Advertisement

Futureproof Extra: The Genetic Age

When Leo Szilard conceived of the idea of a nuclear chain reaction in 1933 he immediately tried to suppress his own discovery culminating in 1945 with the Szilard petition which advocated a demonstration of the atomic bomb rather than its use in...

Share this article

06.30 6 Sep 2022


Futureproof Extra: The Genetic Age



Share this article

06.30 6 Sep 2022


When Leo Szilard conceived of the idea of a nuclear chain reaction in 1933 he immediately tried to suppress his own discovery culminating in 1945 with the Szilard petition which advocated a demonstration of the atomic bomb rather than its use in warfare.

Szilard knew only too well the awesome destructive power of what he had discovered and knowing what we do about what happened next, what then should we make of the field of genetic engineering, a field of research that has instigated a self-imposed moratorium on four separate occasions in the last 50 years?

Professor Matthew Cobb from the University of Manchester is author of 'The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest To Edit Life' - he joins Jonathan to discuss.


Read more about

Futureproof With Jonathan McCrea

Related Episodes

Social Democrats proposing a s...

00:05:42

Social Democrats proposing a savings scheme to fund affordable housing

Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

00:05:42


Breakfast Briefing Newspaper R...

00:08:06

Breakfast Briefing Newspaper Review 11th July 2025

Breakfast Briefing

00:08:06


First Up 11th July 2025

00:05:04

First Up 11th July 2025

First Up – A GoLoud Original By Newstalk

00:05:04


Donald Trump slaps new 50% tar...

00:06:46

Donald Trump slaps new 50% tariffs on copper and Brazilian goods

Breakfast Business With Joe Lynam

00:06:46