Programming the Code of Life—Stephen Ekker, The Genome Writers Guild

Not long ago, the idea of being able to edit DNA with the same precision as we edit a Word document or computer code was merely science fiction, but today it’s reality, and it’s having an impact on the world around us. Technology that’s been in the making for the past three decades is now being implemented into everyday life, and holds the potential to completely transform the way we live our lives. Dr. Stephen Ekker is Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship, and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Mayo Clinic. He’s also a member of the Genome Writers Guild, a genome engineering society which promotes understanding, education, and awareness surrounding the value and implications of gene editing and genome engineering. He joins the podcast today to discuss the way in which this technology has already impacted the world, current research being done in the area of immunotherapy for cancer, how this technology could contribute to the development of truly customized therapies, and what to anticipate in the coming years. Learn more by tuning in and visiting genomewritersguild.org.