The R0 of COVID-19: Dealing with the misconceptions
This post will try to rip apart some misconceptions around the basic reproduction number of an infection defined as R0 and, more precisely, the R0 of COVID-19, the new Coronavirus…
How we deliver scientific thinking | The Ivory Embassy in 2019 and 2020
We know it’s too late to say it, but what the heck! Happy new year, fam! Lovers, haters, and in between, all of you. “Why the sudden good mood?” you…
Image by PDPics from Pixabay
Are CRISPR designed babies the future? Update 1 year after birth
The German news site n-tv.de interviewed me about a week ago about the possibilities and risks of the CRISPR gene-editing technology. The reason for this piece was the first anniversary…
Creating better scientific stories. Should we fight fake fire with fire?
Using anecdotes in a scientific context may be a double-edged sword. Still, we need captivating strategies to replace pseudoscientific stories with better ones without losing accuracy and trust. The time…
Can we treat diseases with Cas12a (CRISPR)? Modifying multiple genes.
A Swiss team figured out how to modify multiple genes in one cell using the gene-editing CRISPR system Cas12a. What do the findings mean for disease treatment strategies? Can we…
The S.H.I.T. Show attracted the bunch.
S.H.I.T. Show to the people! (an update)
OK, so we arranged our first ever Science&Health Informal Talk (S.H.I.T.) Show in Amsterdam. We uploaded pictures from it on our social media, but where’s that written update we promised…
The S.H.I.T. Show attracted the bunch.
The S.H.I.T. Show and how it all started, Interview with the organizers
If you haven’t heard, the Ivory Embassy is organizing the upcoming Science & Health Informal Talk Show (or the S.H.I.T. Show). The event, DNA Manipulation: Treating Diseases and Designing Babies…
What is epigenetics? The making of a spectacular concert
What is epigenetics? They say it's important for the development of an organism. It’s also critical in cancer and a potential target in the battle against it. Word has it…
First CRISPR babies born in China | Is that a good thing?
It finally happened. The CRISPR babies born in China were the first gene-edited babies ever! Or that’s the claim at least.He Jiankui, a scientist from the Southern University of Science…
The top 6 limitations of CRISPR for successful treatments
China started CRISPR clinical trials already in 2015. The US came shortly after. Why so few diseases targeted? What are the limitations of CRISPR technology for clinical applications? Damn, this…