magine you were alive back in the 1980’s, and were told that computers would soon take over everything: from shopping, to dating, and the stock market, that billions of people would be connected via a kind of web, that you would own a handheld device, orders of magnitudes more powerful than supercomputers. It would seem absurd, but then, all of it happened. Science fiction became our reality, and we don’t even think about it. We’re at a similar point today with genetic engineering. So, let’s talk about it. Where it came from, what we’re doing right now, and about a recent breakthrough, that will change how we live and what we perceive as normal, forever. Humans have been engineering life for thousands of years. Through selective breeding, we strengthened useful traits in plants and animals. We became very good at this, but never fully understood how it worked. Until we discovered the code of life, Deoxyribonucleic Acid—DNA. A complex molecule that guides the growth, development, function, and reproduction of everything alive. Information is encoded in the structure of the molecule. Four nucleotides are paired and make up a code that carries instructions. Change the instructions and you change the being carrying it. As soon as DNA was discovered, people tried to tinker with it. In the 1960’s, scientist bombarded plants with radiation to cause random mutations in the genetic code. The idea was to get a useful plant variation by pure chance. Sometimes it actually worked too. In the 70’s, scientists inserted DNA
snippets into bacteria, plants, and animals to study and modify them for
research, medicine, agriculture, and for fun. The earliest genetically modified animal
was born in 1974, making mice a standard tool for research, saving millions of lives. In the 80’s, we got commercial. The first patent was given for a microbe engineered to absorb oil. Today we produce many chemicals by means of engineered life, like life-saving clotting factors, growth hormones, and insulin. All things we had to harvest from the organs of animals before that. The first food modified in the lab went on sale in 1994: the Flavr Savr tomato, a tomato given a much longer shelf life where an extra gene that suppresses the build-up of a rotting enzyme. But GM food and the controversy surrounding them deserve a video of their own. In the 1990’s, there was also a brief
foray into human engineering. To treat maternal infertility, babies were made that carried genetic information from 3 humans. Making them the first humans ever to have 3 genetic parents. Today there are super muscled pigs, fast-growing salmon, featherless chicken, and see-through frogs. On the fun side, we made things glow in the dark. Fluorescent zebrafish are available for
as little as ten dollars. All of this is already very impressive, but until recently gene editing was extremely expensive,
complicated, and took a long time to do. This has now changed with a revolutionary new technology now entering the stage—CRISPR. Overnight, the costs of engineering have shrunk by 99 %. Instead of a year, it takes a few weeks to conduct experiments, and basically everybody with a lab can do it. It’s hard to get across how big a technical revolution CRISPR is. It literally has the potential to change humanity forever. Why did this sudden revolution happen and how does it work? Bacteria and viruses have been fighting
since the dawn of life. So-called bacteriophages or phages hunt bacteria. In the ocean, phages kill 40 % of them every single day. Phages do this by inserting their own genetic code into the bacteria and taking them over to use them as factories. The bacteria tried to resist but failed most the time because their protection tools are too weak, But sometimes bacteria survive an attack. Only if they do so can they activate their most effective antivirus system: they save a part of the virus DNA in their own genetic code in a DNA archive called CRISPR. Here it’s stored safely until it’s needed. When the virus attacks again, the bacterium quickly makes an RNA copy from the DNA archive and arms a secret weapon—a protein called CAS9. The protein now scans the bacterium’s
insides for signs of the virus invader by comparing every bit of DNA it finds to the sample from the archive. When it finds a 100-percent perfect match, it’s activated and cuts out the virus
DNA, making it useless, protecting the bacterium against the attack. What’s special is that CAS9 is very
precise, almost like a DNA surgeon. The revolution began when scientists figured out that the CRISPR system is programmable. You can just give it a copy of DNA you want to modify and put the system into a living cell. If the old techniques of genetic manipulation were like a map, CRISPR is like a GPS system. Aside from being precise, cheap, and easy, CRISPR offers the ability to edit live cells, to switch genes on and off, and target and study particular DNA sequences. It also works for every type of cell: microorganisms, plants, animals, or humans. But despite the revolution CRISPR is for science, it’s still just a first generation tool. More precise tools are already being created and used as we speak. In 2015, scientists use CRISPR to cut the HIV virus out of living cells from patients in the lab, proving that it was possible. Only about a year later, they carried out a larger scale project with rats that had the HIV virus in basically all of their body cells. By simply injecting CRISPR into the rats tails, they were able to remove more than 50 %
