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Princeton University / GenePeeks
Professor of molecular biology and public policy at Princeton University and co-founder of GenePeeks, a genetic information company that analyzes DNA to help protect babies from rare genetic conditions
PROFILE
Lee Silver
Guest
FROM Lee Silver
To the Point
Editing Your DNA: The Promises and the Risks Ever since scientists discovered they could tamper with genetic material, people have questioned whether the technology is too powerful and too dangerous to unleash on the world. Now, just in the last three years, new methods of DNA engineering are so precise, so fast, and so inexpensive, that it’s bringing this technology within reach of more scientists and entrepreneurs than ever before. Given the fraught debate over genetically modified foods, how will society deal with the sci-fi -- like prospects of species-specific bio-weapons, invasive mutant crops, or enhancing genes for qualities like beauty and intelligence?
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To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?