning of time eliminating genes that

beginning of time eliminating genes that

beginning of time eliminating genes that contribute to higher risk of

contribute to higher risk of

contribute to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases genetic

cardiovascular diseases genetic

cardiovascular diseases genetic mutations hiv/aids enabling the transfer

mutations hiv/aids enabling the transfer

mutations hiv/aids enabling the transfer of pig organs to humans suddenly all

of pig organs to humans suddenly all

of pig organs to humans suddenly all this seems just within our fingertips

this seems just within our fingertips

this seems just within our fingertips ready for us to grasp an Darkness the

ready for us to grasp an Darkness the

ready for us to grasp an Darkness the power of DNA is like a computer program

power of DNA is like a computer program

power of DNA is like a computer program but far far more advanced than any

but far far more advanced than any

but far far more advanced than any software ever created Bill Gates said

software ever created Bill Gates said

software ever created Bill Gates said this in his book the road ahead the

this in his book the road ahead the

this in his book the road ahead the question is and forever will be

question is and forever will be

question is and forever will be if we’re able to recreate something of

if we’re able to recreate something of

if we’re able to recreate something of such proportion should we thank you for

such proportion should we thank you for

such proportion should we thank you for listening

listening

listening [Applause]

”

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