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you wonder aboutut?
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MAN:
The unknown.
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00:00:03,471 --> 00:00:04,937
What our place
in the universe is.
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00:00:04,939 --> 00:00:06,271
Artificial intelligence.
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00:00:06,273 --> 00:00:07,606
Hello.
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00:00:07,608 --> 00:00:08,640
Look at this,
what's this?
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Animals.
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An egg.
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Your brain.
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00:00:12,646 --> 00:00:15,948
RANA EL KALIOUBY:
Life on a faraway planet.
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WILLIAMS:
"NOVA Wonders"-- investigating
the biggest mysteries.
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00:00:20,021 --> 00:00:22,021
We have no idea
what's going on there.
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00:00:22,023 --> 00:00:23,155
These planets in the middle
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we think are
in the habitable zone.
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00:00:25,292 --> 00:00:28,093
WILLIAMS:
And making incredible
discoveries.
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00:00:28,095 --> 00:00:29,962
WOMAN:
Trying to understand
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00:00:29,964 --> 00:00:32,364
their behavior, their life,
everything that goes on here.
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00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:34,500
MAN:
Building an artificial
intelligence
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00:00:34,502 --> 00:00:37,936
is going to be the crowning
achievement of humanity.
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00:00:37,938 --> 00:00:39,805
WILLIAMS:
We're three scientists
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00:00:39,807 --> 00:00:43,275
exploring the frontiers
of human knowledge.
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00:00:43,277 --> 00:00:44,410
ANDRÉ FENTON:
I'm a neuroscientist
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and I study
the biology of memory.
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EL KALIOUBY:
I'm a computer scientist
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and I build technology
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that can read human emotions.
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00:00:53,154 --> 00:00:55,521
WILLIAMS:
And I'm a mathematician,
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00:00:55,523 --> 00:00:59,358
using big data to understand
our modern world.
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And we're tacking
the biggest questions...
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Dark energy?
ALL: Dark energy?
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WILLIAMS:
Of life...
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DAVID PRIDE:
There's all of these microbes,
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and we just don't know
what they are.
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WILLIAMS:
And the cosmos.
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♪ ♪
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WILLIAMS:
On this episode,
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DNA is really just a chemical.
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WILLIAMS:
We're rewriting the code of life
like never before.
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DREW ENDY:
There's enough DNA
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to make 30 copies
of every human genome
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on the planet.
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GEORGE CHURCH:
You can change every species
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to almost anything you want.
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WILLIAMS:
Can this new genetic power
save lives?
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Or even bring extinct creatures
back from the dead?
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BETH SHAPIRO:
Could we bring a mammoth
back to life?
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(roaring)
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WILLIAMS:
It's a revolution in biology.
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WOMAN:
This is rapid
man-made evolution.
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WILLIAMS:
"NOVA Wonders"--
"Can We Make Life?"
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(babies crying)
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IAMS:
The earth is brimming
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with an unimaginable
variety of life,
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a multitude of creatures
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connected and intertwined
in countless ways.
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They've evolved over
a billion years
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driven by a very simple code.
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EL KALIOUBY:
For decades,
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scientists have been
trying to master
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00:02:17,471 --> 00:02:20,472
this chemical cipher
that we call DNA.
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WILLIAMS:
Now, suddenly,
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new tools
are allowing researchers
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to manipulate the code of life
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with incredible precision.
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How powerful is this?
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Could we change and mold life
at our command?
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Could we bring extinct creatures
back from the dead?
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(woolly mammoth growling,
roaring)
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How much power
do we really have over life?
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(giggles)
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And are we ready
to use it wisely?
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I'm André Fenton.
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I'm Rana el Kaliouby.
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I'm Talithia Williams.
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And in this episode,
"NOVA Wonders"--
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(tiger growls)
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"Can We Make Life?"
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♪ ♪
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(crying)
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15,000 years ago,
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the biggest thing on four legs
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was this guy-- the mammoth.
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(mammoth growling)
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These eight-ton giants
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threw their weight around,
from the steppes of Europe
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to the plains of North America,
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until they vanished
from the face of the earth.
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SHAPIRO:
From the paleontological record,
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the best guess is that
there were many mammoths,
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potentially hundreds
of thousands,
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even to millions of mammoths.
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WILLIAMS:
Evolutionary biologist
Beth Shapiro
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deciphers the DNA--
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the genetic code--
of ancient animals,
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like the Ice Age mammoths
discovered here
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in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
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It's a absolutely unique site,
really amazing.
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This is a ancient sinkhole
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where lots of mammoths
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would have wandered up
into a lake to have a drink
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and once got stuck,
not been able to get out.
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There are about 60 mammoths
that are in this site
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in a pretty tightly condensed
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little geographic area.
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WILLIAMS:
These animals died at least
26,000 years ago,
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before people
came to North America.
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When human hunters
did show up,
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mammoths wouldn't
stand a chance.
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SHAPIRO:
People might have been
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that proverbial straw that
breaks the camel's back.
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These animals were in trouble
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because the climate
was changing,
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because there wasn't enough
habitat available to them,
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just not enough to eat.
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And then just at that really
worst moment, people turned up.
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WILLIAMS:
Pretty soon, all the mammoths,
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including the iconic
woolly mammoth
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that loved colder climates,
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would go extinct,
gone forever.
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Or are they?
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♪ ♪
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If George Church has his way,
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he will bring
the woolly mammoth
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00:05:00,801 --> 00:05:05,103
back from the dead
to roam the earth once again.
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00:05:06,373 --> 00:05:08,907
Kind of tall and woolly
like a mammoth himself,
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00:05:08,909 --> 00:05:10,576
George is one of the world's
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00:05:10,578 --> 00:05:13,312
most inventive
genetic scientists.
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00:05:14,682 --> 00:05:17,883
He once coded
his latest book in DNA
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00:05:17,885 --> 00:05:20,485
and brought it
on this piece of paper
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00:05:20,487 --> 00:05:22,221
to the Stephen Colbert show.
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They took the book,
including the photographs...
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00:05:24,124 --> 00:05:25,357
Yes?
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Zeroes and ones-- converted
to A, C, Gs and Ts.
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00:05:28,295 --> 00:05:29,561
Which is
the code of DNA,
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00:05:29,563 --> 00:05:32,631
Put a little drop that
contains some DNA in there.
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That's right.
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00:05:33,634 --> 00:05:35,534
So this piece
of paper right there
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contains 20 million
copies of this book.
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00:05:39,173 --> 00:05:40,339
That's right.
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00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:45,410
(laughter)
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00:05:45,412 --> 00:05:48,714
Well, Dr. George Church...
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00:05:48,716 --> 00:05:50,549
WILLIAMS:
But can this genetic magician
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00:05:50,551 --> 00:05:54,019
possibly resurrect
a long-dead woolly mammoth?
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00:05:54,021 --> 00:05:56,788
CHURCH:
Every species on the planet
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00:05:56,790 --> 00:06:00,292
comes from a cell with a genome,
and that means
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00:06:00,294 --> 00:06:03,395
you can change it
to almost anything you want.
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00:06:03,397 --> 00:06:04,896
WILLIAMS:
George is like
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00:06:04,898 --> 00:06:07,399
the fictional scientists
from "Jurassic Park."
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00:06:07,401 --> 00:06:10,602
They "de-extincted" dinosaurs
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00:06:10,604 --> 00:06:14,373
by implanting their DNA
into ostrich eggs.
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00:06:14,375 --> 00:06:16,575
Come on, little one,
come on...
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00:06:16,577 --> 00:06:21,013
WILLIAMS:
The baby dinosaurs that hatched
were cute at first,
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00:06:21,015 --> 00:06:22,614
and then they weren't.
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00:06:22,616 --> 00:06:25,083
(roaring)
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00:06:25,085 --> 00:06:26,585
Despite the movie's
dubious science,
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00:06:26,587 --> 00:06:30,656
George's de-extinction idea
is not very different,
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00:06:30,658 --> 00:06:34,926
And, fortunately,
his creatures are vegetarians.
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00:06:37,765 --> 00:06:41,233
George's real life plan
is to take mammoth genes
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00:06:41,235 --> 00:06:43,602
decoded from ancient remains
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00:06:43,604 --> 00:06:48,640
and implant them into the embryo
of a live Asian elephant.
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00:06:48,642 --> 00:06:51,476
CHURCH:
They're very closely related
to the mammoths.
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Even though they
don't look that way,
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they're genetically
very similar.
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00:06:54,815 --> 00:06:56,415
WILLIAMS:
And then he hopes
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00:06:56,417 --> 00:06:59,384
the Asian elephant's new baby
will come out woolier
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and more mammoth-like
than this one.
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00:07:02,456 --> 00:07:05,724
At least, that's the plan.
168
00:07:05,726 --> 00:07:09,561
Why would anyone think
they could reverse evolution
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00:07:09,563 --> 00:07:12,864
and bring an extinct creature
back to life?
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00:07:12,866 --> 00:07:14,099
(mammoth growls)
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00:07:14,101 --> 00:07:16,301
The answer lies deep inside
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00:07:16,303 --> 00:07:20,639
almost every living cell
in your body--
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in your DNA.
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00:07:22,710 --> 00:07:26,111
One of the wonders of DNA
is how simple it is--
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a double string
made of four chemicals
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usually known by their initials:
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A, T, C, and G.
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Strings of these letters
form genes,
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the coded instructions
that tell a cell
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00:07:41,295 --> 00:07:43,028
to build specific proteins.
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00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:47,966
Arrange the letters one way,
and you'll get keratin.
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It's not just a hair treatment.
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00:07:49,303 --> 00:07:52,771
It's the main protein making up
our hair,
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00:07:52,773 --> 00:07:55,340
skin, and fingernails.
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00:07:55,342 --> 00:08:00,946
Switch the order of the letters,
and you could get ricin,
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00:08:00,948 --> 00:08:03,615
a protein made in the seeds
of a castor oil plant,
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00:08:03,617 --> 00:08:08,019
and to a human,
extremely poisonous.
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00:08:08,021 --> 00:08:11,423
DNA and the order
of its letters
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are the instructions
that turn a fertilized egg
190
00:08:14,628 --> 00:08:19,765
into a flounder,
a frog, or a fly.
191
00:08:19,767 --> 00:08:24,469
The quest to use DNA
to control and manipulate life
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00:08:24,471 --> 00:08:26,772
began over 40 years ago
193
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on creatures a whole lot
smaller than elephants
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00:08:29,710 --> 00:08:33,078
in an attempt
to treat a deadly disease.
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00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,282
In the 1970s, Herb Boyer
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00:08:37,284 --> 00:08:41,553
and Stanley Cohen
began using new DNA technology
197
00:08:41,555 --> 00:08:42,954
to see if they could coax
198
00:08:42,956 --> 00:08:45,223
common E. coli bacteria
199
00:08:45,225 --> 00:08:49,294
into producing
human insulin protein.
200
00:08:49,296 --> 00:08:51,863
People with diabetes
don't produce enough insulin
201
00:08:51,865 --> 00:08:54,566
to help their bodies absorb
sugar and other nutrients
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00:08:54,568 --> 00:08:58,503
and will die
without injecting it.
