Why would a scientist make a glowing green cat? | John Runions | TEDxOxfordBrookesUniversity

so why would a scientist make a green

so why would a scientist make a green glowing cat maybe the more germane

glowing cat maybe the more germane

glowing cat maybe the more germane question is has a scientist already made

question is has a scientist already made

question is has a scientist already made a green glowing cat do you know the

a green glowing cat do you know the

a green glowing cat do you know the answer if if a scientist has made a

answer if if a scientist has made a

answer if if a scientist has made a green glowing cat what earthly good will

green glowing cat what earthly good will

green glowing cat what earthly good will it do us you know well those of you that

it do us you know well those of you that

it do us you know well those of you that watch the intellectually stimulating

watch the intellectually stimulating

watch the intellectually stimulating television might remember Sheldon’s

television might remember Sheldon’s

television might remember Sheldon’s glowing fish nightlight on the Big Bang

glowing fish nightlight on the Big Bang

glowing fish nightlight on the Big Bang Theory did you see that one now that’s

Theory did you see that one now that’s

Theory did you see that one now that’s great that the technology I’m going to

great that the technology I’m going to

great that the technology I’m going to tell you about today is sometimes

tell you about today is sometimes

tell you about today is sometimes parodied in the media I enjoy it I think

parodied in the media I enjoy it I think

parodied in the media I enjoy it I think it’s really funny but scientists come

it’s really funny but scientists come

it’s really funny but scientists come off in the media quite often as being

off in the media quite often as being

off in the media quite often as being just a little bit mad and that’s

just a little bit mad and that’s

just a little bit mad and that’s something that I want to strive to work

something that I want to strive to work

something that I want to strive to work against a little bit so well while you

against a little bit so well while you

against a little bit so well while you might say oh the thing on the slide

might say oh the thing on the slide

might say oh the thing on the slide there is just a product of me working

there is just a product of me working

there is just a product of me working with Photoshop and coloring a kitty cat

with Photoshop and coloring a kitty cat

with Photoshop and coloring a kitty cat green I’m going to tell you that the cat

green I’m going to tell you that the cat

green I’m going to tell you that the cat really does exist and that scientists

really does exist and that scientists

really does exist and that scientists aren’t necessarily mad for making it the

aren’t necessarily mad for making it the

aren’t necessarily mad for making it the Nobel Prize Committee in 2008 thought

Nobel Prize Committee in 2008 thought

Nobel Prize Committee in 2008 thought the scientists were perfectly justified

the scientists were perfectly justified

the scientists were perfectly justified in making organisms that were bright

in making organisms that were bright

in making organisms that were bright green and fluorescent they awarded the

green and fluorescent they awarded the

green and fluorescent they awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the people

Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the people

Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the people that were instrumental in discovering

that were instrumental in discovering

that were instrumental in discovering the technology and in learning how to

the technology and in learning how to

the technology and in learning how to use it to make fluorescent animals and

use it to make fluorescent animals and

use it to make fluorescent animals and since the technology has been discovered

since the technology has been discovered

since the technology has been discovered a whole host of different animal species

a whole host of different animal species

a whole host of different animal species have been converted so that they glow in

have been converted so that they glow in

have been converted so that they glow in the dark essentially right from bacteria

