TEDで学ぶ医療系英語　＃１

"CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think"

対象：英検準１級以上　CEFR：B2-C1、医療系の学部を志望する受験生

プレゼン内容要約

プレゼンテーションのスクリプトを要約したものです。初見で読んで難しければ、下にあるQuizletの語彙学習用のリンクから単語を確認し、再読してみてください。

The speaker emphasizes the critical role of collaboration in tackling major challenges like disease and climate change. They introduce a novel form of collaboration between humans and microbes, particularly bacteria, which has led to transformative innovations such as CRISPR. CRISPR, derived from bacterial defenses against viruses, allows precise DNA editing in living organisms, enabling the modification of specific genes. This technology has already shown promise in curing diseases like sickle cell anemia and developing resilient crops.

The speaker highlights a more revolutionary application of CRISPR: editing entire microbial populations, known as microbiomes, which significantly impact human health and the environment. Traditionally, controlling microbiomes was challenging due to their complexity and the limitations of antibiotics, diet, probiotics, and fecal transplants. CRISPR offers a targeted approach to modify specific bacteria without affecting others.

The presentation also mentions metagenomics, a breakthrough technology developed by Jill Banfield, which allows the study of the vast majority of microbial species not cultured in labs. Metagenomics provides detailed blueprints of microbiomes, aiding the precise application of CRISPR.

Combining CRISPR and metagenomics has created a new scientific field: precision microbiome editing. This field aims to link dysfunctional microbiomes to diseases or greenhouse gas emissions and develop safe and effective microbiome editors. The speaker envisions transformative solutions for health and climate issues through this technology.

Regarding climate change, microbiome compositions in livestock can significantly reduce methane emissions, a major contributor to global warming. Precision microbiome editing can modify a calf's microbiome from birth, reducing its methane output for life and enhancing feed efficiency. This approach could also apply to other methane sources like landfills and rice paddies, potentially impacting two-thirds of global methane emissions.

For human health, the speaker discusses the potential to treat or prevent diseases linked to gut microbiomes, such as asthma, obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. Precision microbiome editing could offer noninvasive therapies for at-risk individuals, dramatically altering their health outcomes.

The presentation concludes by celebrating the collaboration with nature, using CRISPR to edit the same organisms that provided the technology, and expresses optimism about building a more resilient future through CRISPR-powered precision microbiome editing.

語彙学習

Quizletの「医療系英語学習用クラス」の参加リンクです。プレゼンテーションタイトルがついた学習リストが対応しています。英ー英のものと、英ー和のものがあります。
https://quizlet.com/join/HPZg7ZP2y

TED動画

Jennifer Doudna: CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think