Splash Biography

How are gene therapies for sickle cell anemia designed? How do current researchers create the cell lines they need? Currently, it's by using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to edit the genome! In this class, we'll learn about the history behind how such an important part of biotechnology was discovered. We will also talk about other important concepts in understanding the mammalian and human genome, 98.5% of which does not encode for protein. Lastly, we will discuss the ethics of gene editing and controversies surrounding its existence.

Oftentimes, we look back on our earliest years in a distorted manner -- from idealization to amnesia, there are a lot of gaps in our knowledge about children and how they contribute to culture more broadly. In this class, we'll analyze literature created by children and how their words subverted (or continue to subvert!) society's expectations for them. The last quarter of class will have student discussion of the (short) excerpts shown during lecture.