Should We Genetically Edit Human Life? - Matthew Cobb - #533

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello, friends, welcome back to the show. My guest today is Matthew Cobb. He's a zoologist, professor of zoology at the University of Manchester, and an author. Genetic engineering has given humans the ability to modify crops to be resistant to disease and synthesize insulin without needing to kill and extract it from animals. But what are the dangers, especially in a world where CRISPR and human engineering is just around the corner? Expect to learn whether we can select and edit embryos to increase IQ or athletic abilities, the biggest close calls we faced with bioweapons leaks from labs, why there has been four complete stops on genetic engineering worldwide when the research community has got scared at what they've discovered, the dark truth behind those two Chinese gene-edited girls and much more. In other news, this episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. We all need help at some point in our lives, whether it's because of stress at home or work or loneliness. It can be invaluable to know that there's someone professionally trained who can help us get through whatever we're facing. Over two million people have taken charge of their mental health with BetterHelp's online service. It removes all of the hassle and awkwardness that can be involved in finding a therapist and gives you some essential simplified steps instead. There are a broad range of experts available categorized by their speciality or combination of specialities like addiction, social anxiety or relationships. You can go and read the testimonials on BetterHelp's website, which are reviews of each individual therapist so that you can work out which one is right for you. If you are lonely or struggling out there, there are people you can talk to who can help. Head to betterhelp.com/modernwisdom to get 10% off your first month and take a free quiz that can explain all of the different options that they have and what might be right for you. That's betterhelp.com/modernwisdom.
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Matthew Cobb, welcome to the show.

**Matthew Cobb** (4:32)
Thank you very much, good to be here.

**Chris Williamson** (4:34)
How do you describe what you do for work when someone comes up to you and says, what do you do on a daily basis, Matthew? What's your answer?