of the virus from cells all over the body. In a few decades, a CRISPR therapy
might cure HIV and other retroviruses, viruses that hide inside human DNA like
Herpes could be eradicated this way. CRISPR could also defeat one of our worst enemies—cancer. Cancer occurs when cells refuse to die and keep multiplying while concealing themselves from the immune system. CRISPR gives us the means to edit your immune cells and make them better cancer hunters. Getting rid of cancer might eventually mean getting just a couple of injections of a
few thousand of your own cells that have been engineered in the lab to heal you for good. The first clinical trial for a CRISPR cancer treatment on human patients was approved in early 2016 in the
US. Not even a month later, Chinese scientists announced that they would treat lung cancer patients with immune cells modified with CRISPR in August 2016. Things are picking up pace quickly. And then there are genetic diseases. There are thousands of them and they range from mildly annoying to deadly or entail decades of suffering. With a powerful tool like CRISPR, we may be able to end this. Over 3,000 genetic diseases are caused by a single incorrect letter in your DNA. We are already building a modified
version of CAS9 that is made to change just a single letter, fixing the disease in the cell. In a decade or two, we could possibly cure thousands of diseases forever. But all of these medical applications have one thing in common: they are limited to the individual and die with them, except if you use them on reproductive cells or very early embryos. But CRISPR can and probably will be used for much more: the creation of modified humans—designer babies—and will mean gradual, but irreversible changes to the human gene pool. The means to edit the genome of a human embryo already exists. Though the technology is still in its early stages, but it has already been attempted twice. In 2015 and 2016, Chinese scientists experimented with human embryos and were partially successful on their second attempt. They showed the enormous challenges we still face in gene editing embryos, but also that scientists are
working on solving them. This is like the computer in the 70’s. There will be better computers. Regardless of your personal take on
genetic engineering, it will affect you. Modified humans could alter the genome of our entire species, because their engineered traits will be passed on to their children and could spread over generations, slowly modifying the whole gene pool of humanity. It will start slowly. The first designer babies will not be overly designed. It’s most likely that they will be created to eliminate a deadly genetic disease running in a family. As the technology progresses and gets
more refined, more and more people may argue that not using genetic modification is unethical, because it condemns children to preventable suffering and death and denies them the cure. But as soon as the first engineered kid is born, a door is opened that can’t be closed anymore. Early on, vanity traits will mostly be left alone. But as genetic modification becomes more accepted and our knowledge of our genetic code enhances, the temptation will grow. If you make your offspring immune to Alzheimer, why not also give them an enhanced metabolism? Why not throw in perfect eyesight? How about height or muscular structure? Full hair? How about giving your child the gift of
extraordinary intelligence? Huge changes are made as a result of the personal decisions of millions of individuals that accumulate. This is a slippery slope. Modified humans could become the new standard. But as engineering becomes more
normal and our knowledge improves, we could solve the single biggest mortality risk factor: aging. Two-thirds of the 150,000 people who died today will die of age-related causes. Currently we think aging is caused by the accumulation of damage to our cells, like DNA breaks and the systems responsible for fixing those wearing off over time. But there are also genes that directly affect aging. A combination of genetic engineering and other therapy could stop or slow down aging, maybe even reverse it. We know from nature that there are animals immune to aging. Maybe we could even borrow a few genes for ourselves. Some scientists even think biological aging could be something that eventually just stops being a thing. We would still die at some point, but instead of doing so in hospitals at age 90, we might be able to spend a few thousand years with our loved ones. Research into this is in its infancy, and many scientists are rightly skeptical about the