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00:08:58,505 --> 00:09:02,474
Before the 1970s,
insulin was extracted
204
00:09:02,476 --> 00:09:05,243
from cattle and pigs.
205
00:09:05,245 --> 00:09:08,647
Unfortunately, insulin from
these animal sources
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00:09:08,649 --> 00:09:12,384
sometimes caused
severe allergic reactions.
207
00:09:12,386 --> 00:09:17,456
But the Boyer team
was about to change that.
208
00:09:17,458 --> 00:09:21,026
Their idea was to engineer
E. coli bacteria
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00:09:21,028 --> 00:09:24,496
by first cutting its
genetic material with enzymes
210
00:09:24,498 --> 00:09:26,932
and then inserting
a synthetic version
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00:09:26,934 --> 00:09:31,169
of the human insulin-coding gene
into the gap.
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00:09:31,171 --> 00:09:33,438
Amazingly,
the altered bacteria
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00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,075
not only copied the human gene
whenever it divided,
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00:09:37,077 --> 00:09:39,678
they produced human insulin--
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00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:44,716
a lifesaver
for diabetics ever since.
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00:09:44,718 --> 00:09:46,852
ARTHUR CAPLAN:
I found it amazing
217
00:09:46,854 --> 00:09:51,590
as a non-biologist that
you could trick a tiny microbe
218
00:09:51,592 --> 00:09:54,159
into making something
that it doesn't naturally make
219
00:09:54,161 --> 00:09:56,361
and reorient it
to make something that we want.
220
00:09:58,599 --> 00:10:01,733
WILLIAMS:
Here in a biochemical lab
at M.I.T....
221
00:10:01,735 --> 00:10:03,802
We actually should
go back and reduce...
222
00:10:03,804 --> 00:10:05,337
WILLIAMS:
Kristala Jones-Prather
223
00:10:05,339 --> 00:10:07,739
leads a team
that is also altering
224
00:10:07,741 --> 00:10:09,541
the genes of microbes
225
00:10:09,543 --> 00:10:14,045
to make proteins and chemicals
that are useful to us.
226
00:10:14,047 --> 00:10:15,413
KRISTALA JONES-PRATHER:
You can actually look at
227
00:10:15,415 --> 00:10:17,816
those individual cells
as little factories.
228
00:10:17,818 --> 00:10:22,220
If you shrunk yourself down
to the size of a molecule,
229
00:10:22,222 --> 00:10:25,190
you would just see lots and lots
of chemical reactions.
230
00:10:26,894 --> 00:10:29,828
WILLIAMS:
But you need trillions
of organisms to produce
231
00:10:29,830 --> 00:10:34,566
enough of these tiny chemicals
to be useful commercially.
232
00:10:36,169 --> 00:10:38,336
So today, biotech companies
233
00:10:38,338 --> 00:10:42,173
use giant fermenters
filled with microorganisms
234
00:10:42,175 --> 00:10:46,111
to pump out
a slew of bio products,
235
00:10:46,113 --> 00:10:51,416
all thanks to our ability
to manipulate DNA.
236
00:10:51,418 --> 00:10:52,817
JONES-PRATHER:
The key observation
237
00:10:52,819 --> 00:10:55,720
that really fueled
the entire biotech industry
238
00:10:55,722 --> 00:10:59,658
was recognizing that DNA
is really just a chemical.
239
00:10:59,660 --> 00:11:01,459
And the structure
is what matters,
240
00:11:01,461 --> 00:11:03,795
and so it doesn't
matter if that DNA
241
00:11:03,797 --> 00:11:06,698
came from a horse
or a mouse
242
00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:09,000
or something you dug
off the bottom of your shoe,
243
00:11:09,002 --> 00:11:10,936
the DNA is still just the DNA.
244
00:11:12,239 --> 00:11:14,506
WILLIAMS:
Today, production facilities
245
00:11:14,508 --> 00:11:16,074
not only make bio-products,
246
00:11:16,076 --> 00:11:20,111
they make synthetic DNA
and can even process
247
00:11:20,113 --> 00:11:21,413
the four basic chemicals
248
00:11:21,415 --> 00:11:25,684
into an exact genetic sequence
you can order online.
249
00:11:25,686 --> 00:11:27,852
You'd go to a website
for a company,
250
00:11:27,854 --> 00:11:29,454
a DNA synthesis company,
251
00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:31,356
and you'd submit to that website
this...
252
00:11:31,358 --> 00:11:32,857
the sequence
of DNA you want.
253
00:11:32,859 --> 00:11:37,596
NILLI OSTROV:
We can take the entire
gene sequence and copy,
254
00:11:37,598 --> 00:11:41,366
and then put it
in an order sheet.
255
00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:43,902
You can say T-A-A-T-A-C-G-A
256
00:11:43,904 --> 00:11:45,971
C-T-C-A-C-T-A-T
A-G-G-G-A-G-A.
257
00:11:45,973 --> 00:11:47,272
Give them a credit card number.
258
00:11:47,274 --> 00:11:48,974
Order this DNA.
259
00:11:48,976 --> 00:11:50,175
They'll print that DNA
260
00:11:50,177 --> 00:11:51,309
and put it in an envelope
and mail it to you.
261
00:11:51,311 --> 00:11:53,311
OSTROV:
We get the gene back
262
00:11:53,313 --> 00:11:55,714
in a tube in about
a day or two.
263
00:11:55,716 --> 00:11:58,750
It's DNA that is
made from scratch
264
00:11:58,752 --> 00:12:00,619
by the machine.
265
00:12:00,621 --> 00:12:02,454
This is a bottle
is full of the letter A.
266
00:12:02,456 --> 00:12:05,857
Not the letter in the alphabet,
but the base of DNA.
267
00:12:05,859 --> 00:12:07,525
There's ten grams
of stuff in here,
268
00:12:07,527 --> 00:12:09,561
and it costs
about $250 for the bottle.
269
00:12:09,563 --> 00:12:12,864
This is enough material
to make approximately 30 copies
270
00:12:12,866 --> 00:12:16,368
of every human genome
on the planet.
271
00:12:16,370 --> 00:12:17,736
EL KALIOUBY:
So think about what this means.
272
00:12:17,738 --> 00:12:20,071
All the convenience
of online shopping.
273
00:12:20,073 --> 00:12:24,809
Just like I can
custom order a car.
274
00:12:24,811 --> 00:12:27,012
Do I want the silver?
275
00:12:27,014 --> 00:12:29,047
Or the red?
276
00:12:29,049 --> 00:12:30,782
Or build my own pizza.
277
00:12:30,784 --> 00:12:34,152
Extra cheese...
278
00:12:34,154 --> 00:12:35,186
Mushrooms.
279
00:12:35,188 --> 00:12:37,956
Definitely not anchovies.
280
00:12:37,958 --> 00:12:40,258
Perfect.
281
00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:43,261
Along with all the stuff
you can buy online,
282
00:12:43,263 --> 00:12:46,398
amazingly, you can
custom order actual DNA.
283
00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,467
So now, with a credit card
and a computer,
284
00:12:49,469 --> 00:12:52,837
not only can you build
your own jeans,
285
00:12:52,839 --> 00:12:56,708
you can build your own genes.
286
00:12:56,710 --> 00:12:58,910
WILLIAMS:
Our ability to build
and manipulate
287
00:12:58,912 --> 00:13:01,046
the genes that control life
288
00:13:01,048 --> 00:13:04,282
means we now have
the power to remake life.
289
00:13:06,386 --> 00:13:09,654
And this young scientist
is trying to prove it
290
00:13:09,656 --> 00:13:12,390
with one of the most
daring genetic experiments
291
00:13:12,392 --> 00:13:14,225
on the planet.
292
00:13:14,227 --> 00:13:17,228
Kevin Esvelt wants
to stop a growing menace
293
00:13:17,230 --> 00:13:19,698
on Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard,
294
00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:23,668
beautiful island communities
off the coast of Massachusetts.
295
00:13:23,670 --> 00:13:26,604
(gulls crying)
296
00:13:26,606 --> 00:13:28,640
On the surface,
you wouldn't notice
297
00:13:28,642 --> 00:13:31,142
anything especially scary
on Nantucket.
298
00:13:31,144 --> 00:13:34,646
Tourists flock here,
299
00:13:34,648 --> 00:13:36,648
and others live year-round
300
00:13:36,650 --> 00:13:38,516
to enjoy the beauty, fun,
301
00:13:38,518 --> 00:13:40,585
and comforts of island life.
302
00:13:42,823 --> 00:13:44,389
What they don't come for,
303
00:13:44,391 --> 00:13:49,427
but often get anyway,
is Lyme disease.
304
00:13:49,429 --> 00:13:52,330
Devin, why don't
you come on down.
305
00:13:52,332 --> 00:13:53,998
WILLIAMS:
Dr. Timothy Lepore
306
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,400
is a 30-year veteran
307
00:13:55,402 --> 00:13:58,470
of treating Lyme disease
on Nantucket.
308
00:13:58,472 --> 00:14:00,171
In the spring and summer
on Nantucket, if I see
309
00:14:00,173 --> 00:14:03,274
somebody like that,
that's Lyme disease.
310
00:14:03,276 --> 00:14:05,543
WILLIAMS:
Lyme is a bacterial infection
311
00:14:05,545 --> 00:14:07,278
that often starts with a rash
312
00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:11,750
where a person has been bitten
by an infected tick.
313
00:14:11,752 --> 00:14:13,118
You get rashes...
314
00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:14,185
WILLIAMS:
Most people can be cured
315
00:14:14,187 --> 00:14:16,621
with antibiotics
that eliminate the rash,
316
00:14:16,623 --> 00:14:20,291
fever, and joint pain
within a few days.
317
00:14:20,293 --> 00:14:22,160
LEPORE:
When we treated you,
you got better.
318
00:14:22,162 --> 00:14:23,394
Yep.
319
00:14:23,396 --> 00:14:25,864
And then the next day,
it had the ring around it.
320
00:14:25,866 --> 00:14:28,566
WILLIAMS:
But not everyone
recovers so quickly.
321
00:14:28,568 --> 00:14:30,335
LEPORE:
People that have had
322
00:14:30,337 --> 00:14:34,072
long-standing Lyme disease
may have some persistent issues.
323
00:14:34,074 --> 00:14:37,075
If you wait, you can
have delayed symptoms
324
00:14:37,077 --> 00:14:38,376
like complete heart block,
325
00:14:38,378 --> 00:14:42,580
where your heart starts beating
20 to 30 times a minute,
326
00:14:42,582 --> 00:14:44,249
or you can have a facial palsy
327
00:14:44,251 --> 00:14:46,451
where it looks like one side
of your face is paralyzed.
328
00:14:46,453 --> 00:14:48,386
Come on in.
329
00:14:48,388 --> 00:14:49,788
KEVIN ESVELT:
Lyme is the single most common
330
00:14:49,790 --> 00:14:52,624
infectious vector-borne disease
in the United States.
331
00:14:52,626 --> 00:14:54,025
It's way more common than Zika.
332
00:14:54,027 --> 00:14:56,561
It's way more common than
West Nile, anything like that.
