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Summary of Transcript:
In this YouTube video, host Peter Attia interviews Sidhartha Mukherjee about his book, The Song of the Cell, which is the third book in his Life Series trilogy. Mukherjee explains that the trilogy is about understanding and manipulating life, particularly humans, and that the books progress from the gene, to the cell, to the dysfunctional labyrinth cell. He also explains that the books can be read either chronologically or in the order in which they were written, and that the characters in The Song of the Cell are particularly remarkable due to the time and era in which they had to do their science, with fewer tools at their disposal. He also discusses the ingenuity necessary to build the tools to permit the visualization of the microscopic and invisible pieces of physiology.
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Summary of Description:
In this episode of The Peter Attia Drive, Dr. Peter Attia and Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee discuss how the cell brings the genome to life, the evolutionary drive for multicellular life, and the incredible revolution of gene editing with CRISPR. They also discuss four types of cell therapies, the ethical questions around human gene editing, the complex role of genetics in mental illness, and the importance of learning by doing. They also discuss falling as the leading cause of accidental death and Sid’s struggle with depression.
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The Peter Attia Drive: Exploring the Cell, Genetics, and Mental Health
In this episode of The Peter Attia Drive, Peter Attia and his guest, Sid Mukherjee, discuss the incredible revolution of gene therapy, cell therapies, gene editing with CRISPR, and the complex role of genetics in mental illness. They also explore the evolutionary drive for multicellular life, the challenges of gene therapy, and the importance of learning by doing.
The Cell Brings the Genome to Life
Mukherjee’s recent book is an exploration of how the cell brings the genome to life. He explains how the germ theory of disease and an understanding of the cell was a major leap in medicine. He also discusses the four types of cell therapies and the challenges of gene therapy.
Gene Editing with CRISPR
Mukherjee and Attia also explore the incredible revolution of gene editing with CRISPR, and the ethical questions around human gene editing. They discuss the possibility of using gene therapy to treat germline mutations like sickle cell disease, and the potential of CAR T-cell therapy for cancer.
The Complex Role of Genetics in Mental Illness
Mukherjee and Attia also discuss the complex role of genetics in mental illness. They explain the two types of problems in science: the “eye in the sandstorm” problem and the “sand in the eye” problem. They also discuss the importance of learning by doing, and compare the learning styles of a doctoral student to a medical student.
The Importance of Mental Health
Finally, Mukherjee and Attia discuss the importance of mental health. Mukherjee shares his struggle with depression, and his desire to change the stigma around mental illness. They also discuss falling as the leading cause of accidental death, and the liability of multicellular existence.
This episode of The Peter Attia Drive provides an insightful exploration of the cell, genetics, and mental health. It is an important reminder of the importance of mental health, and of the incredible revolution of gene therapy and gene editing with CRISPR.
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Source Description
Watch the full episode and view show notes here: http://bit.ly/3krhSr0
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We discuss:
0:00:00 – Intro
0:00:08 – How the cell brings the genome to life, and how Sid’s recent book fits into his prior work to tell a story
0:09:13 – How the germ theory of disease and an understanding of the cell fueled a big leap in medicine
0:18:46 – What is the evolutionary drive for multicellular life?
0:29:21 – Four types of cell therapies and the challenges of gene therapy
0:42:09 – CAR T-cell therapy: promising gene therapy for cancer
0:48:25 – The possibility of using gene therapy to treat germline mutations like sickle cell disease
0:52:54 – The incredible revolution of gene editing with CRISPR
1:02:13 – Ethical questions around human gene editing
1:14:24 – The complex role of genetics in mental illness
1:20:33 – Two types of problems in science: the “eye in the sandstorm” problem and the “sand in the eye” problem
1:23:38 – Understanding neural networks: an example of the “sand in the eye” problem being solved
1:33:16 – Importance of learning by doing: comparing the learning styles of a doctoral student to a medical student
1:38:45 – Sid’s unique and brilliant style of writing
1:44:34 – Falling as the leading cause of accidental death: a liability of multicellular existence
1:49:05 – Sid’s struggle with depression and his desire to change the stigma around mental illness
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About:
The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 45 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.
Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life).
Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com
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Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. I take conflicts of interest very seriously. For all of my disclosures and the companies I invest in or advise, please visit my website where I keep an up-to-date and active list of such companies.
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