the dark essentially right from bacteria

the dark essentially right from bacteria which were the first organism that was

which were the first organism that was

which were the first organism that was that was created all the way up through

that was created all the way up through

that was created all the way up through fruit flies our little experimental fly

fruit flies our little experimental fly

fruit flies our little experimental fly organisms right up and through to the

organisms right up and through to the

organisms right up and through to the mammals so mice of course mice have been

mammals so mice of course mice have been

mammals so mice of course mice have been converted so that now they glow in the

converted so that now they glow in the

converted so that now they glow in the dark they’re fluorescent and green pigs

dark they’re fluorescent and green pigs

dark they’re fluorescent and green pigs yes the cat is real the monkeys the

yes the cat is real the monkeys the

yes the cat is real the monkeys the monkeys that you see on the right of the

monkeys that you see on the right of the

monkeys that you see on the right of the picture I’ve got to say something about

picture I’ve got to say something about

picture I’ve got to say something about the green it’s relatively benign nobody

the green it’s relatively benign nobody

the green it’s relatively benign nobody yet has demonstrated that the technique

yet has demonstrated that the technique

yet has demonstrated that the technique that we use to make these animals glow

that we use to make these animals glow

that we use to make these animals glow in the dark causes them any harm at all

in the dark causes them any harm at all

in the dark causes them any harm at all and in fact if you saw the monkeys

and in fact if you saw the monkeys

and in fact if you saw the monkeys they’re in normal daylight you wouldn’t

they’re in normal daylight you wouldn’t

they’re in normal daylight you wouldn’t see the green they look

see the green they look

see the green they look indistinguishable from their siblings

indistinguishable from their siblings

indistinguishable from their siblings who aren’t transformed to be green and

who aren’t transformed to be green and

who aren’t transformed to be green and fluorescent it’s only when they’re

fluorescent it’s only when they’re

fluorescent it’s only when they’re illuminated with lasers or with a

illuminated with lasers or with a

illuminated with lasers or with a certain specific wavelength of light

certain specific wavelength of light

certain specific wavelength of light that all of a sudden the green comes

that all of a sudden the green comes

that all of a sudden the green comes blowing through now okay

blowing through now okay

blowing through now okay we’ve made it up to monkeys we haven’t

we’ve made it up to monkeys we haven’t

we’ve made it up to monkeys we haven’t yet made any glowing green human beings

yet made any glowing green human beings

yet made any glowing green human beings I get lots of volunteers from my

I get lots of volunteers from my

I get lots of volunteers from my undergraduates when I teach about this

undergraduates when I teach about this

undergraduates when I teach about this every year lots of people think it would

every year lots of people think it would

every year lots of people think it would be great to be down in the club and be

be great to be down in the club and be

be great to be down in the club and be fluorescent and green ethical

fluorescent and green ethical

fluorescent and green ethical considerations mean that we’re not

considerations mean that we’re not

considerations mean that we’re not allowed to do those sorts of experiments

allowed to do those sorts of experiments

allowed to do those sorts of experiments on human beings yet but that being said

on human beings yet but that being said

on human beings yet but that being said the picture in the middle are human

the picture in the middle are human

the picture in the middle are human cancer cells in culture and they are

cancer cells in culture and they are

cancer cells in culture and they are green and fluorescent and in fact

green and fluorescent and in fact

green and fluorescent and in fact there’s a little bit of red fluorescence

there’s a little bit of red fluorescence

there’s a little bit of red fluorescence in there as well that’s done with the

in there as well that’s done with the

in there as well that’s done with the same technique I’m going to tell you

same technique I’m going to tell you

same technique I’m going to tell you about so we’re looking at human cells

about so we’re looking at human cells

about so we’re looking at human cells which means in principle these same

which means in principle these same

which means in principle these same techniques that are applied to cats and

techniques that are applied to cats and

techniques that are applied to cats and pigs and monkeys could be applied to

pigs and monkeys could be applied to

pigs and monkeys could be applied to human beings it still doesn’t answer why

human beings it still doesn’t answer why

human beings it still doesn’t answer why a scientist would want to do this let’s

a scientist would want to do this let’s

a scientist would want to do this let’s talk about genes we all have genes all

talk about genes we all have genes all

talk about genes we all have genes all living organisms have genes you and I as

living organisms have genes you and I as

living organisms have genes you and I as human beings have somewhere between 20

human beings have somewhere between 20

human beings have somewhere between 20 and 25,000 genes genes determine

and 25,000 genes genes determine

and 25,000 genes genes determine everything about who we are all of the

everything about who we are all of the

everything about who we are all of the traits the way we look are determined by

traits the way we look are determined by

traits the way we look are determined by genes there’s a little bit of an

genes there’s a little bit of an

genes there’s a little bit of an environmental input but the environment

environmental input but the environment

environmental input but the environment is just working on the genetic sort of

is just working on the genetic sort of

is just working on the genetic sort of component that is you so our genes genes

component that is you so our genes genes

component that is you so our genes genes are scattered throughout our chromosomes

are scattered throughout our chromosomes

are scattered throughout our chromosomes so within every single cell in your body

so within every single cell in your body

so within every single cell in your body you’ve got chromosomes you’ve got 23 of

you’ve got chromosomes you’ve got 23 of

you’ve got chromosomes you’ve got 23 of them two pairs of 23 4 46 if you’re

them two pairs of 23 4 46 if you’re

them two pairs of 23 4 46 if you’re keeping score 23 chromosomes lined with

keeping score 23 chromosomes lined with

keeping score 23 chromosomes lined with genes each gene codes for a protein

genes each gene codes for a protein

genes each gene codes for a protein proteins are the big molecules that do

proteins are the big molecules that do

proteins are the big molecules that do all of the work of life so in your cells

all of the work of life so in your cells

all of the work of life so in your cells right now your proteins are doing the

right now your proteins are doing the

right now your proteins are doing the work that’s keeping you alive the

work that’s keeping you alive the

work that’s keeping you alive the technique that I’m talking about for

technique that I’m talking about for

technique that I’m talking about for making an animal glow is called green

making an animal glow is called green

making an animal glow is called green fluorescent protein technology and by

fluorescent protein technology and by

fluorescent protein technology and by the way that’s one of my favorite

the way that’s one of my favorite

the way that’s one of my favorite stories in biology I say to my students

stories in biology I say to my students

stories in biology I say to my students sometimes now you’re a smart scientist

sometimes now you’re a smart scientist

sometimes now you’re a smart scientist right you discover a protein that’s

right you discover a protein that’s

right you discover a protein that’s green and fluorescent what would you

green and fluorescent what would you

green and fluorescent what would you call it

call it

call it and I get back silence people are

and I get back silence people are

and I get back silence people are thinking of these great big long

thinking of these great big long

thinking of these great big long chemical names like you see on the back

chemical names like you see on the back

chemical names like you see on the back of the shampoo bottles in the morning no

of the shampoo bottles in the morning no

of the shampoo bottles in the morning no the people that discovered it called it

the people that discovered it called it

the people that discovered it called it green fluorescent protein and in fact

green fluorescent protein and in fact

green fluorescent protein and in fact the man that discovered it he was called

the man that discovered it he was called

the man that discovered it he was called as Samuel Shem amira he was one of those