333
00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:58,496
The areas of Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard
334
00:14:58,498 --> 00:15:01,032
are number two and number three
when it comes to incidence
335
00:15:01,034 --> 00:15:02,467
of tick-borne disease
in the United States.
336
00:15:02,469 --> 00:15:06,137
WILLIAMS:
Kevin Esvelt is on a mission
337
00:15:06,139 --> 00:15:08,406
to eradicate Lyme disease.
338
00:15:08,408 --> 00:15:11,843
And for him,
these Massachusetts islands
339
00:15:11,845 --> 00:15:14,212
are the perfect places to start.
340
00:15:16,683 --> 00:15:20,185
This pocket of dense vegetation
is typical of Nantucket
341
00:15:20,187 --> 00:15:22,520
and the rest of the Northeast.
342
00:15:22,522 --> 00:15:23,922
Try to find
an easy way out.
343
00:15:23,924 --> 00:15:28,193
WILLIAMS:
Sam Telford
is working with Kevin.
344
00:15:28,195 --> 00:15:30,695
An expert on ticks
and tick-borne diseases,
345
00:15:30,697 --> 00:15:34,799
Sam's diving into this brush
because he knows it's literally
346
00:15:34,801 --> 00:15:37,168
crawling with ticks
for him to study.
347
00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:40,271
Dragging a white furry cloth,
348
00:15:40,273 --> 00:15:42,473
Sam is hoping to catch ticks
349
00:15:42,475 --> 00:15:45,143
that think the cloth
is an animal.
350
00:15:45,145 --> 00:15:48,046
SAM TELFORD:
Ticks are what
we call ambush predators.
351
00:15:48,048 --> 00:15:50,148
They sit there
on a blade of grass
352
00:15:50,150 --> 00:15:52,283
and they've got
their front legs sticking out,
353
00:15:52,285 --> 00:15:54,886
and then as you walk by,
354
00:15:54,888 --> 00:15:58,389
they'll latch on to something
they think is furry.
355
00:15:58,391 --> 00:16:00,124
There is one here.
356
00:16:01,561 --> 00:16:03,428
WILLIAMS:
This is a tick
in an early stage,
357
00:16:03,430 --> 00:16:05,163
when it's very tiny.
358
00:16:05,899 --> 00:16:06,965
No one who gets
Lyme disease
359
00:16:06,967 --> 00:16:08,800
recalls that they
were bitten by a tick
360
00:16:08,802 --> 00:16:10,268
simply because
of their small size.
361
00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:12,303
How on earth are you going
to see something that small?
362
00:16:12,305 --> 00:16:15,773
WILLIAMS:
Humans get Lyme disease
from ticks.
363
00:16:15,775 --> 00:16:19,944
But ticks are not born
with Lyme bacteria.
364
00:16:19,946 --> 00:16:24,849
They get it by feeding on
this innocent-looking critter--
365
00:16:24,851 --> 00:16:26,184
the white-footed mouse
366
00:16:26,186 --> 00:16:29,888
that carries Lyme bacteria
in its blood.
367
00:16:29,890 --> 00:16:33,825
And another innocent-looking
creature, the deer,
368
00:16:33,827 --> 00:16:37,762
is a crucial link in the chain
of transmission to us.
369
00:16:37,764 --> 00:16:41,099
Baby ticks will
often feed on mice
370
00:16:41,101 --> 00:16:43,201
that are close to the ground.
371
00:16:43,203 --> 00:16:46,671
This is when they get
the Lyme bacteria.
372
00:16:46,673 --> 00:16:48,573
As the ticks grow,
they will feed
373
00:16:48,575 --> 00:16:52,877
on other mice,
deer, or people,
374
00:16:52,879 --> 00:16:55,847
passing the Lyme bacteria
with each bite.
375
00:16:55,849 --> 00:16:58,416
But only people get the disease.
376
00:16:58,418 --> 00:17:02,287
A single deer is like
an all-you-can-eat buffet.
377
00:17:02,289 --> 00:17:03,421
They live in the woods
378
00:17:03,423 --> 00:17:06,357
and can't easily
scratch ticks off.
379
00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,660
So female ticks
become engorged,
380
00:17:08,662 --> 00:17:12,830
drop off, lay eggs,
and the cycle starts again.
381
00:17:12,832 --> 00:17:18,670
ESVELT:
The typical deer has several
thousand ticks attached to it.
382
00:17:18,672 --> 00:17:23,474
And the females will each
lay several thousand eggs.
383
00:17:23,476 --> 00:17:26,644
So when you see a deer wandering
around through the woods,
384
00:17:26,646 --> 00:17:29,347
you can think,
"That is the walking equivalent
385
00:17:29,349 --> 00:17:31,582
of a million ticks
in the next generation."
386
00:17:31,584 --> 00:17:34,619
WILLIAMS:
But people adore seeing deer
387
00:17:34,621 --> 00:17:36,888
and don't want them removed.
388
00:17:36,890 --> 00:17:39,924
Could it be
childhood memories of Bambi?
389
00:17:39,926 --> 00:17:41,626
ESVELT:
It is Bambi.
(laughs)
390
00:17:41,628 --> 00:17:42,727
We like seeing deer.
391
00:17:42,729 --> 00:17:44,595
So, because there are
so many more deer
392
00:17:44,597 --> 00:17:48,232
than there have ever
been before, historically,
393
00:17:48,234 --> 00:17:51,936
there are many more ticks than
there have ever been before.
394
00:17:53,540 --> 00:17:56,774
WILLIAMS:
Now, deer shed ticks
in our lawn clippings,
395
00:17:56,776 --> 00:17:58,643
garden plots,
396
00:17:58,645 --> 00:18:00,745
recreation areas,
397
00:18:00,747 --> 00:18:02,880
and if they carry
the Lyme bacteria,
398
00:18:02,882 --> 00:18:05,516
they can give it to us.
399
00:18:05,518 --> 00:18:07,218
Here on Nantucket,
400
00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:10,521
40% of residents
have caught Lyme disease.
401
00:18:10,523 --> 00:18:13,191
And it's not
the only tick-borne disease
402
00:18:13,193 --> 00:18:15,059
they have to worry about.
403
00:18:15,061 --> 00:18:17,962
TELFORD:
There's an infection
called Nantucket fever
404
00:18:17,964 --> 00:18:20,064
or human babesiosis,
405
00:18:20,066 --> 00:18:23,668
which was first identified
here in 1969.
406
00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:28,506
It's a malaria-like infection
and it actually kills people.
407
00:18:28,508 --> 00:18:33,144
WILLIAMS:
There are four serious
tick-carried diseases
408
00:18:33,146 --> 00:18:34,145
on the island,
409
00:18:34,147 --> 00:18:36,781
with Lyme by far
the most common.
410
00:18:36,783 --> 00:18:40,752
But it's not
just these tiny islands.
411
00:18:40,754 --> 00:18:42,086
Mice, deer, and ticks
412
00:18:42,088 --> 00:18:46,457
have spread Lyme disease
throughout the northeast U.S.
413
00:18:46,459 --> 00:18:50,128
Almost anyone in the region
who ventures outdoors--
414
00:18:50,130 --> 00:18:53,598
not just into the woods,
but in suburbs, too--
415
00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,367
is putting themselves at risk.
416
00:18:56,369 --> 00:18:59,003
(exclaims)
417
00:18:59,906 --> 00:19:01,472
WILLIAMS:
For Kevin Esvelt,
418
00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:03,741
it's a risk people
should not have to take,
419
00:19:03,743 --> 00:19:07,045
especially with their kids.
420
00:19:08,415 --> 00:19:10,615
ESVELT:
I'm from the west coast,
421
00:19:10,617 --> 00:19:14,519
and there we have ticks,
but they're so rare
422
00:19:14,521 --> 00:19:17,422
that I spent my childhood
running around through the woods
423
00:19:17,424 --> 00:19:20,925
and never once
got bitten by a tick,
424
00:19:20,927 --> 00:19:21,959
not once.
425
00:19:21,961 --> 00:19:24,228
Come on, down the slide.
426
00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:25,496
Whoa!
427
00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:27,065
ESVELT:
I have two kids.
428
00:19:27,067 --> 00:19:29,767
It's just terrible that we have
to be wary of them
429
00:19:29,769 --> 00:19:32,403
just running in the woods.
430
00:19:32,405 --> 00:19:34,739
So, the notion that you can
wander out here
431
00:19:34,741 --> 00:19:36,340
through some of the worst areas,
432
00:19:36,342 --> 00:19:39,510
and end up with
lots of ticks on you is just...
433
00:19:39,512 --> 00:19:40,745
well, it's frankly horrifying.
434
00:19:40,747 --> 00:19:43,181
All right, so I have
40 traps out in this site.
435
00:19:43,183 --> 00:19:47,518
WILLIAMS:
Kevin has a plan to
make the outdoors safe again.
436
00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,755
The mice seem
to be wary today.
437
00:19:50,757 --> 00:19:52,557
WILLIAMS:
He believes he can
get rid of Lyme disease
438
00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:55,693
by genetically altering the
white-footed mice
439
00:19:55,695 --> 00:19:57,595
that carry it.
440
00:19:57,597 --> 00:20:01,065
And if that goes well,
he hopes to edit their DNA
441
00:20:01,067 --> 00:20:04,702
so they could
resist ticks entirely.
442
00:20:04,704 --> 00:20:07,171
Oh, looks like
we've got one
443
00:20:07,173 --> 00:20:08,506
to take back.
444
00:20:08,508 --> 00:20:09,574
ESVELT:
Enlisting mice
445
00:20:09,576 --> 00:20:12,243
in the war against
tick-borne disease
446
00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:15,113
would just be
an amazing proposition.
447
00:20:15,115 --> 00:20:18,816
I'm counting
18 on the ears.
448
00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:21,052
WILLIAMS:
The number of ticks
is astounding,
449
00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:23,721
especially on its ears.
450
00:20:23,723 --> 00:20:26,958
And if this mouse has
the Lyme bacteria, all the ticks
451
00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:32,563
will become infected and
can transmit the disease to us.
452
00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:37,702
Kevin's plan is to make the mice
resistant to Lyme bacteria
453
00:20:37,704 --> 00:20:40,004
with the help
of genetic engineering's
454
00:20:40,006 --> 00:20:43,508
most exciting
and powerful tool-- CRISPR.
455
00:20:46,179 --> 00:20:47,311
CRISPR stands for clustered
456
00:20:47,313 --> 00:20:49,680
regularly interspaced
457
00:20:49,682 --> 00:20:51,949
short palindromic repeats.
458
00:20:51,951 --> 00:20:53,718
(crowd groans)
459
00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,720
That's why it's just called
"CRISPR."
460
00:20:57,157 --> 00:20:59,323
First discovered in bacteria,
461
00:20:59,325 --> 00:21:02,860
CRISPRs are like
bacterial immune systems.
462
00:21:02,862 --> 00:21:05,129
They have two key parts--
463
00:21:05,131 --> 00:21:09,767
a destroyer protein,
like one called Cas9,
464
00:21:09,769 --> 00:21:12,436
and a piece of RNA
that matches viruses
465
00:21:12,438 --> 00:21:15,940
that previously
infected the bacteria.
