The hottest Genetic Engineering Substack posts right now

The next pandemic, called Disease X, could be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.
CRISPR technology allows genetic modification, potentially leading to both positive advancements like cures for diseases and dangerous consequences like bioterrorism.
Biohacking is becoming more accessible, with kits available for modifying DNA at home, raising ethical questions about self-experimentation and genetic engineering.

Humanity is facing threats from digital intelligence and automation.
The concept of transhumanism merges scientism, apocalyptic Christianity, and satanic hubris.
There is a significant choice between humanity and a potential posthuman future.
The decisions made today will impact the fate of our species.

The immune system is a major frontier for the future of biotechnology and medicine.
Engineered T cells, like CAR-T therapy, show promise in treating diseases like cancer by programming immune cells.
Immune engineering, especially in combination with the 4-S stack, holds great potential for designing new therapies and advancing genetic engineering technology.

A newsletter provides curated insights on scientific progress in biology and future technologies.
Recent advancements include nano-scale probes for space exploration, gene-editing for heart protection, and new gene therapy trials.
Challenges in genetics, predictions of protein levels from DNA sequences, and advancements in microbiome research showcase ongoing developments in the field.

GPT-4 controlled a lab robot to conduct chemical reactions, showcasing the potential of using natural language to automate experiments.
Skin microbes were engineered to activate the immune system to fight tumors when applied to the skin, offering a novel cancer treatment approach.
Tobacco plants were genetically modified to produce moth sex pheromones, providing a natural way to repel male moths from crops and protect them.

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Genetic engineering is not necessarily unnatural, just unfamiliar - history shows widespread acceptance of new ideas and technologies over time.
Future advancements in genetic engineering like embryo selection could potentially eliminate genetic disorders and enhance desirable traits in offspring.
There are ethical concerns regarding genetic engineering, such as potential biases and the risk of creating societal inequalities through the creation of genetically engineered 'super children'.

Sometimes published research results are hard to replicate due to various factors.
Projects may not always go as planned, and unexpected challenges may arise.
It's important to be cautious with early versions of new techniques and technologies, as they may not work reliably.

AI regulation can be influenced by historical examples like nuclear weapons and genetic engineering.
National security interests, researcher culture, and public awareness play a key role in shaping AI regulation.
AI research is facing challenges similar to those seen in the past, such as maintaining transparency and public education.