Sara-Jane Dunn: The next software revolution: programming biological cells

The next software revolution: programming biological cells

The cells in your body are like computer software: they're "programmed" to carry out specific functions at specific times. If we can better understand this process, we could unlock the ability to reprogram cells ourselves, says computational biologist Sara-Jane Dunn. In a talk from the cutting-edge of science, she explains how her team is studying embryonic stem cells to gain a new understanding of the biological programs that power life -- and develop "living software" that could transform medicine, agriculture and energy.

The next great leap in technology is the ability to program living cells, promising to transform fields from medicine to agriculture. By uncovering the algorithms that guide stem cells to become any cell type, scientists have begun predicting and directing cellular behavior. Recent breakthroughs even let researchers turn adult cells back to a naïve state, opening the door to personalized therapies. These advances bring both extraordinary promise and pressing ethical questions as we approach an era where biology itself becomes programmable.