as Samuel Shem amira he was one of those

as Samuel Shem amira he was one of those Nobel Prize laureates he first noticed

Nobel Prize laureates he first noticed

Nobel Prize laureates he first noticed that this jellyfish protein glowed in

that this jellyfish protein glowed in

that this jellyfish protein glowed in the dark we still don’t know why this

the dark we still don’t know why this

the dark we still don’t know why this particular species of jellyfish has a

particular species of jellyfish has a

particular species of jellyfish has a protein that glows in the dark

protein that glows in the dark

protein that glows in the dark lots of people are engaged in thinking

lots of people are engaged in thinking

lots of people are engaged in thinking about what the protein might be for in

about what the protein might be for in

about what the protein might be for in the real world but Jim Amira anyway

the real world but Jim Amira anyway

the real world but Jim Amira anyway harvested a lot of jellyfish and I

harvested a lot of jellyfish and I

harvested a lot of jellyfish and I suspect in a not very sustainable way

suspect in a not very sustainable way

suspect in a not very sustainable way and he collected a lot of the protein

and he collected a lot of the protein

and he collected a lot of the protein it wasn’t until 30 years passed it

it wasn’t until 30 years passed it

it wasn’t until 30 years passed it wasn’t until the mid 1990s that people

wasn’t until the mid 1990s that people

wasn’t until the mid 1990s that people were able to find the gene that carried

were able to find the gene that carried

were able to find the gene that carried the genetic code for that protein in the

the genetic code for that protein in the

the genetic code for that protein in the jellyfish and that’s just because the

jellyfish and that’s just because the

jellyfish and that’s just because the technology wasn’t there through the

technology wasn’t there through the

technology wasn’t there through the 1960’s and 1970’s even the 1980s to do

1960’s and 1970’s even the 1980s to do

1960’s and 1970’s even the 1980s to do this sort of thing so by the 90s people

this sort of thing so by the 90s people

this sort of thing so by the 90s people started looking into the jellyfish and

started looking into the jellyfish and

started looking into the jellyfish and they found out that indeed there is a

they found out that indeed there is a

they found out that indeed there is a gene the second Nobel Prize laureate is

gene the second Nobel Prize laureate is

gene the second Nobel Prize laureate is called Martin Chalfie

called Martin Chalfie

called Martin Chalfie and he figured out how to take the gene

and he figured out how to take the gene

and he figured out how to take the gene from the jellyfish and put it into

from the jellyfish and put it into

from the jellyfish and put it into another organism the organism wasn’t the

another organism the organism wasn’t the

another organism the organism wasn’t the cat we’re not there yet the organism was

cat we’re not there yet the organism was

cat we’re not there yet the organism was a bacterium and the amazing and

a bacterium and the amazing and

a bacterium and the amazing and beautiful thing about life and evolution

beautiful thing about life and evolution

beautiful thing about life and evolution is that when the gene was moved from the

is that when the gene was moved from the

is that when the gene was moved from the jellyfish into this single-celled

jellyfish into this single-celled

jellyfish into this single-celled organism the single-celled organism lit

organism the single-celled organism lit

organism the single-celled organism lit up and was as fluorescent as the

up and was as fluorescent as the

up and was as fluorescent as the jellyfish is now isn’t that fantastic so

jellyfish is now isn’t that fantastic so

jellyfish is now isn’t that fantastic so there’s a second Nobel Prize laureate

there’s a second Nobel Prize laureate

there’s a second Nobel Prize laureate the third Nobel Prize laureate by the

the third Nobel Prize laureate by the

the third Nobel Prize laureate by the way it’s called Roger Chan and his lab

way it’s called Roger Chan and his lab

way it’s called Roger Chan and his lab did something really good his lab

did something really good his lab

did something really good his lab figured out how to take the protein and

figured out how to take the protein and

figured out how to take the protein and alter its structure ever so slightly so

alter its structure ever so slightly so

alter its structure ever so slightly so that the color that he yields changes

that the color that he yields changes

that the color that he yields changes and if you look down the right-hand side

and if you look down the right-hand side

and if you look down the right-hand side of the slide you’ll see the beautiful

of the slide you’ll see the beautiful

of the slide you’ll see the beautiful beautiful artist palette that cell

beautiful artist palette that cell

beautiful artist palette that cell biologists like myself have to work with

biologists like myself have to work with

biologists like myself have to work with every day now I can put any fluorescent

every day now I can put any fluorescent

every day now I can put any fluorescent color I want into a cell

how do we do this somebody that does my

how do we do this somebody that does my sort of work is called a molecular

sort of work is called a molecular

sort of work is called a molecular biologist and a molecular biologist

biologist and a molecular biologist

biologist and a molecular biologist simply goes into the DNA of the target

simply goes into the DNA of the target

simply goes into the DNA of the target organism I decide you know what organism

organism I decide you know what organism

organism I decide you know what organism is it that I want to work on it might be

