Topic: Gene Editing

Texas-based Colossal Biosciences has successfully engineered "woolly mice" with mammoth-like traits such as golden coats and cold-resistant fat metabolisms. The company aims to eventually resurrect the woolly mammoth and the dodo bird using gene-editing technology. The hosts joke about the culinary potential of the dodo bird, which was famously hunted to extinction by Dutch sailors in the 17th century.

Moderna and Merck announced promising results from a small study using mRNA technology to treat melanoma, claiming it significantly lowers the risk of relapse. Scientists are also exploring mRNA for flu vaccines and using base-editing gene technology to treat leukemia in teenagers. Critics remain skeptical of the "platform" approach, fearing long-term side effects from widespread mRNA application.

President Biden signed an executive order to advance the American "bioeconomy," appointing former DARPA official Dr. Renee Wegerson to lead the initiative. Critics express concern that the order creates a regulatory framework for widespread gene editing and transhumanist technologies.

Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum warns of a potential "cyber pandemic" that would dwarf the COVID-19 crisis. Archival footage from Charlie Rose shows Schwab discussing how the "Fourth Industrial Revolution" and genetic editing will change human identity. The hosts mock Schwab's delivery and the seriousness with which he is treated by elites.

The "Food Chain Reaction" simulation, involving Cargill and other organizations, predicted global food shortages and civil unrest leading to a global carbon tax. In a related development, the FDA cleared CRISPR gene-edited cattle for food consumption, specifically "PRLR-slick" cattle designed to be heat-tolerant. The discussion also touches on the promotion of insects and fly larvae as the "food of the future" to address climate-related food insecurity.

The FDA has cleared CRISPR gene-edited cattle for meat production, specifically the "PRLR slick" cattle designed to withstand heat. This approval comes amid warnings from Goldman Sachs that beef is becoming a "luxury meat." The segment suggests a future where high-quality natural meat is replaced by gene-edited alternatives or processed foods like "Hamburger Helper" for the general population.

A 2015 interview clip features Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum discussing the ethical implications of gene editing and CRISPR technology with Charlie Rose. Schwab suggests that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will change what it means to be human. The discussion touches on the potential for technology to exacerbate unemployment through automation and robotics.

The FDA and GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance) issued warnings against using Ivermectin for COVID-19, with the FDA specifically highlighting the dangers of using animal-grade versions of the drug. Simultaneously, research published in Chemical & Engineering News discusses the emergence of anti-CRISPR proteins. These naturally occurring proteins can potentially inhibit the gene-editing capabilities of CRISPR technology, which is a foundational tool for mRNA development.

Chipotle warns investors that climate change could lead to a 40% drop in California avocado production, potentially forcing guacamole off the menu. Similarly, reports suggest chocolate could vanish by 2050 due to warmer, drier conditions in West Africa. Mars Incorporated is collaborating with UC Berkeley scientists to use CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop cacao plants that can survive in changing climates.

Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced the birth of the world's first genetically edited babies and claimed a second pregnancy is underway. The experiments, which used CRISPR technology to attempt to make the children resistant to HIV, have been widely condemned by the international scientific community. The hosts recall the first cloned dog in Korea as a precursor to this level of genetic manipulation.

Mars Incorporated is collaborating with scientists at UC Berkeley to use CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop cacao plants resistant to warmer, drier conditions. While the media reports this as a move to save the chocolate industry from climate change, skeptics view it as a corporate branding exercise for GMO products.