end of aging. The challenges are enormous and maybe it is unachievable, but it is conceivable the people alive today might be the first to profit from effective anti aging therapy. All we might need is for someone to convince a smart billionaire to make it their next problem to solve. On a bigger scale, we certainly could solve many problems by having a modified population. Engineered humans might be better equipped to cope with high-energy food, eliminating many diseases of civilization like obesity. In possession of a modified immune system, with a library of potential threats, we might become immune to most diseases that haunt us today. Even further into the future, we could engineer humans to be equipped for extended space travel and to cope with different conditions on another planets, which would be extremely helpful in
keeping us alive in our hostile universe. Still, a few major challenges await us: some technological, some ethical. Many of you watching will feel uncomfortable and fear that we will create a world in which we will reject non-perfect humans and pre-select features and qualities based on our idea of what’s healthy. The thing is we are already living in
this world. Tests for dozens of genetic diseases or complications have become standard for pregnant women in much of the world. Often the mere suspicion of a genetic defect can lead to the end of a pregnancy. Take Down syndrome for example, one of the most common genetic defects. In Europe, about 92 % of all pregnancies where it’s detected are terminated. The decision to terminate pregnancy is incredibly personal, but it’s important to acknowledge the reality that we are pre-selecting humans based on medical conditions. There is also no use in pretending this will change, so we have to act carefully and respectfully as we advance the technology and can make more and more
selections. But none of this will happen soon. As powerful as CRISPR is—and it is, it’s not infallible yet. Wrong edits still happen as well as unknown errors that can occur anywhere in the DNA and might go unnoticed. The gene edit might achieve the desired result—disabling a disease, but also might accidentally trigger unwanted changes. We just don’t know enough yet about the
complex interplay of our genes to avoid unpredictable consequences. Working on accuracy and monitoring methods is a major concern as the first human trials begin. And since we’ve discussed a possible positive future, there are darker visions too. Imagine what a state like North Korea
could do if they embraced genetic engineering. Could a state cement its rule forever by forcing gene editing on their subjects? What would stop a totalitarian regime from engineering an army of modified super soldiers? It is doable in theory. Scenarios like this one are far, far off into the future, if they ever become possible at all. But the basic proof of concept for genetic engineering like this already exists today. The technology really is that powerful. While this might be a tempting reason to ban genetic editing and related research, that would certainly be a mistake. Banning human genetic engineering would only lead to the science wandering off to a place with jurisdiction and rules
that we are uncomfortable with. Only by participating can we make sure that further research is guided by caution, reason, oversight, and transparency. Do you feel uncomfortable now? Most of us have something wrong with them. In the future that lies ahead of us, would we have been allowed to exist? The technology is certainly a bit scary, but we have a lot to gain, and genetic engineering might just be a step in the natural evolution of intelligent species in the universe. We might end disease. We could extend our life expectancy by centuries and travel to the stars. There’s no need to think small when it comes to this topic. Whatever your opinion on genetic engineering, the future is approaching no matter what. What has been insane science fiction is about to become our new reality, a reality full of opportunities and challenges. Videos like this would not be possible without viewer donations on patreon.com. If you want to support to explaining complicated stuff and maybe get your own bird in return, you can do so here. If you want to learn more about CRISPR, we put the sources and further reading in the description. More videos about the whole topic area will follow. If you want to be notified when it happens, you can follow us here.
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9:55 ha it's Goku
Super soldiers already exist. Genetic modifying is already highly advanced. It's all done on black government sites. This also isn't new news. Look up secret space program/ super soldiers.
와 한국어
Overpopulation!? The world's gotta choose its either crisper or having family and babies.. you cant just keep on having humans and make them immortal that's just more dangerous then anything.
We watched this in class 🙂
Immortality
This is really none of our business. Future humans won’t give a single fuck about what we think now.