is it that I want to work on it might be

is it that I want to work on it might be a fruit fly and I want to make the fruit

a fruit fly and I want to make the fruit

a fruit fly and I want to make the fruit fly fluorescent so I target their DNA

fly fluorescent so I target their DNA

fly fluorescent so I target their DNA that’s a stretch of DNA and the slide

that’s a stretch of DNA and the slide

that’s a stretch of DNA and the slide and I cut it open and I take the bit of

and I cut it open and I take the bit of

and I cut it open and I take the bit of DNA that is the gene from the jellyfish

DNA that is the gene from the jellyfish

DNA that is the gene from the jellyfish that codes for the fluorescent protein

that codes for the fluorescent protein

that codes for the fluorescent protein and I put it into the fruit flies DNA

and I put it into the fruit flies DNA

and I put it into the fruit flies DNA then in the adult fruit fly the gene is

then in the adult fruit fly the gene is

then in the adult fruit fly the gene is expressed and the little GFP the green

expressed and the little GFP the green

expressed and the little GFP the green fluorescent proteins float out into the

fluorescent proteins float out into the

fluorescent proteins float out into the cell and the cell becomes fluorescent so

cell and the cell becomes fluorescent so

cell and the cell becomes fluorescent so there’s a picture in fact this is a

there’s a picture in fact this is a

there’s a picture in fact this is a human cell in the picture we’ve got not

human cell in the picture we’ve got not

human cell in the picture we’ve got not only green fluorescent protein marking a

only green fluorescent protein marking a

only green fluorescent protein marking a structure in the cell called the

structure in the cell called the

structure in the cell called the microtubule cytoskeleton we also have a

microtubule cytoskeleton we also have a

microtubule cytoskeleton we also have a red version of fluorescent protein

red version of fluorescent protein

red version of fluorescent protein marking the mitochondria which are the

marking the mitochondria which are the

marking the mitochondria which are the little energy organelles within the cell

little energy organelles within the cell

little energy organelles within the cell why did the Nobel Prize Committee decide

why did the Nobel Prize Committee decide

why did the Nobel Prize Committee decide that this was worth an award

that this was worth an award

that this was worth an award I mean Nobel Prizes are giving to things

I mean Nobel Prizes are giving to things

I mean Nobel Prizes are giving to things that are significant things that could

that are significant things that could

that are significant things that could potentially change the world so this has

potentially change the world so this has

potentially change the world so this has changed the world this has completely

changed the world this has completely

changed the world this has completely changed the way that biology in

changed the way that biology in

changed the way that biology in particular cell biology is done pre GFP

particular cell biology is done pre GFP

particular cell biology is done pre GFP a biologist like myself would kill a

a biologist like myself would kill a

a biologist like myself would kill a cell using a chemical called a fixative

cell using a chemical called a fixative

cell using a chemical called a fixative and then stain it put it on a microscope

and then stain it put it on a microscope

and then stain it put it on a microscope slide look at it through a microscope

slide look at it through a microscope

slide look at it through a microscope but the thing is we were looking at a

but the thing is we were looking at a

but the thing is we were looking at a dead cell and that was okay

dead cell and that was okay

dead cell and that was okay as far as it went that let that let the

as far as it went that let that let the

as far as it went that let that let the classical biologists determine what all

classical biologists determine what all

classical biologists determine what all of the different things inside cells

of the different things inside cells

of the different things inside cells were but it didn’t let us look at living

were but it didn’t let us look at living

were but it didn’t let us look at living cells the fantastic thing about green

cells the fantastic thing about green

cells the fantastic thing about green fluorescent protein is that it’s made

fluorescent protein is that it’s made

fluorescent protein is that it’s made inside of living cells I can put living

inside of living cells I can put living

inside of living cells I can put living cells on my laser microscope and I can

cells on my laser microscope and I can

cells on my laser microscope and I can activate that fluorescence and I can

activate that fluorescence and I can

activate that fluorescence and I can watch life happening right before my

watch life happening right before my

watch life happening right before my eyes I liken this by the way to being in

eyes I liken this by the way to being in

eyes I liken this by the way to being in a drone or even higher in a satellite

a drone or even higher in a satellite

a drone or even higher in a satellite Google Earth and looking down on a city

Google Earth and looking down on a city

Google Earth and looking down on a city you would see all of the things moving

you would see all of the things moving

you would see all of the things moving around in the city and that would help

around in the city and that would help

around in the city and that would help you much better understand how a city

you much better understand how a city

you much better understand how a city works so

works so

works so I understand much much more now about

I understand much much more now about

I understand much much more now about how cells work by using this technology

how cells work by using this technology

how cells work by using this technology okay that’s how you make organisms glow

okay that’s how you make organisms glow

okay that’s how you make organisms glow so far so far I’ve told you how we do it

so far so far I’ve told you how we do it

so far so far I’ve told you how we do it but still not what good it’s going to do

