Other How developments in genetic engineering have affected us
Welcome to an afternoon at The Cell, where researchers in gene therapy and an exhibit highlight the impact of technology on our values, decisions, and behaviors. Gene therapy is currently used in healthcare and is being developed to improve patients' quality of life. What are the opportunities and risks associated with gene therapy?
In 2020, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their CRISPR-Cas9 tool, which makes it possible for scientists to edit DNA in much the same way as text can be edited in a document. Four years later, Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield were rewarded for their breakthrough in AI and machine learning, which allows machines to learn by teaching themselves.
Despite these groundbreaking advances, the researchers themselves have voiced warnings about the risks. We are facing a new era where we can not only understand the human genetic code but also manipulate it. As we stride towards improvement, do we at some point overstep the mark?
Join us for a conversation with researchers about gene therapy and a tour of the exhibition Me You We - Exploring Human Behavior, focusing on the Ion Torrent sequencer.
Program
4:00 p.m. About the Ion Torrent sequencer
Tour of the exhibition focusing on the Ion Torrent sequencer. How does a museum include an object in its collections?
4:30 p.m. Gene therapy—What are the possibilities today in healthcare?
Rula Zain, Associate Professor of Chemical Biology and Research Group Leader at Karolinska Institutet, Co-Lead for Research and Development at Karolinska ATMP Center, and Acting Head of the Center for Rare Diseases at Karolinska University Hospital.
5:00 p.m. What are the risks of gene editing?
Ethicists
In the exhibition Me You We - Exploring Human Behavior, you can see objects and art related to the theme of human behavior. One object you can learn the history behind is the Ion Torrent sequencer, from 2012.
The event is free of charge.
For questions, contact: info@thecell.se
The Cell is part of the National Museum of Science and Technology, with Karolinska Institutet as its knowledge partner.
Nobel Calling Stockholm
The announcement of the year’s new Nobel laureates turns the world’s attention onto Stockholm. To mark the occasion, the Nobel Prize Museum is teaming up with KI and other institutions to turn the city into a hub of science, research and technology under the name Nobel Calling. In the true spirit of knowledge, KI will be one of many sources of inspiration and enlightenment. View the full programme here.