466
00:21:15,942 --> 00:21:18,709
If the same virus were
to invade again,
467
00:21:18,711 --> 00:21:22,513
the RNA would recognize
the invader's DNA,
468
00:21:22,515 --> 00:21:25,216
attach itself to its old enemy,
469
00:21:25,218 --> 00:21:30,922
and its Cas partner would slice
the virus's DNA, destroying it.
470
00:21:30,924 --> 00:21:34,392
A few years ago,
some researchers realized
471
00:21:34,394 --> 00:21:35,560
they could use CRISPR
472
00:21:35,562 --> 00:21:38,062
to edit the genome
of any living organism.
473
00:21:38,064 --> 00:21:40,331
Here's the idea.
474
00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:42,266
Say I have a stretch of DNA,
475
00:21:42,268 --> 00:21:44,268
maybe a part of a gene
I'd like to change.
476
00:21:44,270 --> 00:21:47,838
If I know the sequence
of letters there,
477
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,809
I can build a CRISPR
that carries a matching code.
478
00:21:51,811 --> 00:21:55,613
Once inside the cell,
CRISPR will scan the DNA
479
00:21:55,615 --> 00:21:58,115
until it finds that exact spot.
480
00:21:58,117 --> 00:22:02,386
And when it does,
it slices the DNA right there.
481
00:22:03,389 --> 00:22:06,657
Now I have a broken gene,
but it turns out
482
00:22:06,659 --> 00:22:11,095
I can insert a new sequence
into the gap,
483
00:22:11,097 --> 00:22:13,965
and that makes CRISPR
potentially
484
00:22:13,967 --> 00:22:18,636
an extremely powerful tool.
485
00:22:18,638 --> 00:22:20,938
CRISPR Cas engineering
is much faster,
486
00:22:20,940 --> 00:22:23,474
it's much less expensive,
and it's much easier to make
487
00:22:23,476 --> 00:22:24,976
those changes you want to make.
488
00:22:24,978 --> 00:22:27,612
The really
significant revolution
489
00:22:27,614 --> 00:22:29,547
with CRIPSR Cas9 is that,
490
00:22:29,549 --> 00:22:32,216
as far as I can tell,
it pretty much works
491
00:22:32,218 --> 00:22:35,486
in any organism
that you try it in.
492
00:22:37,123 --> 00:22:38,623
WILLIAMS:
And M.I.T.'s Kevin Esvelt
493
00:22:38,625 --> 00:22:42,693
wants to use CRISPR
to change the DNA of mice
494
00:22:42,695 --> 00:22:47,231
and make them immune
to Lyme bacteria.
495
00:22:47,233 --> 00:22:48,866
ESVELT:
The original idea
that sparked this
496
00:22:48,868 --> 00:22:51,135
whole process
was very simple.
497
00:22:51,137 --> 00:22:52,903
Hey.
Hi.
498
00:22:52,905 --> 00:22:54,171
Animals like us,
and also mice,
499
00:22:54,173 --> 00:22:55,206
when we get sick with something,
500
00:22:55,208 --> 00:22:58,909
our immune systems
evolve an antibody,
501
00:22:58,911 --> 00:23:01,212
often lots and
lots of antibodies,
502
00:23:01,214 --> 00:23:02,647
that are really, really good
503
00:23:02,649 --> 00:23:06,817
at telling the immune system
"This is the enemy, kill it."
504
00:23:06,819 --> 00:23:11,255
WILLIAMS:
But these antibodies do not
get passed on to our children.
505
00:23:11,257 --> 00:23:13,624
So we need vaccines
506
00:23:13,626 --> 00:23:17,962
to give us antibodies
against certain diseases.
507
00:23:17,964 --> 00:23:20,398
But there is no
human Lyme vaccine.
508
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,467
And even if there
was one for mice,
509
00:23:23,469 --> 00:23:26,270
he couldn't just
line them up for shots.
510
00:23:26,272 --> 00:23:30,908
So instead, Kevin wants
to give them a genetic vaccine.
511
00:23:30,910 --> 00:23:33,844
Here's how that would work.
512
00:23:33,846 --> 00:23:36,881
First, Kevin,
with the help of Sam Telford,
513
00:23:36,883 --> 00:23:40,751
infects mice in the lab
with Lyme bacteria.
514
00:23:42,488 --> 00:23:44,455
These mice quickly develop
515
00:23:44,457 --> 00:23:48,359
robust, Lyme-resistant
antibodies.
516
00:23:48,361 --> 00:23:51,295
Next, the team
deciphers the genetic code
517
00:23:51,297 --> 00:23:54,565
that can create
those antibodies.
518
00:23:54,567 --> 00:23:57,568
They make this antibody gene
in the lab.
519
00:23:57,570 --> 00:24:00,404
And inject it,
along with CRISPR genes,
520
00:24:00,406 --> 00:24:04,608
into the developing sperm cells
of Sam's lab mice.
521
00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:06,877
There, CRISPR would
clear the way
522
00:24:06,879 --> 00:24:10,147
for the new gene to slide
into the mouse's genome.
523
00:24:11,984 --> 00:24:16,387
Now, if an engineered male
mates with a wild female,
524
00:24:16,389 --> 00:24:19,657
roughly 50% of their babies,
boys and girls,
525
00:24:19,659 --> 00:24:22,293
will inherit
the Lyme-resistant gene
526
00:24:22,295 --> 00:24:26,097
and begin spreading it
to future generations of mice.
527
00:24:26,099 --> 00:24:28,499
That is, if Kevin's plan works.
528
00:24:30,169 --> 00:24:33,070
(ship horn sounds)
529
00:24:33,072 --> 00:24:34,638
But before he can even try,
530
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,074
he'll need
Nantucket residents to approve
531
00:24:37,076 --> 00:24:40,945
the release of genetically
modified mice,
532
00:24:40,947 --> 00:24:44,014
something many people here
worry might backfire
533
00:24:44,016 --> 00:24:47,351
like the disastrous
cane toad experiment.
534
00:24:47,353 --> 00:24:49,286
♪ ♪
535
00:24:49,288 --> 00:24:54,091
Cane toads were introduced
to Australia in the 1930s
536
00:24:54,093 --> 00:24:56,927
to help kill off
sugar cane beetles.
537
00:24:56,929 --> 00:25:02,233
But instead, they became
a biological wrecking ball.
538
00:25:02,235 --> 00:25:05,503
A foreign species
with no natural predators,
539
00:25:05,505 --> 00:25:08,472
they quickly overran
the country.
540
00:25:08,474 --> 00:25:11,642
Poisonous to animals,
they've killed
541
00:25:11,644 --> 00:25:13,878
countless pets
and native species,
542
00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:18,449
disrupted key parts of
the country's ecosystem,
543
00:25:18,451 --> 00:25:21,719
and they are now almost
impossible to get rid of.
544
00:25:23,856 --> 00:25:25,856
The mice used
in Kevin's experiment
545
00:25:25,858 --> 00:25:27,792
will be native, not foreign.
546
00:25:27,794 --> 00:25:29,193
But some people worry
547
00:25:29,195 --> 00:25:31,028
that genetically
modifying animals
548
00:25:31,030 --> 00:25:33,764
could spell trouble.
549
00:25:33,766 --> 00:25:35,499
LEPORE:
If you fool with Mother Nature,
550
00:25:35,501 --> 00:25:37,101
very often it doesn't
turn out well.
551
00:25:37,103 --> 00:25:38,803
So are we going to have
mice the size
552
00:25:38,805 --> 00:25:41,572
of boxer dogs, I don't know.
553
00:25:43,142 --> 00:25:44,208
WILLIAMS:
As Kevin releases
554
00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:46,911
a wild mouse caught earlier,
he hopes
555
00:25:46,913 --> 00:25:49,980
that someday the little creature
jumping away
556
00:25:49,982 --> 00:25:53,017
will be resistant
to Lyme disease.
557
00:25:53,019 --> 00:25:56,320
But to get that far,
he will need
558
00:25:56,322 --> 00:25:58,789
the island's complete trust.
559
00:25:58,791 --> 00:26:00,925
And the jury is still out.
560
00:26:00,927 --> 00:26:03,627
♪ ♪
561
00:26:03,629 --> 00:26:06,197
Will people's fear
of genetic engineering
562
00:26:06,199 --> 00:26:11,001
prevent Kevin from using
this controversial science?
563
00:26:11,003 --> 00:26:12,903
ELEONORE PAUWELS:
You know, this is a technology
564
00:26:12,905 --> 00:26:15,473
too powerful for humankind
to refuse.
565
00:26:15,475 --> 00:26:16,640
It's going to help us transform
566
00:26:16,642 --> 00:26:19,176
not only our bodies
and our genes,
567
00:26:19,178 --> 00:26:21,312
but can give us a chance
568
00:26:21,314 --> 00:26:24,682
to actually play a role
in our own evolution.
569
00:26:26,752 --> 00:26:30,054
WILLIAMS:
George Church is certainly
playing with evolution
570
00:26:30,056 --> 00:26:34,191
by attempting to
de-extinct a woolly mammoth.
571
00:26:34,193 --> 00:26:36,160
(growling, trumpeting)
572
00:26:36,162 --> 00:26:40,498
But why does this gene giant
even want to do this?
573
00:26:41,667 --> 00:26:43,133
George is one of those people
in science
574
00:26:43,135 --> 00:26:45,703
who is just larger than life.
575
00:26:45,705 --> 00:26:50,007
He just wants to be doing
those most exciting projects
576
00:26:50,009 --> 00:26:51,909
at the cutting edge
of whatever it is.
577
00:26:51,911 --> 00:26:54,445
Wow, that is the coolest dry ice
I have ever seen.
578
00:26:54,447 --> 00:26:58,349
WILLIAMS:
George's lab is renowned
for stretching the limits
579
00:26:58,351 --> 00:27:00,217
of genetic engineering,
580
00:27:00,219 --> 00:27:02,853
from experiments using pigs
581
00:27:02,855 --> 00:27:05,623
to grow human organs
for transplantation,
582
00:27:05,625 --> 00:27:09,560
to using bacterial DNA
to encode and store data
583
00:27:09,562 --> 00:27:12,329
and even digitize movies.
584
00:27:12,331 --> 00:27:17,801
But the woolly mammoth would be
his greatest accomplishment yet.
585
00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:20,938
Seeing a real mammoth again
would be amazing.
586
00:27:20,940 --> 00:27:23,607
Or what about sabre tooth
tigers,
587
00:27:23,609 --> 00:27:25,376
or giant dodo birds,
588
00:27:25,378 --> 00:27:27,912
even flocks
of passenger pigeons?
589
00:27:27,914 --> 00:27:31,982
Bringing back extinct creatures
wouldn't just be cool,
590
00:27:31,984 --> 00:27:35,853
we could see how these
magnificent animals once lived
591
00:27:35,855 --> 00:27:38,389
and maybe find out
how to save today's creatures
592
00:27:38,391 --> 00:27:40,090
from going extinct.
593
00:27:40,092 --> 00:27:42,927
Which is exactly what
George Church wants to do
594
00:27:42,929 --> 00:27:44,962
for the Asian elephant.