but still not what good it’s going to do

but still not what good it’s going to do us here’s an example making a

us here’s an example making a

us here’s an example making a fluorescent cat is what I see as a proof

fluorescent cat is what I see as a proof

fluorescent cat is what I see as a proof of concept technique and this is what

of concept technique and this is what

of concept technique and this is what it’s been used for famously it’s a proof

it’s been used for famously it’s a proof

it’s been used for famously it’s a proof of concept of a technique that we would

of concept of a technique that we would

of concept of a technique that we would call gene therapy now let’s say that you

call gene therapy now let’s say that you

call gene therapy now let’s say that you or somebody you know suffers from a

or somebody you know suffers from a

or somebody you know suffers from a genetic disease a genetic disease is one

genetic disease a genetic disease is one

genetic disease a genetic disease is one that you have because you’ve inherited a

that you have because you’ve inherited a

that you have because you’ve inherited a gene that’s faulty it’s probably mutated

gene that’s faulty it’s probably mutated

gene that’s faulty it’s probably mutated in its sequence so that the protein that

in its sequence so that the protein that

in its sequence so that the protein that it codes for doesn’t do its proper job

it codes for doesn’t do its proper job

it codes for doesn’t do its proper job inside of the cell gene therapy says no

inside of the cell gene therapy says no

inside of the cell gene therapy says no problem if we can get gene therapy

problem if we can get gene therapy

problem if we can get gene therapy working all we need to do is replace the

working all we need to do is replace the

working all we need to do is replace the faulty gene in every one of your cells

faulty gene in every one of your cells

faulty gene in every one of your cells with a good copy of the gene so it

with a good copy of the gene so it

with a good copy of the gene so it sounds fairly fairly straightforward the

sounds fairly fairly straightforward the

sounds fairly fairly straightforward the good copy of the gene would make the

good copy of the gene would make the

good copy of the gene would make the proper version of the protein problem

proper version of the protein problem

proper version of the protein problem solved is this workable in practice the

solved is this workable in practice the

solved is this workable in practice the first hurdle you have to overcome is can

first hurdle you have to overcome is can

first hurdle you have to overcome is can you transform every single cell in an

you transform every single cell in an

you transform every single cell in an organism remember the picture of the

organism remember the picture of the

organism remember the picture of the glowing green kitty cat here he is

glowing green kitty cat here he is

glowing green kitty cat here he is that’s proof that you can transform

that’s proof that you can transform

that’s proof that you can transform every single cell in the organism and

every single cell in the organism and

every single cell in the organism and the great thing about GFP technology is

the great thing about GFP technology is

the great thing about GFP technology is it’s really quick to score I just look

it’s really quick to score I just look

it’s really quick to score I just look at the little developing cat embryo and

at the little developing cat embryo and

at the little developing cat embryo and I can see that every single one of its

I can see that every single one of its

I can see that every single one of its cells has been transformed with the

cells has been transformed with the

cells has been transformed with the jellyfish gene now let’s say the cat

jellyfish gene now let’s say the cat

jellyfish gene now let’s say the cat suffered from a genetic disease or there

suffered from a genetic disease or there

suffered from a genetic disease or there was a disease of cats that we wanted to

was a disease of cats that we wanted to

was a disease of cats that we wanted to cure well we could do that using this

cure well we could do that using this

cure well we could do that using this technique in this case we wouldn’t put

technique in this case we wouldn’t put

technique in this case we wouldn’t put the green fluorescent protein gene in we

the green fluorescent protein gene in we

the green fluorescent protein gene in we would put a gene in that makes a protein

would put a gene in that makes a protein

would put a gene in that makes a protein that helps fight disease this is a real

that helps fight disease this is a real

that helps fight disease this is a real example this cat or one like it at the

example this cat or one like it at the

example this cat or one like it at the Mayo Clinic has been cured or is much

Mayo Clinic has been cured or is much

Mayo Clinic has been cured or is much more resistant at least to the feline

more resistant at least to the feline

more resistant at least to the feline version of AIDS these cat cells are much

version of AIDS these cat cells are much

version of AIDS these cat cells are much more resistant to the feline

more resistant to the feline

more resistant to the feline immunodeficiency virus because of the

immunodeficiency virus because of the

immunodeficiency virus because of the insertion of a single gene

insertion of a single gene

insertion of a single gene the gfp technology let us let us see

the gfp technology let us let us see

the gfp technology let us let us see that the technique works and we moved on

that the technique works and we moved on

that the technique works and we moved on then and have started doing gene therapy

