CRISPR - From Destroying The Intruders to Changing for The Better - 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Abstract

Living organisms usually develop a strategy to differentiate self and non-self for protection and survival. The process often involves a machinery that controls both diversity and specificity, so that target invaders can be cleared. This mechanism, if it is simple enough, offers a unique opportunity for researchers to go beyond understanding how nature works. Many switch gear to use the derivatives of this tool to manipulate nature for the better or worse. In this lecture, the speaker will highlight some key steps of discovery and deployment of this tool, while the potential benefit and risk will be discussed.

About the speaker

Prof. Chow King-Lau received his PhD in Cell Biology from the Baylor College of Medicine in 1990. He was a Belfer Fellow at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine before joining the HKUST faculty in 1994. He is currently a Professor of Life Science, of Chemical & Biological Engineering and of Public Policy.

Prof. Chow’s research spans across a broad spectrum of biological sciences and interfaces with chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering and clinical sciences through a number of intra- and inter-institutional collaborations. His research focuses on molecular genetics of body patterning, neural development, synthetic and evolutionary biology, and he runs a laboratory with diverse model organisms.

Prof. Chow experimented extensive on various teaching pedagogy including exploratory project course, MOOC and extensive flipped classes, and was awarded the Science School Teaching Award and the Michael G. Gale Medal of distinguished teaching at HKUST. He led numerous Teaching Development Projects. He also serves on many curriculum and program committees in HKUST as well as advisory and review panels of other organizations to foster transformation of science and liberal arts education.