I just wanna be blue. Blue skin, blue hair, blue eyes. Make it happen.
This is overly hyped. You cannot make super human out of this. You can only optimize for the top trait but can't go over that.
Its is true, GUNDAM SEED is coming: The next Generation are going to become Coordinators, BLUE I can have blue eyes. Furries? etc?
I thought it was goku at first , and then he went super sayain and confirmed it
What would happen if you edit the DNA of an adult man? Let's say to put an information there that states "This guy has a naturally superior musculature due to testosterone". Will your body starts to slowly transform into that new form given proper nutrition? What's the limit of that in something else than a pre-fetal state?
2:55 🤢
Stop playing God
Ban this shit
But if we make other humans different for different planets couldn’t they separate from the human race?
A million likes to your way of explaining !!!!
10:04 that's exactly how saiyans were made
The whole Genetic Engineering phenomenon is like the Sci Fi Film Gattica with Ethan Hawke about a man who is the last of the "god children" who were born natural unlike the people around him who are born through Genetic Engineering, Eugenics essentially it is a great film.
i want a cute cat girl
Cyberpunk 2077
Wow. Amazing and interesting
I want to be forever young and strong fast and intelligent 😍
Gonna give my engineered baby a tail 😂
People worried about human super soldiers when we can build machines twenty times their superior. lol
7:22 My dad has hemophilia 🙁
Wait… they’re ending 92% of Down syndrome childbirths in Europe?….
It’s not really about not being allowed to exist in my mind, it’s about humanity trying to play god so to speak. By making everyone the same we decrease our chances of survival, if you make one human with wings and one with fins there’s gonna be discriminating behaviour evolving. The end of disease might sound nice, but if we were to get rid of all challenges life would become inherently boring and meaningless. And then imagine it being boring forever! If there’s no limit to life then why get up out of bed in the morning? And think of how crowded it would get! If you wanna do this go ahead, I’m not gonna judge you. But when governments start to make this standard? I dunno. I’m pro choice. If you think someone has doomed themselves by not using it, then you might wanna remember that it’s their choice, and they have every right to make it. Even if you think it’s the right one or not. It’s not up to you to “save” everyone.
Personally I'm all for fighting hereditary ailments and viruses, but to pick and choose traits of a person? That's a hard no. Life is to be random. I'm not going to pick and choose if my future child will have red hair, brown, blond, blue eyes, brown eyes, smart, small, fast, strong or slow. That's just wrong on many levels.
It could also be llke robots taking over jobs. Genetically modified humans might have all the advantages of robots along with human traits like independent thought and emotions.
10:00 so it's possible to be mutated into a saiyan lol
We have the capabilty to create the perfect man or woman, but will it turn on us?
Lol watching this video because I'm having a quiz over it tomorrow in by biochem class in college
what software is used to animate this video?
This is bad no ageing no disease we would go Thanos comic's level extinction
im just scared that i wont live long enough to see anti aging therapy
If you guys like sci-fi books I strongly recommend the Old Man's War series from John Scalzi, it features a littlebit, but very interesting kind of genetic engineering.
And it's an awesome series, especially the first book.
6:40 it's just the way he said it that kinda intrigues me.
Can CRISPR also fix DNA mutation that causes Autism??????
9:56 the baby just grew Saiyan hair lmao
Jesus christ did the woke community get a hold of your graphics artist, I've yet to see you use a white man in ANY of your videos…. Women scientists everywhere, men of color everywhere, white man no where to be seen anywhere, you trying to say something???
The thuhbmail made me think Gucci is genetically making babies
Can u tell me references for this video?
11:51 No one's gonna talk about the "KILL IT WITH FIRE"?!
12:36 The BBQ syndrome?
Invisibility?!
TAKE MAH MONEY
Bro honestly how is this scary, this sounds amazing, the super evolution of the most powerful and amazing species on our planet, us.
I've translated the video into burmese.