then and have started doing gene therapy

then and have started doing gene therapy that’s great what I’ve been telling you

that’s great what I’ve been telling you

that’s great what I’ve been telling you about is medicine I teach a lot of

about is medicine I teach a lot of

about is medicine I teach a lot of undergraduate pre-med students I’ve

undergraduate pre-med students I’ve

undergraduate pre-med students I’ve taught hundreds of them over the years

taught hundreds of them over the years

taught hundreds of them over the years all of those people are going to go out

all of those people are going to go out

all of those people are going to go out as medical professionals they’re gonna

as medical professionals they’re gonna

as medical professionals they’re gonna solve all sorts of medical problems the

solve all sorts of medical problems the

solve all sorts of medical problems the upshot of that is that we’re all going

upshot of that is that we’re all going

upshot of that is that we’re all going to live longer

to live longer

to live longer let’s change tack a little bit here okay

let’s change tack a little bit here okay

let’s change tack a little bit here okay here’s a graph if you just look at the

here’s a graph if you just look at the

here’s a graph if you just look at the agree I mean it’s a pretty boring

agree I mean it’s a pretty boring

agree I mean it’s a pretty boring looking graph I accept that look at the

looking graph I accept that look at the

looking graph I accept that look at the Green Line the Green Line is the amount

Green Line the Green Line is the amount

Green Line the Green Line is the amount of arable in other words the amount of

of arable in other words the amount of

of arable in other words the amount of agricultural land that we have available

agricultural land that we have available

agricultural land that we have available to grow plants on and you’ll see that

to grow plants on and you’ll see that

to grow plants on and you’ll see that this is a projection running from 1990

this is a projection running from 1990

this is a projection running from 1990 out to the year 2050 the amount of

out to the year 2050 the amount of

out to the year 2050 the amount of arable land doesn’t change does it in

arable land doesn’t change does it in

arable land doesn’t change does it in fact if you look at the little dotty

fact if you look at the little dotty

fact if you look at the little dotty line the amount of arable land is

line the amount of arable land is

line the amount of arable land is probably going to go down as the

probably going to go down as the

probably going to go down as the population grows we need to build houses

population grows we need to build houses

population grows we need to build houses for people to live in that will go on

for people to live in that will go on

for people to live in that will go on arable land climate change will probably

arable land climate change will probably

arable land climate change will probably result in the loss of farmland so in

result in the loss of farmland so in

result in the loss of farmland so in fact if anything in the next 33 years

fact if anything in the next 33 years

fact if anything in the next 33 years the amount of arable land on earth is

the amount of arable land on earth is

the amount of arable land on earth is going to go down that’s the land we grow

going to go down that’s the land we grow

going to go down that’s the land we grow our food on here’s what happens when you

our food on here’s what happens when you

our food on here’s what happens when you superimpose population growth on top of

superimpose population growth on top of

superimpose population growth on top of that population right this minute is 7.5

that population right this minute is 7.5

that population right this minute is 7.5 billion individuals on this saury planet

