Genetics

Open the episode, then seek to 0:00.

Church discusses uncertain ageing forecasts and possible cellular replacement, including the difficulty of preserving brain function.

Ageing

Research note: A mouse experiment cannot date human longevity →

Open the episode, then seek to 5:00.

Church describes limits of current gene delivery and distinguishes engineered wolf traits from an exact extinct-animal copy.

Cell programming · Gene delivery

Open the episode, then seek to 10:00.

Church compares many-gene traits with large single-gene effects, while cautioning that human enhancement remains difficult.

Cell programming

Open the episode, then seek to 15:00.

Church describes transcription-factor experiments for cell identity and suggests testing combinations rather than assuming single-gene control.

Cell programming

Research note: Changing cell identity is a specific achievement →

Open the episode, then seek to 19:07.

Church discusses his concerns about mirror biology and the difficulty of preventing misuse; the exchange offers no demonstrated safety solution.

Biological safety

Open the episode, then seek to 24:07.

Patel challenges reliance on social solutions; Church discusses monitoring and accountability alongside biological safeguards.

Biological safety

Open the episode, then seek to 29:07.

Patel questions the gap between cheaper biological tools and treatments; Church offers uncertain forecasts about future designs and approvals.

Biotechnology

Research note: Cheaper gene construction answers one part of the problem →

Open the episode, then seek to 34:07.

Church compares biological construction with electronics and proposes broader materials capabilities as a future opportunity.

Biotechnology

Open the episode, then seek to 39:07.

Church contrasts early nanotechnology ambitions with biology’s existing capabilities and proposes experimental libraries as a route to new materials.

Biotechnology

Open the episode, then seek to 44:07.

Church distinguishes predicted protein shape from function and proposes alternating computational design with experimental testing.

Protein design

Research note: Predicting a structure is not testing its function →

Open the episode, then seek to 49:07.

Church prefers narrower scientific AI and questions whether hypothetical superintelligence would safely accelerate biology.

AI and biology

Open the episode, then seek to 54:07.

Church discusses uncertainty about brain engineering and distinguishes generating a brain from copying its particular connections.

Brain development

Open the episode, then seek to 59:07.

Church imagines combinations of biological growth and engineered materials, while acknowledging gaps in developmental understanding.

Biotechnology · Cell programming

Open the episode, then seek to 1:04:07.

Church proposes laboratory and exploration evidence for life’s origins while cautioning that negative findings would remain inconclusive.

Origins of life

Research note: Making building blocks does not recreate the first life →

Open the episode, then seek to 1:09:07.

Church considers alternative genetic components and argues that evolution need not explore every technologically useful possibility.

Genetic code

Open the episode, then seek to 1:14:07.

Church advocates genetic counselling, discusses reproductive decisions and cautions against stigmatising people who decline it.

Genetic counselling

Open the episode, then seek to 1:19:07.

Church contrasts counselling with gene therapy, then discusses research funding without endorsing the cuts Patel asks him to consider.

Genetic counselling · Research funding

Research note: Carrier screening informs choices; it is not a cure →

Open the episode, then seek to 1:24:07.

Church describes how Boston’s concentration of research institutions, industry and collaborators helped his laboratory’s commercial work.

Research culture

Open the episode, then seek to 1:29:07.

Church describes kindness and multidisciplinary experience in recruitment, then offers a conditional optimistic vision of biology and AI.

AI and biology · Research culture