CRSIPR Sunday, March 31, 2024

We are at the dawn of a new era in human history. New technologies have the potential to change the life of every person on the planet in profound ways.” - Francis Collins Would you like to birth children that look like Barbie and Ken? It may be possible in the not-too-distant future. In today’s broadcast, host Saanvi discusses something that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi novel but is actually happening in labs around the world. It's called CRISPR, short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. CRISPR is opening doors we never even knew existed. Scientists are exploring treatments for genetic disorders that were once thought untreatable. Diseases like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and even some forms of cancer could potentially be corrected at the genetic level, offering hope to millions. Reporter of The Breakdown, Rory, did a deep dive researching CRISPR and his knowledge and presentation provide food for deep thought. He shares how CRISPR could solve many issues that have evaded the medical profession, such as eradicating HIV. Yet CRISPR could potentially be harmful or cause problems in the future if used incorrectly. Scientists could potentially add superhuman genes to an unborn or developing child and possibly to adults too, creating super soldiers destined for war. Could new genetic mutations benefit the human race making us smarter, and stronger than we already are? In her segment, Space Spotlight, Saanvi ventures into a realm where few have dared to dream: the intersection of CRISPR, gene editing, and space exploration. CRISPR holds the promise of making the cosmos more accessible to humanity, but it also challenges us to think deeply about our responsibilities as stewards of both our species and the environments we aspire to inhabit. Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio • https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ • https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/