Barry Schuler: An introduction to genomics

http://www.ted.com What is genomics? How will it affect our lives? In this intriguing primer on the genomics revolution, entrepreneur Barry Schuler says we can at least expect healthier, tastier food. He suggests we start with the pinot noir grape, to build better wines.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[pdema030]

The phrase "fully evolved" does not make any sense. Evolution is a directionless process; it is not heading for any goal. If something works, it spreads. If not, it dies out. That's it.

Humans would do much better to take over, as we care about human welfare and evolution doesn't. With extreme caution, of course.

[SaidZarathustra]

Studying genetics is obviously going to lead to great discoveries. I'm excited to see how this will improve medicine and especially geriatrics.

Petertheis you clearly don't understand the definition of the word "genomics", it simply means the study of genomes. Did you even watch the video?

[3877michael]

This is kind of early hype on genomes and genes . Lately it seem more like only 1/4 of the story. They are not the beginning and end of life and its issues. Genes are closer to hardware than software.

[prescod]

@dunnonuffink Gutenberg's patent would have expired as Venter's will.

[simonk512]

what a fuck head

[JohnBigmon]

Genomics is really powerful, but the statement about "and here's the place that causes cancer"- like you just get a genome and find the one 'place' that causes cancer- ridiculous. Interactions between MANY different genes are behind any kind of complex biological process- and these interactions are NOT just spelled out when you get the genome. It's very, very serious work to tease out how all the genes are tied together to give the whole organism.

[JohnBigmon]

I have no idea why TED decided to bring an 'entrepreuneur' out to talk on Genomics instead of a science (I don't really know how much background he has in science, but that's what it says in the description). A lot of this stuff was WAY overhyped.

[infinitehumanstupid]

Very basic.

[MumblingMickey]

@pdema030 Remembering of course that humans are a product of evolution...that is... I'm not really that sure we are advanced enough to understand all the variables... we have a greater chance of fucking up.... we know for a fact nature has been at it longer... and has yet to fuck up!

I'd have serious doubts about human 'motives' in such direction... direction yes... but certainly not human guidance. We are way to 'short term' in our methodology.

[AndreLeCoz]

I love ted!

[neoaeonian]

@dunnonuffink Re: optimism

Almost everyone has this notion that there is profit to be had by making things very expensive. But that's wrong. The profit is in making them very cheap. Military contractors all hope to learn enough on their big-ticket items to produce consumer products. Nordrsroms or Walmart, Oracle or Google, Rolls Royce or Honda, cheaper proftis better?

Finally, patents run out. Remember what I said about time frames. In 20 years anyone can make this, no charge.

[dunnonuffink]

@neoaeonian

Wish I shared your optimism. Venter's backers / partners on producing fuel from algae, for example, are exxon-mobil. He did mention in one discussion that he hopes the oil-price won't drop. In other words, prices to hold up so that his fuel can command similar prices to what we now pay for oil.

Then there's the nature of his patents - very wide-ranging patents on *processes*, apparently. (If Gutenberg had patented, not his printing-press but the use of moveable-type, what then?)