Can anyone help me to review so that the subtitle will also be seen on the video.
enormous bs…
All I can say is the way yall thinking of this shit is crazy retarded and stupid stop trying too create a perfect world with perfect humans and accept what we got.
10:00 Dragonball reference
Rick ❤
Oh, Brave new World! …
By extending life expectancy, we would make those humans suffer more. There is no end to desire and therefore suffering. So I guess it won't solve the most basic question of life… What is the meaning of life? What is all this improvement for?
Negative blood type can’t be cloned. Can donate blood to everyone on earth 🌍. There are only 15 , o negative Rh negative factor blood type. On earth. I’m one of them. We’re being. Murder off. Mostly because we’re white called a racist. The other reason is, they do human sacrifice they eat our bodies. And during our flesh. We can’t get most diseases or plague. We’re actually the cure for cancer. Too
Yess anime cat girlsss
13:44 is that rick and morty?
its been 3 years and nothing 🙁
❤️… sounds good…if more and more humans live longer will the Earth be able to accommodate us all or just the chosen few? Who will pick who lives or die? The almighty dollar🤔🤷.❤️T.H.
i want to breathe and dance under water or no deal.
Kurzgesagt, thank you for the wonderful and educational videos!
if i could be genetically engineered i would want to have wings or have 8 legs
This is so amazing video. Life changing information, fun jokes, good animation and so many references! Harry potter, rick morty and even DBZ
Well unless ya kill the first kid
why would people let children be modified if anti vaccine people exist or people who dont like the word Mankind lol the world is f****d
I love all the references to Altered Carbon, Rick and Morty, DBZ Austin Powers, and 3%.
Imagine DNA computers becoming a thing. Now imagine incorporating that DNA computer into your cells with something like CRISPR. Mind = blown.
Gucci babies
1:30 When you have to get up and dressed early for school.
The monopolization of health and life
There's a great movie called Gattaca that tackles this topic. I would definitely reccomend it if you are interested in genetics and what the future may be
This was discovered already it was just announced later, you know why cause of overpopulation, they want people to die
wow…… What if genetic mutation creates something like THANOS hehe
9:56 did that kid turn super saiyan
Part of me is excited. The other part is pretty nervous and scared…
Guys we can make the avengers
"Imagine you were alive back in the 1980's"
HEY! I'm not some ancient artifact, thank you very much!
Very Informative ! ! ! !
It's time to revive extinct animals.
1:41 : say sike right now
상상도 못한 북한 ㄴㅇㄱ
This is slightly scary. We are going to end up with real life x men or something 😂
Why are there rick and morty references
The King Midas Complex made us delighted with these new plastics in the 30s,,40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. They were light, clean and practically indestructible. Now we find that they are a serious menace. Similarly, some of us may be delighted by the idea of living hundreds of years; this in a world already overpopulated. If it arrives, the first people to benefit will be the very rich and dictators, then, as it becomes more extensive, we will be faced with presently unimaginable problems. Death is a necessary aspect of life, which I accept although I am now in my ninetieth year.
4:26 the harry potter bacteria
Dear future,
I’m gonna find you!
gucci baby
-_- bruh cmon now… que todo este bien
Narrator: decades of suffering…
Me: pimples…
finally some real neko will appear
THIS MEANS WE CAN CREATE OUR WAIFUS. THERES HOPE MY BROTHERIN THERES HOPE!!!
That means doctors are gonna go out of business too we need universal basic income……FAST.
ni
0:07 Digital dancing? Wow, this is fun!
Human
Super human
Super Human PRO
Super Human MAX
Super Human Pro Max
Human Pro
Human Max
Human
Satanic
Project baby-iT always treat him as a human being or else he will become an animal. The birth of the ultimate genetic warrior.
I dont expect you to respond to my comment, but thank you so much for making this video because of your info and your sources I can do my project on crispr that I wanted to do so much
We can all become pillard man
Rampage anyone?
I don't think we should have genetically modified kids. But I agree with the rest completely.