595
00:27:44,964 --> 00:27:47,164
♪ ♪
596
00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:51,135
WILLIAMS:
George's plan is to combine
the genes of a woolly mammoth
597
00:27:51,137 --> 00:27:53,571
with those of Asian elephants
598
00:27:53,573 --> 00:27:56,840
because making them mammoth-like
might save them.
599
00:27:56,842 --> 00:28:01,545
Hunted for their tusks
and chased from farmlands,
600
00:28:01,547 --> 00:28:03,747
Asian elephant numbers
are shrinking.
601
00:28:03,749 --> 00:28:07,918
But George has
a possible solution.
602
00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,186
If you gave them access
603
00:28:09,188 --> 00:28:11,488
to one of the largest ecosystems
on the planet,
604
00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:13,457
which is the arctic tundra
605
00:28:13,459 --> 00:28:16,226
where their very close relatives
used to roam,
606
00:28:16,228 --> 00:28:19,163
that would probably
save the species.
607
00:28:19,165 --> 00:28:22,900
WILLIAMS:
There's plenty of open, fertile
space in the tundra,
608
00:28:22,902 --> 00:28:26,236
but it's too cold
for warm-weather elephants
609
00:28:26,238 --> 00:28:28,205
to survive here.
610
00:28:28,207 --> 00:28:30,708
So George's resurrection plan
611
00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:34,378
begins with genetically
winterizing Asian elephants
612
00:28:34,380 --> 00:28:38,282
to become more like woolly
mammoths, who loved the cold.
613
00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,956
The team first identifies the
specific genes in modern animals
614
00:28:45,958 --> 00:28:50,461
that code for things
like fat or thick hair.
615
00:28:50,463 --> 00:28:52,630
Then they look
for their genetic counterparts
616
00:28:52,632 --> 00:28:56,500
in decoded mammoth genomes.
617
00:28:56,502 --> 00:28:58,869
Once they identify the mammoth's
"cold" genes,
618
00:28:58,871 --> 00:29:01,672
they make them synthetically,
619
00:29:01,674 --> 00:29:04,508
and insert them
into living cells
620
00:29:04,510 --> 00:29:08,646
taken from an Asian elephant
to see if they work.
621
00:29:10,583 --> 00:29:12,950
BOBBY DHADWAR:
What we're seeing here
is green cells--
622
00:29:12,952 --> 00:29:14,385
these are elephant cells
623
00:29:14,387 --> 00:29:17,154
that we've introduced
mammoth DNA into.
624
00:29:17,156 --> 00:29:19,790
The brighter the green
that we're seeing
625
00:29:19,792 --> 00:29:22,026
means the more DNA has taken up.
626
00:29:22,028 --> 00:29:26,697
WILLIAMS:
In the lab, they've edited
about 35 functioning
627
00:29:26,699 --> 00:29:30,901
woolly mammoth genes
into the Asian elephant genome.
628
00:29:30,903 --> 00:29:35,406
This is a good start for making
a semi woolly mammoth.
629
00:29:35,408 --> 00:29:40,978
But it's the next step that will
be the most challenging.
630
00:29:40,980 --> 00:29:42,713
SHAPIRO:
There is a huge difference
obviously
631
00:29:42,715 --> 00:29:44,815
between a cell growing in a dish
in a lab
632
00:29:44,817 --> 00:29:47,151
and a baby mammoth
wandering around.
633
00:29:47,153 --> 00:29:50,621
How do I take that cell
and turn that into
634
00:29:50,623 --> 00:29:53,424
an actual living, breathing
organism?
635
00:29:53,426 --> 00:29:54,758
(elephant trumpets)
636
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,494
WILLIAMS:
They could try and fertilize
the egg cell
637
00:29:57,496 --> 00:29:59,930
of a captive Asian elephant
638
00:29:59,932 --> 00:30:02,499
with woolly mammoth genes.
639
00:30:02,501 --> 00:30:05,436
But this is difficult.
640
00:30:05,438 --> 00:30:08,205
SHAPIRO:
It's very hard for them
to get pregnant in captivity.
641
00:30:08,207 --> 00:30:10,174
The pregnancies often
don't go to term.
642
00:30:10,176 --> 00:30:13,677
And this is probably
has to do with
643
00:30:13,679 --> 00:30:16,113
the psychology of being
in captivity.
644
00:30:17,316 --> 00:30:18,982
WILLIAMS:
And performing such an operation
645
00:30:18,984 --> 00:30:21,385
on an endangered species
like this
646
00:30:21,387 --> 00:30:24,121
may simply be
too great a risk.
647
00:30:24,123 --> 00:30:26,390
♪ ♪
648
00:30:26,392 --> 00:30:28,659
So George is studying mammals
like the platypus
649
00:30:28,661 --> 00:30:31,261
and spiny anteater,
whose babies develop
650
00:30:31,263 --> 00:30:34,131
outside a mother's body
in an egg.
651
00:30:34,133 --> 00:30:38,869
SHAPIRO:
Could he possibly engineer
a living mammoth this way?
652
00:30:38,871 --> 00:30:41,605
(cracking)
653
00:30:41,607 --> 00:30:46,844
Can you imagine a baby woolly
mammoth hatching out of an egg?
654
00:30:46,846 --> 00:30:48,545
Really?
655
00:30:48,547 --> 00:30:51,715
Not even George has figured out
how to do this.
656
00:30:51,717 --> 00:30:55,018
And what would this
sort of mammoth be like?
657
00:30:55,020 --> 00:30:56,553
(trumpets)
658
00:30:56,555 --> 00:30:58,922
CAPLAN:
I think you're going to get
a creature
659
00:30:58,924 --> 00:30:59,890
that's sort of a pseudo mammoth,
660
00:30:59,892 --> 00:31:02,192
not quite the same makeup.
661
00:31:02,194 --> 00:31:05,095
So I think you're going to get
a sort of echo of the animal
662
00:31:05,097 --> 00:31:07,064
that once was but not a replica.
663
00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:09,800
So even if we could
get to the point
664
00:31:09,802 --> 00:31:11,969
where we could transform
this elephant
665
00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:15,072
to a living, breathing
baby mammoth,
666
00:31:15,074 --> 00:31:18,542
a question that I have really is
should we?
667
00:31:18,544 --> 00:31:22,212
We know that elephants
are very social creatures.
668
00:31:22,214 --> 00:31:25,349
They live in herds
interacting with each other.
669
00:31:25,351 --> 00:31:27,217
Unless we can get this down
in such a way
670
00:31:27,219 --> 00:31:28,318
that we can do
671
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,420
many different individuals
at a time,
672
00:31:30,422 --> 00:31:32,856
you're still just going to have
one generation to start with,
673
00:31:32,858 --> 00:31:35,659
and that just seems
kind of unfair.
674
00:31:35,661 --> 00:31:38,796
WILLIAMS:
Although we may never see
a mammoth,
675
00:31:38,798 --> 00:31:43,867
George's efforts to identify and
make more resilient animal genes
676
00:31:43,869 --> 00:31:46,837
may have a hidden benefit.
677
00:31:46,839 --> 00:31:48,071
SHAPIRO:
This technology,
678
00:31:48,073 --> 00:31:50,741
the ability to take genes
from the past,
679
00:31:50,743 --> 00:31:53,343
put them into species
that are alive today,
680
00:31:53,345 --> 00:31:54,878
has tremendous potential
681
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:56,647
as a new tool for conservation.
682
00:31:56,649 --> 00:32:00,017
Many of the endangered species
and populations
683
00:32:00,019 --> 00:32:02,753
have very little
genetic diversity
684
00:32:02,755 --> 00:32:06,256
and that means that they have
very little ability
685
00:32:06,258 --> 00:32:07,624
to adapt to rapid
climate change,
686
00:32:07,626 --> 00:32:09,193
or if a disease comes in,
687
00:32:09,195 --> 00:32:12,396
and wipes out most of
the individuals who are there.
688
00:32:12,398 --> 00:32:15,165
We can use this technology
to help species
689
00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:17,401
that are on the brink
of extinction today.
690
00:32:20,639 --> 00:32:22,506
But what about us?
691
00:32:22,508 --> 00:32:26,543
We've known for decades
that mistakes in our own DNA--
692
00:32:26,545 --> 00:32:29,913
sometimes just the switching
of a letter or two--
693
00:32:29,915 --> 00:32:32,649
can lead
to life-threatening problems.
694
00:32:32,651 --> 00:32:36,186
For example:
an "A" instead of a "T"
695
00:32:36,188 --> 00:32:39,990
on just one of our genes
causes sickle cell disease,
696
00:32:39,992 --> 00:32:41,925
a lifelong blood disorder.
697
00:32:41,927 --> 00:32:45,462
So, is it possible
to harness new technologies
698
00:32:45,464 --> 00:32:48,632
to rewrite our own genetic code?
699
00:32:48,634 --> 00:32:52,870
Could we use this power
to save lives?
700
00:32:52,872 --> 00:32:54,571
♪ ♪
701
00:32:54,573 --> 00:32:56,173
Doctors and researchers
have been trying to do this
702
00:32:56,175 --> 00:33:00,277
for decades,
but with limited success.
703
00:33:01,447 --> 00:33:03,780
Dr. David Williams
of Boston Children's Hospital
704
00:33:03,782 --> 00:33:07,117
has participated in several
gene therapy trials
705
00:33:07,119 --> 00:33:11,255
that invariably ended
in disappointment.
706
00:33:11,257 --> 00:33:15,926
DAVID WILLIAMS:
We saw a real need for this
technology to be developed.
707
00:33:15,928 --> 00:33:18,195
People were then disappointed--
including scientists--
708
00:33:18,197 --> 00:33:21,331
when the hype
didn't get realized.
709
00:33:21,333 --> 00:33:27,337
To make matters worse, in 1999,
18-year-old Jesse Gelsinger
710
00:33:27,339 --> 00:33:30,507
entered a trial
for a genetic liver condition.
711
00:33:30,509 --> 00:33:33,076
He only had a mild form
of the disease.
712
00:33:33,078 --> 00:33:36,813
But, tragically, the gene
therapy ended up killing him.
713
00:33:36,815 --> 00:33:39,082
♪ ♪
714
00:33:39,084 --> 00:33:41,051
This set the field back
enormously
715
00:33:41,053 --> 00:33:42,853
and it's taken a long time
for the field to recover
716
00:33:42,855 --> 00:33:44,388
from those setbacks.
717
00:33:44,390 --> 00:33:46,623
CHRISTINE DUNCAN:
This is the family we just met
this morning.
718
00:33:46,625 --> 00:33:47,824
He's seven years old,
719
00:33:47,826 --> 00:33:49,326
but wasn't diagnosed
until August.
720
00:33:49,328 --> 00:33:53,196
WILLIAMS:
Today, Dave Williams heads
a new gene therapy trial
721
00:33:53,198 --> 00:33:56,934
that aims to cure a devastating
childhood disease...
722
00:33:56,936 --> 00:33:59,970
So he's had febrile seizures
since he was eight months old.
723
00:33:59,972 --> 00:34:01,204
WILLIAMS:
...a heartbreaking killer
724
00:34:01,206 --> 00:34:06,376
called cerebral
adrenoleukodystrophy, or A.L.D.,
725
00:34:06,378 --> 00:34:09,680
and the stakes
couldn't be higher.
