I'm Alan Alder and this is Clear In Vivid, conversations about connecting and communicating.

Just to be very clear, there are many dangers of CRISPR.

But in the history of human beings, in the history of humankind, we have not come across

a molecular tool, a molecular machine, with this level of ease that can allow us to alter

genomes.

It is a powerful tool, it can be misused, but let's not underestimate the enormous good

use that CRISPR can be put to.

That's Dr. Siddharth of Mukherjee talking about the extraordinary power scientists like

him have now to edit our genes using the tool known as CRISPR.

Dr. Mukherjee uses CRISPR in his own laboratory at Columbia University here in New York to

pioneer innovative ways to treat cancer.

And he's a masterful storyteller.

He's the author of the best-selling Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Emperor of All Malatons, A Biography

of Cancer, and his latest book is The Gene and Intimate History.

I think what makes him so readable, apart from his obvious command of the science behind

his books, is his ability to make it all personal and intimate.

We talked about that when he sat down with me in our studio in New York.

This is so great that you could talk with me today because what's wonderful, I think,

is what a good writer you are about your work and about the whole field.

Your latest book, The Gene and Intimate History is an intimate history.

Your stories about your uncles and your cousin who suffered from schizophrenia.

Did you do that deliberately to make the material available to us?

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