The Dark Side of the Double Helix: Andrew Hessel at TEDx Marin 2012

A fascinating inside look at the coming world of Synthetic Biology. Andrew Hessel is a futurist and catalyst in biological technologies, helping industry, academics, and authorities better understand the changes underway in life science.   Trained in microbiology and genetics, Andrew has continually worked at the forefront of life science in industry and academia.   He is faculty at Singularity University, where he co-chaired the Biotechnology and Bioinformatics track and now helps startup biotechnology companies organize and launch.   He is also a fellow at the University of Ottawa, Institute for Science, Society, and Policy, and the founder of the world's first cooperative biotechnology company, the Pink Army Cooperative, which is working to create open source therapies for cancer.   Andrew has given dozens of invited talks related to synthetic biology, for groups that include Intel Inc., the FBI, and the United Nations. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)