726
00:34:09,682 --> 00:34:12,482
♪ ♪
727
00:34:12,484 --> 00:34:15,852
Brian Rojas and his mother
Lillianna
728
00:34:15,854 --> 00:34:19,156
are just about finished
trimming their Christmas tree.
729
00:34:19,158 --> 00:34:23,126
But Brian's brother Brandon
cannot join them.
730
00:34:23,128 --> 00:34:27,130
Three years ago,
the two boys were inseparable;
731
00:34:27,132 --> 00:34:29,333
their family full of love
and joy.
732
00:34:31,670 --> 00:34:33,503
Are you ready?
733
00:34:33,505 --> 00:34:37,074
WILLIAMS:
Now at age nine,
Brandon still gets the love,
734
00:34:37,076 --> 00:34:40,477
but A.L.D. is devastating
his mind and body.
735
00:34:40,479 --> 00:34:41,778
All right.
736
00:34:41,780 --> 00:34:44,915
WILLIAMS:
He can do nothing
for himself anymore.
737
00:34:44,917 --> 00:34:46,149
WILLIAMS:
Adrenoleukodystrophy
738
00:34:46,151 --> 00:34:48,752
is a genetic disease,
739
00:34:48,754 --> 00:34:51,655
and it's what we call X-linked,
740
00:34:51,657 --> 00:34:54,891
which means it occurs
mostly in boys.
741
00:34:54,893 --> 00:34:58,962
And the typical history
that we hear from families
742
00:34:58,964 --> 00:35:02,132
is that they have
a perfectly terrific young boy
743
00:35:02,134 --> 00:35:04,401
who, at the age of five or six,
744
00:35:04,403 --> 00:35:08,939
suddenly begins to have
developmental problems.
745
00:35:10,776 --> 00:35:13,777
LILLIANA ROJAS:
Brandon started with drooling,
746
00:35:13,779 --> 00:35:18,215
and we thought that it was
because he lost his front tooth
747
00:35:18,217 --> 00:35:21,618
and we didn't think
anything else of it.
748
00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:27,657
And little by little
he started losing his vision.
749
00:35:27,659 --> 00:35:29,893
DUNCAN:
They may have change
in their vision.
750
00:35:29,895 --> 00:35:31,728
They may have change
in their hearing.
751
00:35:31,730 --> 00:35:33,563
They have change
in their ability to communicate
752
00:35:33,565 --> 00:35:35,132
or speak with the family.
753
00:35:35,134 --> 00:35:37,567
And it all ends up ultimately
754
00:35:37,569 --> 00:35:39,569
with complete devastation
and death.
755
00:35:41,774 --> 00:35:45,308
WILLIAMS:
Dr. Christy Duncan has watched
the inexorable decline
756
00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:47,577
of many A.L.D. boys
757
00:35:47,579 --> 00:35:51,948
because of a mutation on a gene
called ABCD-1
758
00:35:51,950 --> 00:35:55,085
that affects micro-glial cells
in the brain.
759
00:35:58,090 --> 00:36:00,690
DUNCAN:
These are cells in the brain
that are responsible
760
00:36:00,692 --> 00:36:02,159
for maintaining
a healthy environment
761
00:36:02,161 --> 00:36:03,894
around some of the neurons.
762
00:36:03,896 --> 00:36:05,762
And so what you'll see over time
763
00:36:05,764 --> 00:36:08,498
is inflammatory lesions
in the brain.
764
00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:14,171
WILLIAMS:
On MRIs we can see these lesions
rapidly increase over time
765
00:36:14,173 --> 00:36:17,574
as the disease
destroys the brain.
766
00:36:21,580 --> 00:36:24,047
Unless you know there is A.L.D.
in your family,
767
00:36:24,049 --> 00:36:28,051
the disease comes
as a complete shock.
768
00:36:28,053 --> 00:36:31,621
HEATHER COOKSON:
It's heartbreaking to find out
that, unknowingly,
769
00:36:31,623 --> 00:36:34,191
I passed this gene
770
00:36:34,193 --> 00:36:38,095
and, ultimately, disease
to my children.
771
00:36:38,097 --> 00:36:41,932
Heather Cookson's son Jerry
is 12,
772
00:36:41,934 --> 00:36:44,801
older brother Ricky, 14.
773
00:36:44,803 --> 00:36:48,405
Ricky was eight
when persistent headaches
774
00:36:48,407 --> 00:36:50,841
convinced Heather to insist
he get an MRI.
775
00:36:52,578 --> 00:36:56,279
HEATHER:
They found a lesion in
Ricky's brain during that MRI.
776
00:36:56,281 --> 00:36:58,648
We just thought
it was headaches.
777
00:36:58,650 --> 00:37:00,550
Never thought it was going to be
778
00:37:00,552 --> 00:37:04,855
a life-changing disease
that he was going to have.
779
00:37:04,857 --> 00:37:08,391
WILLIAMS:
Children like and Ricky
can often be saved
780
00:37:08,393 --> 00:37:11,094
with a blood stem cell
transplant.
781
00:37:11,096 --> 00:37:14,264
These cells originate
in bone marrow
782
00:37:14,266 --> 00:37:18,135
and can become
all blood cell types.
783
00:37:18,137 --> 00:37:21,805
But why new blood cells
stop the progress of A.L.D.
784
00:37:21,807 --> 00:37:25,342
in the brain
is somewhat mysterious.
785
00:37:25,344 --> 00:37:27,644
DUNCAN:
This is a disease
of brain cells.
786
00:37:27,646 --> 00:37:28,745
These are not the same cells
787
00:37:28,747 --> 00:37:31,281
and so it can be hard
to understand
788
00:37:31,283 --> 00:37:32,949
why on earth that works.
789
00:37:34,453 --> 00:37:35,919
WILLIAMS:
For his transplant to work,
790
00:37:35,921 --> 00:37:38,388
Ricky needs
a good genetic match--
791
00:37:38,390 --> 00:37:40,123
like his little brother Jerry.
792
00:37:40,125 --> 00:37:42,726
But Jerry also carried
the faulty gene,
793
00:37:42,728 --> 00:37:45,095
so could not donate.
794
00:37:45,097 --> 00:37:49,633
Fortunately, Ricky found
an unrelated matching donor
795
00:37:49,635 --> 00:37:52,435
and after the transplant
and chemotherapy,
796
00:37:52,437 --> 00:37:55,305
he is now doing fine.
797
00:37:55,307 --> 00:37:59,509
But by the time Brandon Rojas
was diagnosed,
798
00:37:59,511 --> 00:38:01,912
his A.L.D. had progressed
too far
799
00:38:01,914 --> 00:38:04,080
to even try a transplant.
800
00:38:04,082 --> 00:38:06,616
And the news hit hard.
801
00:38:09,221 --> 00:38:11,121
LILLIAN:
I couldn't accept the fact
802
00:38:11,123 --> 00:38:13,290
that they said there's no cure.
803
00:38:13,292 --> 00:38:16,560
We...
I-I-I couldn't accept that.
804
00:38:16,562 --> 00:38:18,595
♪ ♪
805
00:38:18,597 --> 00:38:22,532
And that's when my whole world
just fell down
806
00:38:22,534 --> 00:38:24,935
(voice breaking):
and I didn't know how to react.
807
00:38:26,305 --> 00:38:28,104
DUNCAN:
It's terrible.
It's a tragedy.
808
00:38:28,106 --> 00:38:30,640
And the only--
even if you can call it--
809
00:38:30,642 --> 00:38:32,509
sort of bright spot
of that tragedy--
810
00:38:32,511 --> 00:38:35,812
his younger brother Brian
was identified
811
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:37,547
because of the older brothers'
disease.
812
00:38:37,549 --> 00:38:38,715
LILLIANA:
Say hi, Brian.
813
00:38:38,717 --> 00:38:40,217
Hi.
814
00:38:40,219 --> 00:38:41,384
Sí!
815
00:38:43,689 --> 00:38:46,923
WILLIAMS:
It wasn't guaranteed
that having the bad gene
816
00:38:46,925 --> 00:38:49,993
would give Brian the deadly form
of the disease.
817
00:38:49,995 --> 00:38:52,429
But Lilliana was worried.
818
00:38:52,431 --> 00:38:54,831
LILLIANA:
We were hoping he was fine.
819
00:38:54,833 --> 00:38:56,266
We thought, you know,
820
00:38:56,268 --> 00:38:59,369
"Please, God,
don't let him have the same."
821
00:38:59,371 --> 00:39:02,973
"He became a hero,
Dr. Steven..."
822
00:39:02,975 --> 00:39:05,942
WILLIAMS:
But about a year later,
a small lesion appeared
823
00:39:05,944 --> 00:39:07,711
on Brian's MRI.
824
00:39:09,915 --> 00:39:12,015
Worse, there were no
matching donors
825
00:39:12,017 --> 00:39:14,384
for an immediate transplant
826
00:39:14,386 --> 00:39:17,621
and his A.L.D.
was progressing by the day.
827
00:39:17,623 --> 00:39:20,857
So when a new gene therapy trial
opened up,
828
00:39:20,859 --> 00:39:24,694
Lilliana jumped
at the opportunity.
829
00:39:24,696 --> 00:39:26,463
One of the things
that the doctor said was,
830
00:39:26,465 --> 00:39:28,598
"We can save him."
831
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:30,200
Do you want to go up there?
832
00:39:30,202 --> 00:39:33,837
WILLIAMS:
Heather Cookson also learned
that her younger son Jerry--
833
00:39:33,839 --> 00:39:35,438
like his older brother Ricky--
834
00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:37,574
had developed A.L.D.
835
00:39:37,576 --> 00:39:39,276
Follow my finger
with your eyes.
836
00:39:39,278 --> 00:39:41,011
HEATHER:
I got hit with a ton of bricks
837
00:39:41,013 --> 00:39:42,879
after his MRI.
838
00:39:42,881 --> 00:39:44,247
♪ ♪
839
00:39:44,249 --> 00:39:46,449
WILLIAMS:
But Jerry would soon join
Brian Rojas,
840
00:39:46,451 --> 00:39:48,118
and 15 other boys,
841
00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:52,489
in a gene trial that could
save their lives
842
00:39:52,491 --> 00:39:55,992
And Jerry Cookson
was up for the challenge.
843
00:39:55,994 --> 00:39:57,127
Oh, here?
844
00:39:58,864 --> 00:40:03,700
Therapy begins by collecting
stem cells from the boys' blood,
845
00:40:03,702 --> 00:40:06,036
then taking them to a clean room
846
00:40:06,038 --> 00:40:08,605
where the genetic engineering
begins.
847
00:40:11,343 --> 00:40:12,542
The doctors need to insert
848
00:40:12,544 --> 00:40:14,944
a healthy version of the gene
849
00:40:14,946 --> 00:40:17,681
into the boys' stem cells.
850
00:40:17,683 --> 00:40:19,382
To do this,
they rely on a virus
851
00:40:19,384 --> 00:40:23,753
that's incredibly adept
at invading cells--
852
00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:25,455
H.I.V.
853
00:40:26,858 --> 00:40:28,525
The lethal virus
has been altered
854
00:40:28,527 --> 00:40:31,161
so it can't make anyone sick.
