Mar 7, 2019
Today, we’re chatting with
artist and scientist J.J. Hastings. Her research explores
self-experimentation, genome editing, machine learning and the
future intersections between tech and the human body. She has
long-standing roots as a biohacker—having co-founded two community
labs, London Biohackspace and Melbourne’s BioQuisitive—and now has
the first garage lab start-up in Australia to be approved by the
OGTR to work with genetically modified organisms.
Her work has been exhibited at
venues across Europe, India, Asia, North America, and Australia.
J.J.’s career in scientific research spans over 15 years. She is an
alumna of New York University, Harvard University, the University
of Oxford, and Central Saint Martins with advanced degrees in
Biology, Bioinformatics, and Fine Art. Her research fuses and folds
together the fields of machine learning, bioengineering, space
exploration, new media art, and ethics.
In our episode, we’ll probe J.J.
’s mind about the ethics of editing the genes of children, using
gene drive to eliminate disease, the possible risks of biohackers.
She’ll also cover how close she believes we are to artificial
general intelligence (AGI), the impact of quantum computing on
biotechnology, and the possibilities of our sci-fi-esque future,
and her own lab—Bioquisitive.
- 2:00
How did JJ come to be who she is? How did she get involved in so
many interesting projects? Is she an expert in all of these topics?
And how did she end up in biohacking?
- 5:00
Has JJ chased being a provocateur? Or is it the product of pure
curiosity?
- 7:00
JJ discusses the book Dark Emu (is this right?) and seed
modification. How might this relate to our future settlement of
Mars?
- 11:00
How are machine learning, CRISPR technology, and biohacking all
interrelated?
- 14:30
JJ discusses theoretical biology, quantum computing, and whether or
not biohackers pose a risk.
- 17:00
Is it out of control to utilize biohacking to cull species or
eradicate disease? Will gene drive be widely used? How might this
impact human and ecological health?
- 21:00
What is the history behind CRISPR? How is it still unfolding? JJ
discusses the act of editing the genome of children and states her
position on the scientist who experimented with exactly this. Is
genetic engineering justified?
- 25:00
What are the ethics behind genetic modification? How far is the law
behind the technology? How should we concern ourselves with our
genetic privacy?
- 32:00
How does JJ feel about sci-fi? Which sci-fi movie most likely
depicts our future? Gattaca, Altered Carbon, Star Trek, The
Island?
- 38:00
How close are we to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? How does
the accessibility to CRISPR and AI tech change our research? How
much do we really understand and how much of our thoughts around
these processes are hubris?
Dark Emu - Book
JJ Hasting’s Homepage
The Island - Movie
Change Agent by Daniel Suarez -
Book