billion individuals on this saury planet

billion individuals on this saury planet the planet is going to be a lot sorrier

the planet is going to be a lot sorrier

the planet is going to be a lot sorrier by 2050 with conservatively 9.5 billion

by 2050 with conservatively 9.5 billion

by 2050 with conservatively 9.5 billion so we’re going to add 2 billion some

so we’re going to add 2 billion some

so we’re going to add 2 billion some people say we’re going to add 3 billion

people say we’re going to add 3 billion

people say we’re going to add 3 billion more people how do we solve that

more people how do we solve that

more people how do we solve that difference how do we feed 3 billion more

difference how do we feed 3 billion more

difference how do we feed 3 billion more people with the limited farmland

people with the limited farmland

people with the limited farmland resources that we have the answer of

resources that we have the answer of

resources that we have the answer of course is to use the technology that

course is to use the technology that

course is to use the technology that I’ve been talking about in a

I’ve been talking about in a

I’ve been talking about in a sustainability context that’s a picture

sustainability context that’s a picture

sustainability context that’s a picture of a plant and the plant of course is

of a plant and the plant of course is

of a plant and the plant of course is completely transformable using the

completely transformable using the

completely transformable using the technology that I’ve been talking about

technology that I’ve been talking about

technology that I’ve been talking about so that plant is expressing the

so that plant is expressing the

so that plant is expressing the jellyfish gene in every single one of

jellyfish gene in every single one of

jellyfish gene in every single one of its cells plants can be altered using

its cells plants can be altered using

its cells plants can be altered using the same techniques so that they’re more

the same techniques so that they’re more

the same techniques so that they’re more efficient producers of food and that’s

efficient producers of food and that’s

efficient producers of food and that’s what people that do plant cell biology

what people that do plant cell biology

what people that do plant cell biology like myself are engaged in doing let me

like myself are engaged in doing let me

like myself are engaged in doing let me tell you a story

tell you a story

tell you a story I’m going to tell you the story about

I’m going to tell you the story about

I’m going to tell you the story about Golden Rice because it really really

Golden Rice because it really really

Golden Rice because it really really exemplifies the issue that I’m speaking

exemplifies the issue that I’m speaking

exemplifies the issue that I’m speaking about today Golden Rice is an idea that

about today Golden Rice is an idea that

about today Golden Rice is an idea that came about in the early 1980s before we

came about in the early 1980s before we

came about in the early 1980s before we even had the techniques for doing the

even had the techniques for doing the

even had the techniques for doing the gene transformations that I’m talking

gene transformations that I’m talking

gene transformations that I’m talking about a lot of people in Southeast Asia

about a lot of people in Southeast Asia

about a lot of people in Southeast Asia millions of people in Southeast Asia and

millions of people in Southeast Asia and

millions of people in Southeast Asia and Africa have rice as their sole or their

Africa have rice as their sole or their

Africa have rice as their sole or their main food source the problem with rice

main food source the problem with rice

main food source the problem with rice is that it itself is vitamin A deficient

is that it itself is vitamin A deficient

is that it itself is vitamin A deficient that means that rice doesn’t make enough

that means that rice doesn’t make enough

that means that rice doesn’t make enough vitamin A and people that eat rice

vitamin A and people that eat rice

vitamin A and people that eat rice eventually become determine a deprived

eventually become determine a deprived

eventually become determine a deprived and malnourished

and malnourished

and malnourished this results in listen to this between 1

this results in listen to this between 1

this results in listen to this between 1 and 2 million deaths a year six hundred

and 2 million deaths a year six hundred

and 2 million deaths a year six hundred and seven thousand children per year die

and seven thousand children per year die

and seven thousand children per year die of vitamin A deficiency in these regions

of vitamin A deficiency in these regions

of vitamin A deficiency in these regions and another 1/2 million go blind so the

and another 1/2 million go blind so the

and another 1/2 million go blind so the people that came up with the Golden Rice

people that came up with the Golden Rice

people that came up with the Golden Rice idea said let’s put genes into rice that

idea said let’s put genes into rice that

idea said let’s put genes into rice that means that the rice plant itself is more

means that the rice plant itself is more

means that the rice plant itself is more nutritious it can make that a man a took

nutritious it can make that a man a took

nutritious it can make that a man a took a gene from a daffodil and a gene from a

a gene from a daffodil and a gene from a

a gene from a daffodil and a gene from a bacterium put it into rice made Golden

bacterium put it into rice made Golden

bacterium put it into rice made Golden Rice the first version of Golden Rice in

Rice the first version of Golden Rice in

Rice the first version of Golden Rice in the late 1990s was perfect it produced

the late 1990s was perfect it produced

the late 1990s was perfect it produced vitamin A in quantities sufficient to

vitamin A in quantities sufficient to

vitamin A in quantities sufficient to keep people well nourished the latest

keep people well nourished the latest

keep people well nourished the latest version of Golden Rice Golden Rice v2 or

version of Golden Rice Golden Rice v2 or

version of Golden Rice Golden Rice v2 or mark 2 produces 23 times the amount of

mark 2 produces 23 times the amount of

mark 2 produces 23 times the amount of vitamin A of wild type rice so this is a

vitamin A of wild type rice so this is a

vitamin A of wild type rice so this is a success story this technology will

success story this technology will

success story this technology will reduce the death rate due to

reduce the death rate due to

reduce the death rate due to malnutrition and it will also solve

malnutrition and it will also solve

malnutrition and it will also solve blindness problem in young children so

blindness problem in young children so

blindness problem in young children so that’s one story let me finish by

that’s one story let me finish by

that’s one story let me finish by talking in general about using the

talking in general about using the

talking in general about using the technology

technology

technology genetic modification to make plants more

genetic modification to make plants more

genetic modification to make plants more efficient producers higher yielding

efficient producers higher yielding

efficient producers higher yielding because we’ve got the limited amount of

because we’ve got the limited amount of

because we’ve got the limited amount of farmland that I talked about that’s not

farmland that I talked about that’s not

farmland that I talked about that’s not going to increase the number of people

going to increase the number of people

going to increase the number of people is greatly going to increase so we need

is greatly going to increase so we need

is greatly going to increase so we need to make each individual plant that we

to make each individual plant that we

to make each individual plant that we grow nowadays much much more yielding so

grow nowadays much much more yielding so

grow nowadays much much more yielding so that we have more food in a sense in the