855
00:40:31,163 --> 00:40:33,330
But it's still able
to enter cells
856
00:40:33,332 --> 00:40:35,665
and do what virus's always do--
857
00:40:35,667 --> 00:40:39,569
insert its DNA
into the host cell.
858
00:40:39,571 --> 00:40:42,339
Only this time,
the DNA carries the healthy gene
859
00:40:42,341 --> 00:40:48,111
that will hopefully stop
the spread of A.L.D.
860
00:40:48,113 --> 00:40:49,446
These viruses sort of say
to the cell,
861
00:40:49,448 --> 00:40:53,316
"these are your genes,
you start producing proteins
862
00:40:53,318 --> 00:40:55,085
based on my genetic makeup."
863
00:40:56,555 --> 00:41:00,523
WILLIAMS:
Researchers have been editing
with viruses for decades,
864
00:41:00,525 --> 00:41:03,259
and they're still relying on
them for human gene therapy
865
00:41:03,261 --> 00:41:06,296
while the newer CRISPR editing
is being perfected.
866
00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:10,900
As their cells
are being engineered,
867
00:41:10,902 --> 00:41:14,738
the boys undergo
intense chemotherapy,
868
00:41:14,740 --> 00:41:16,706
to make room
in their bone marrow
869
00:41:16,708 --> 00:41:21,244
for their new stem cells
to grow.
870
00:41:21,246 --> 00:41:26,950
Then, it's time for reinfusion,
and hope for success.
871
00:41:26,952 --> 00:41:28,718
NURSE:
Nice job.
872
00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:31,254
♪ ♪
873
00:41:31,256 --> 00:41:34,357
JERRY:
I started chemotherapy,
ten days after that,
874
00:41:34,359 --> 00:41:38,094
on May 19th
I got my cells back into me.
875
00:41:38,096 --> 00:41:41,131
And it's really kind of
anticlimactic
876
00:41:41,133 --> 00:41:42,766
when you think about it.
877
00:41:42,768 --> 00:41:48,405
WILLIAMS:
But Jerry could not feel what
was going on inside his body.
878
00:41:48,407 --> 00:41:50,774
The new stem cells multiplied
879
00:41:50,776 --> 00:41:54,711
and began circulating
in his blood stream.
880
00:41:54,713 --> 00:41:59,349
As they reached his brain, some
changed into new glial cells--
881
00:41:59,351 --> 00:42:02,118
now with the healthy gene.
882
00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:07,624
But would this be enough to stop
the progress of the disease?
883
00:42:07,626 --> 00:42:09,225
(cheering)
884
00:42:09,227 --> 00:42:12,562
After three months Jerry Cookson
was released from the hospital
885
00:42:12,564 --> 00:42:15,331
and is showing
no A.L.D. symptoms.
886
00:42:15,333 --> 00:42:16,433
♪ ♪
887
00:42:16,435 --> 00:42:19,169
Of the 17 boys
who entered the trial,
888
00:42:19,171 --> 00:42:23,873
15 completed the therapy
and so far all are doing fine.
889
00:42:24,876 --> 00:42:26,376
JERRY:
So I think it's kind of cool
890
00:42:26,378 --> 00:42:29,245
that I'm like one in
like 16 or 17 people
891
00:42:29,247 --> 00:42:31,047
that did this treatment.
892
00:42:32,517 --> 00:42:35,084
And it's a new treatment
that could change
893
00:42:35,086 --> 00:42:36,853
a lot of other people's lives.
894
00:42:36,855 --> 00:42:38,721
He has been stable,
he's in school,
895
00:42:38,723 --> 00:42:41,858
he plays soccer, he is perfect.
896
00:42:41,860 --> 00:42:43,726
WILLIAMS:
And for the therapy team,
897
00:42:43,728 --> 00:42:47,564
this has been the experience
of a lifetime.
898
00:42:47,566 --> 00:42:50,266
DUNCAN:
I truly feel so incredibly lucky
899
00:42:50,268 --> 00:42:51,901
to be at this end of it.
900
00:42:51,903 --> 00:42:54,137
We're finally able to take
the fruits of years and years
901
00:42:54,139 --> 00:42:56,439
of people's work
and treat these boys.
902
00:42:56,441 --> 00:42:59,409
They are going to school
and they are living proof
903
00:42:59,411 --> 00:43:03,947
of what science can do
and it is really remarkable.
904
00:43:05,217 --> 00:43:07,150
HEATHER:
We're extremely lucky.
905
00:43:07,152 --> 00:43:08,585
There are some families
out there
906
00:43:08,587 --> 00:43:11,454
that aren't as lucky
as our family.
907
00:43:12,991 --> 00:43:15,692
BRIAN (off-screen):
He wore the black costume.
908
00:43:15,694 --> 00:43:19,863
WILLIAMS:
For the Rojas family, the end
of the trial is bittersweet.
909
00:43:19,865 --> 00:43:22,298
Since Brian received
gene therapy,
910
00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:26,402
he is healthy and seems to be
headed for a normal life,
911
00:43:26,404 --> 00:43:29,939
while his brother Brandon
is slipping away.
912
00:43:32,010 --> 00:43:34,878
But to Lilliana,
Brandon is a hero.
913
00:43:35,947 --> 00:43:38,848
LILLIANA:
Because of Brandon,
914
00:43:38,850 --> 00:43:40,116
Brian was diagnosed early.
915
00:43:40,118 --> 00:43:43,653
Brandon saved
his little brother.
916
00:43:43,655 --> 00:43:47,490
WILLIAMS:
A new gene therapy
decades in the making
917
00:43:47,492 --> 00:43:50,093
saved Brian Rojas.
918
00:43:50,095 --> 00:43:53,496
Could this be a sign
we've turned the corner
919
00:43:53,498 --> 00:43:56,232
on gene therapy cures?
920
00:43:56,234 --> 00:43:59,002
WILLIAMS:
It is literally going to be
hundreds of diseases
921
00:43:59,004 --> 00:44:01,137
that we'll now be able
to approach.
922
00:44:01,139 --> 00:44:02,605
LILLIANA:
Very good, nice job.
923
00:44:02,607 --> 00:44:06,409
WILLIAMS:
The future of genetic therapy
is actually here.
924
00:44:06,411 --> 00:44:08,444
♪ ♪
925
00:44:08,446 --> 00:44:10,980
WILLIAMS:
For anyone touched
by genetic disease,
926
00:44:10,982 --> 00:44:14,918
new breakthroughs
could not come quickly enough.
927
00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:16,519
And many hope
genetic engineering
928
00:44:16,521 --> 00:44:19,789
could go even further.
929
00:44:19,791 --> 00:44:22,559
But if we can fix mistakes
in someone's DNA,
930
00:44:22,561 --> 00:44:26,329
could we do that
even before they were born?
931
00:44:26,331 --> 00:44:28,131
(heartbeat murmuring)
932
00:44:28,133 --> 00:44:31,801
We have the ability to alter
the DNA inside human embryos,
933
00:44:31,803 --> 00:44:35,004
and in the germline cells
that make them.
934
00:44:35,006 --> 00:44:38,908
The big question is-- should we?
935
00:44:38,910 --> 00:44:43,012
And why does even talking
about this so controversial.
936
00:44:43,014 --> 00:44:44,847
(giggling)
937
00:44:44,849 --> 00:44:47,951
CAPLAN:
I think the driving fear
of the germ line engineering,
938
00:44:47,953 --> 00:44:50,753
fixing things across
generations,
939
00:44:50,755 --> 00:44:52,755
is the slippery slope.
940
00:44:52,757 --> 00:44:55,258
A lot of people would say,
"Yeah, okay.
941
00:44:55,260 --> 00:44:56,960
"You want to go out and fix
Tay-Sachs disease
942
00:44:56,962 --> 00:44:57,961
"that kills people?
943
00:44:57,963 --> 00:44:59,295
"Hooray.
944
00:44:59,297 --> 00:45:01,097
"You want to fix deafness?
945
00:45:01,099 --> 00:45:03,333
"You want to get rid
of short stature?
946
00:45:03,335 --> 00:45:05,201
"Where does that all end?
947
00:45:05,203 --> 00:45:06,936
"Aren't we going to wind up
doing things like,
948
00:45:06,938 --> 00:45:10,373
'I want my kid to be stronger,
smarter, faster'?"
949
00:45:10,375 --> 00:45:14,377
WILLIAMS:
In other words, editing embryos
not to cure a disease,
950
00:45:14,379 --> 00:45:20,083
but to enhance abilities
and make designer babies.
951
00:45:20,085 --> 00:45:21,451
♪ ♪
952
00:45:21,453 --> 00:45:23,219
There's been
experimental efforts
953
00:45:23,221 --> 00:45:26,623
at curing genetic diseases
in embryos.
954
00:45:26,625 --> 00:45:31,060
But the fear this could lead
to designer babies is so strong,
955
00:45:31,062 --> 00:45:34,697
most countries prohibit it
entirely.
956
00:45:34,699 --> 00:45:37,033
And the U.S. government
won't fund it.
957
00:45:37,035 --> 00:45:40,103
But are these fears justified?
958
00:45:40,105 --> 00:45:43,473
SHOUKHRAT MITALIPOV:
The complexity of how to make
designer babies
959
00:45:43,475 --> 00:45:45,308
is such a big deal
960
00:45:45,310 --> 00:45:47,143
we don't even know what genes
961
00:45:47,145 --> 00:45:48,978
or how many genes would make
962
00:45:48,980 --> 00:45:52,081
a child taller or smarter.
963
00:45:52,083 --> 00:45:54,684
CAPLAN:
It's one thing to say,
"I'm going to repair
964
00:45:54,686 --> 00:45:57,487
a single error that causes
a particular genetic disease."
965
00:45:57,489 --> 00:46:00,023
It's another thing to say,
"I gotta insert 500 genes
966
00:46:00,025 --> 00:46:02,125
in order to make
your memory enhanced."
967
00:46:02,127 --> 00:46:04,460
The whole thing is hard to do.
968
00:46:04,462 --> 00:46:07,363
WILLIAMS:
But our genetic knowledge
is increasing
969
00:46:07,365 --> 00:46:11,701
and it certainly seems possible
that one day we will be able
970
00:46:11,703 --> 00:46:14,404
to design our babies.
971
00:46:14,406 --> 00:46:16,305
CAPLAN:
In a competitive market society
972
00:46:16,307 --> 00:46:18,608
you see people showing up
at IVF clinics saying,
973
00:46:18,610 --> 00:46:21,210
"You know,
we're having trouble conceiving,
974
00:46:21,212 --> 00:46:22,512
"but as long as I'm here,
975
00:46:22,514 --> 00:46:26,149
"could I get a 6-foot-7
Ukrainian mathematician donor
976
00:46:26,151 --> 00:46:29,018
"because that's what we wanted;
red-headed, is that possible?"
977
00:46:29,020 --> 00:46:32,188
Down the road long term
are we going to see
978
00:46:32,190 --> 00:46:34,390
enhancement or improvement
anyway?
979
00:46:34,392 --> 00:46:35,892
Yes.
980
00:46:35,894 --> 00:46:39,562
WILLIAMS:
But if we do go down this road,
where will it end?
981
00:46:39,564 --> 00:46:41,964
MARCY DARNOVSKY:
You know, when we start
982
00:46:41,966 --> 00:46:45,068
doing really biologically
radical things,
983
00:46:45,070 --> 00:46:49,405
we could see some terrible
health consequences develop
984
00:46:49,407 --> 00:46:53,009
when the child is two years old,
20 years old,
985
00:46:53,011 --> 00:46:56,579
or when that child has children
of his or her own.
986
00:46:56,581 --> 00:46:57,780
We just don't know
987
00:46:57,782 --> 00:47:00,049
what the unintended consequences
might be.
988
00:47:00,051 --> 00:47:02,452
And that anybody
who would be contemplating
989
00:47:02,454 --> 00:47:04,654
using a technology like this
990
00:47:04,656 --> 00:47:07,590
should really ask themselves
whether it's worth the risk.
991
00:47:07,592 --> 00:47:10,493
♪ ♪
992
00:47:10,495 --> 00:47:13,930
WILLIAMS:
The power of genetic engineering
to sculpt ourselves
993
00:47:13,932 --> 00:47:17,934
and the natural world
does bring a burden of risk.
994
00:47:17,936 --> 00:47:21,938
And although Kevin Esvelt
is confident his engineered mice
995
00:47:21,940 --> 00:47:24,073
will only reduce Lyme disease,
996
00:47:24,075 --> 00:47:27,143
and not bring harm
to Nantucket's ecosystem,
997
00:47:27,145 --> 00:47:28,611
he also knows
998
00:47:28,613 --> 00:47:31,614
that absolute certainty
and genetic engineering
999
00:47:31,616 --> 00:47:34,650
do not go together.
1000
00:47:34,652 --> 00:47:36,385
ESVELT:
I worry every day
1001
00:47:36,387 --> 00:47:38,788
that I might be missing
something profound
1002
00:47:38,790 --> 00:47:40,923
about the consequences
of what we're developing.
1003
00:47:40,925 --> 00:47:44,594
WILLIAMS:
At a town hall meeting,
Kevin assures residents
1004
00:47:44,596 --> 00:47:48,431
he will be taking
a go-slow approach.
1005
00:47:48,433 --> 00:47:49,532
Frankly,
what we're talking about here
1006
00:47:49,534 --> 00:47:52,001
is altering
the shared environment.
1007
00:47:52,003 --> 00:47:53,669
♪ ♪
1008
00:47:53,671 --> 00:47:56,372
WILLIAMS:
And that he could halt the
experiment if problems appeared.
1009
00:47:56,374 --> 00:47:59,375
Most importantly,
they would determine
1010
00:47:59,377 --> 00:48:02,278
if the mice would ever
get released here.
1011
00:48:02,280 --> 00:48:05,114
To be clear, this project
will only move forwards
1012
00:48:05,116 --> 00:48:08,417
if the community supports it
at every step of the way.
1013
00:48:09,921 --> 00:48:12,955
WILLIAMS:
He tells them he would
first perform a field test
1014
00:48:12,957 --> 00:48:16,225
on an isolated island
to check that the new gene
1015
00:48:16,227 --> 00:48:20,596
is working and the altered mice
are causing no problems.
1016
00:48:20,598 --> 00:48:25,334
Only then would he propose
releasing them on Nantucket.
1017
00:48:25,336 --> 00:48:27,069
Once we have those, then...
1018
00:48:27,071 --> 00:48:28,871
WILLIAMS:
But for his new gene to spread
1019
00:48:28,873 --> 00:48:30,606
throughout the mouse population,
1020
00:48:30,608 --> 00:48:31,841
he would need to release
1021
00:48:31,843 --> 00:48:35,311
a lot of engineered mice.
1022
00:48:35,313 --> 00:48:39,248
It might mean releasing, say,
100,000 mice on Nantucket.
1023
00:48:39,250 --> 00:48:40,983
WILLIAMS:
It would take that many
1024
00:48:40,985 --> 00:48:44,120
to spread the Lyme-resistant
gene effectively.
1025
00:48:44,122 --> 00:48:45,855
What happens
to the actual population,
1026
00:48:45,857 --> 00:48:47,190
the mouse population itself?
1027
00:48:47,192 --> 00:48:49,125
I mean that's just going to keep
growing, and growing,
1028
00:48:49,127 --> 00:48:50,092
and growing.
1029
00:48:50,094 --> 00:48:51,527
TELFORD:
Actually, no...
1030
00:48:51,529 --> 00:48:53,563
WILLIAMS:
Although residents are concerned
by the numbers,
1031
00:48:53,565 --> 00:48:56,999
Sam Telford assures them
the mice population
1032
00:48:57,001 --> 00:48:58,768
will stay in check.
1033
00:48:58,770 --> 00:49:00,903
Something is out there
that's regulating them.
1034
00:49:00,905 --> 00:49:03,272
Disease is regulating them.
1035
00:49:03,274 --> 00:49:05,274
There's a mite, a mange mite
that is regulating them.
1036
00:49:05,276 --> 00:49:10,379
WILLIAMS:
But even one GMO mouse
is still alarming for some.
1037
00:49:10,381 --> 00:49:15,451
The is rapid, rapid,
man-made evolution.
1038
00:49:15,453 --> 00:49:17,787
Some people think that
genetically modified organisms
1039
00:49:17,789 --> 00:49:19,322
should never be done.
1040
00:49:19,324 --> 00:49:21,457
They think that people
like Kevin are playing God.
1041
00:49:21,459 --> 00:49:23,659
We don't know what effect
it's going to have
1042
00:49:23,661 --> 00:49:26,495
15 years, 20 years, 25 years
down the line.
1043
00:49:26,497 --> 00:49:30,766
WILLIAMS:
But Kevin's cautious,
open science approach
1044
00:49:30,768 --> 00:49:33,202
seems to be winning the day.
1045
00:49:33,204 --> 00:49:35,538
ESVELT:
If you were to run
these kinds of experiments
1046
00:49:35,540 --> 00:49:38,107
the way science
is traditionally done--
1047
00:49:38,109 --> 00:49:39,775
behind closed doors--
1048
00:49:39,777 --> 00:49:42,612
you'd be denying people
a voice in decisions
1049
00:49:42,614 --> 00:49:44,981
intended to eventually affect
them.
1050
00:49:44,983 --> 00:49:46,949
Devon, why don't you
come on down?
1051
00:49:46,951 --> 00:49:50,286
WILLIAMS:
Islanders have given Kevin the
go ahead to engineer the mice.
1052
00:49:50,288 --> 00:49:53,256
But with a Nantucket release
years away,
1053
00:49:53,258 --> 00:49:56,259
there are no hard choices
for them to make... yet.
1054
00:49:56,261 --> 00:49:57,526
So how we doing?
1055
00:49:57,528 --> 00:50:01,764
Still, residents here
are so fed up with Lyme disease,
1056
00:50:01,766 --> 00:50:04,133
if the field test does go well,
1057
00:50:04,135 --> 00:50:07,403
Kevin's grand experiment
could go all the way.
1058
00:50:08,573 --> 00:50:11,073
And if he stops Lyme here,
1059
00:50:11,075 --> 00:50:13,676
what diseases would he
target next?
1060
00:50:13,678 --> 00:50:17,346
Could Kevin and other
researchers one day engineer
1061
00:50:17,348 --> 00:50:22,285
mosquitos to halt the spread
of deadly malaria?
1062
00:50:22,287 --> 00:50:26,589
ESVELT:
If we could just go in there
and change the mosquitoes
1063
00:50:26,591 --> 00:50:27,990
so they can't transmit malaria,
1064
00:50:27,992 --> 00:50:29,558
or better yet,
1065
00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:32,395
someday so that they
just don't want to bite people,
1066
00:50:32,397 --> 00:50:35,364
that would be the most elegant
solution to a problem.
1067
00:50:35,366 --> 00:50:36,699
♪ ♪
1068
00:50:36,701 --> 00:50:39,335
WILLIAMS:
Kevin Esvelt is walking
in the footsteps
1069
00:50:39,337 --> 00:50:41,203
of those early pioneers
1070
00:50:41,205 --> 00:50:44,941
who engineered bacteria
to make insulin for diabetics.
1071
00:50:44,943 --> 00:50:47,576
Today, we have the capacity
1072
00:50:47,578 --> 00:50:51,814
to alter the genomes
of every living thing.
1073
00:50:51,816 --> 00:50:54,383
So, the potential rewards--
and the risks--
1074
00:50:54,385 --> 00:50:58,454
of genetic engineering
have never been greater.
1075
00:50:58,456 --> 00:51:00,156
PAUWELS:
A few decades ago,
1076
00:51:00,158 --> 00:51:02,591
the changes we would impose
on biology
1077
00:51:02,593 --> 00:51:05,428
were very much incremental.
1078
00:51:05,430 --> 00:51:06,929
They were little steps.
1079
00:51:06,931 --> 00:51:09,598
But now we could
drastically accelerate
1080
00:51:09,600 --> 00:51:11,067
the engineering of our genes,
1081
00:51:11,069 --> 00:51:13,803
our bodies,
and even our ecosystems.
1082
00:51:13,805 --> 00:51:15,104
(moose bellowing)
1083
00:51:15,106 --> 00:51:17,606
WILLIAMS:
Despite all we can do,
1084
00:51:17,608 --> 00:51:20,309
there's still one thing
we can't do.
1085
00:51:20,311 --> 00:51:22,745
JONES-PRATHER:
We can't create life.
1086
00:51:22,747 --> 00:51:25,014
We can't create a cell
from scratch.
1087
00:51:25,016 --> 00:51:27,016
We can take an existing cell
1088
00:51:27,018 --> 00:51:30,353
and we can make so many changes
to it that it looks nothing
1089
00:51:30,355 --> 00:51:32,355
like what it started out as.
1090
00:51:32,357 --> 00:51:33,823
But we have to start
from something
1091
00:51:33,825 --> 00:51:35,091
that's already living
1092
00:51:35,093 --> 00:51:37,326
in order to end up with
something that's living.
1093
00:51:37,328 --> 00:51:38,861
♪ ♪
1094
00:51:38,863 --> 00:51:41,297
WILLIAMS:
So right now,
we can't make life,
1095
00:51:41,299 --> 00:51:44,567
but we can radically change it
in ways that will impact
1096
00:51:44,569 --> 00:51:45,801
our own evolution
1097
00:51:45,803 --> 00:51:48,437
and the future of the planet.
1098
00:51:48,439 --> 00:51:49,472
The question is:
1099
00:51:49,474 --> 00:51:52,742
will we use this power wisely?
1100
00:51:52,744 --> 00:51:55,678
♪ ♪
1101
00:51:58,950 --> 00:52:02,752
♪ ♪
1102
00:52:12,731 --> 00:52:15,398
"NOVA Wonders"
is available on DVD.
1103
00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:18,902
To order,
visit shop.PBS.org,
1104
00:52:18,904 --> 00:52:21,137
or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
1105
00:52:21,139 --> 00:52:24,441
"NOVA Wonders" is also available
for download on iTunes.
1106
00:52:29,681 --> 00:52:33,616
♪ ♪
85895
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