that we have more food in a sense in the

that we have more food in a sense in the photo on the screen we’ve got an ear of

photo on the screen we’ve got an ear of

photo on the screen we’ve got an ear of maize that suffered a pathogen attack

maize that suffered a pathogen attack

maize that suffered a pathogen attack it’s going to rot on

it’s going to rot on

it’s going to rot on plant or on the ground or somewhere and

plant or on the ground or somewhere and

plant or on the ground or somewhere and it’s not going to be available as animal

it’s not going to be available as animal

it’s not going to be available as animal food or as human food the one on the

food or as human food the one on the

food or as human food the one on the right has been modified with the

right has been modified with the

right has been modified with the insertion of a single gene so that it’s

insertion of a single gene so that it’s

insertion of a single gene so that it’s now pathogen resistant Wow if we can

now pathogen resistant Wow if we can

now pathogen resistant Wow if we can roll out that technology how fantastic

roll out that technology how fantastic

roll out that technology how fantastic so the technology has been rolled out in

so the technology has been rolled out in

so the technology has been rolled out in many countries an estimate in 2015 said

many countries an estimate in 2015 said

many countries an estimate in 2015 said that pathogen resistant corn has has

that pathogen resistant corn has has

that pathogen resistant corn has has seeped pathogen resistant crops in

seeped pathogen resistant crops in

seeped pathogen resistant crops in general I’m sorry has seen a 15 percent

general I’m sorry has seen a 15 percent

general I’m sorry has seen a 15 percent yield increase already global warming is

yield increase already global warming is

yield increase already global warming is going to cause all sorts of other

going to cause all sorts of other

going to cause all sorts of other environmental problems it’s going to

environmental problems it’s going to

environmental problems it’s going to cause heat stress drought stress and

cause heat stress drought stress and

cause heat stress drought stress and salinity stress for plants we can also

salinity stress for plants we can also

salinity stress for plants we can also genetically modify plants so that they

genetically modify plants so that they

genetically modify plants so that they survive all of these sorts of stresses

survive all of these sorts of stresses

survive all of these sorts of stresses so we can keep producing at at least the

so we can keep producing at at least the

so we can keep producing at at least the levels that we’re seeing today you know

levels that we’re seeing today you know

levels that we’re seeing today you know we haven’t really seen the results of

we haven’t really seen the results of

we haven’t really seen the results of the coming food crisis here in the first

the coming food crisis here in the first

the coming food crisis here in the first world you get kind of irritated don’t

world you get kind of irritated don’t

world you get kind of irritated don’t you when you go into your local

you when you go into your local

you when you go into your local supermarket and the price of bread has

supermarket and the price of bread has

supermarket and the price of bread has gone up by a little bit people that

gone up by a little bit people that

gone up by a little bit people that think about these sorts of things say

think about these sorts of things say

think about these sorts of things say Wars will be fought by 2050 because

Wars will be fought by 2050 because

Wars will be fought by 2050 because people will be starving so we’ve really

people will be starving so we’ve really

people will be starving so we’ve really really got to embrace this technology

really got to embrace this technology

really got to embrace this technology last thing I’ll say is about the issues

last thing I’ll say is about the issues

last thing I’ll say is about the issues surrounding the technology just quickly

surrounding the technology just quickly

surrounding the technology just quickly a lot of these technologies haven’t been

a lot of these technologies haven’t been

a lot of these technologies haven’t been deployed as much as they could have been

deployed as much as they could have been

deployed as much as they could have been already in particular the Golden Rice

already in particular the Golden Rice

already in particular the Golden Rice technology it’s tested it works really

technology it’s tested it works really

technology it’s tested it works really well it’s not being grown commercially

well it’s not being grown commercially

well it’s not being grown commercially and that’s because there are a lot of

and that’s because there are a lot of

and that’s because there are a lot of concerns and controversies surrounding

concerns and controversies surrounding

concerns and controversies surrounding the use of genetically modified

the use of genetically modified

the use of genetically modified organisms all I’m going to say is

organisms all I’m going to say is

organisms all I’m going to say is scientists are basically trustworthy

scientists are basically trustworthy

scientists are basically trustworthy people the people that work on this are

people the people that work on this are

people the people that work on this are people that are concerned with the state

people that are concerned with the state

people that are concerned with the state of our planet and especially going

of our planet and especially going

of our planet and especially going forward we don’t take extremist

forward we don’t take extremist

forward we don’t take extremist viewpoints I don’t say genetic

viewpoints I don’t say genetic

viewpoints I don’t say genetic modification is the most wonderful thing

modification is the most wonderful thing

modification is the most wonderful thing since sliced bread I also don’t say

since sliced bread I also don’t say

since sliced bread I also don’t say genetic modification is evil I want to

genetic modification is evil I want to

genetic modification is evil I want to study genetic modification on a

study genetic modification on a

study genetic modification on a case-by-case basis and where we see ield

case-by-case basis and where we see ield

case-by-case basis and where we see ield gains I want to roll it out immediately

gains I want to roll it out immediately

gains I want to roll it out immediately so we can solve this coming crisis and

so we can solve this coming crisis and

so we can solve this coming crisis and that by the way is why a scientist might

that by the way is why a scientist might

that by the way is why a scientist might make a glowing green cat thank you

make a glowing green cat thank you

make a glowing green cat thank you you