
Ep. 105: Andrew Hessel: Programming DNA and Engineering the Future of Life
From Stranded Technologies Podcast by Infinita City
February 20, 2026 · 1h 6m · Season 1 · Episode 105
About this episode
Andrew Hessel discusses the engineering of DNA and the future of biotechnology.
In this episode, he and Niklas explore how genome sequencing, DNA synthesis, and CRISPR are turning life into an engineering platform. From coding proteins and viruses to writing entire genomes, Andrew explains how biotech is moving from reading DNA to actively programming it. They discuss N-of-1 personalized therapies, biosecurity in an age of cheap DNA synthesis, and why open science could accelerate biotech innovation. The conversation also touches on cloning, embryo editing, and the long-term future of human enhancement. Topics include: · DNA as digital code · Genome writing and synthetic cells · CRISPR and programmable biology · Personalized genetic medicine · Biosecurity and engineered viruses · Open biotech vs. proprietary models · Cloning and human genome design A conversation for builders, founders, and technologists thinking about biology as the next software layer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com
People in this episode
Host: Niklas
Guest: Andrew Hessel
Topics covered
- genome sequencing
- DNA synthesis
- CRISPR
- personalized therapies
- biosecurity
- open science
- human enhancement
Keywords
- DNA
- genome writing
- synthetic biology
- personalized medicine
- biosecurity
- cloning
- human genome design
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Infinita City, CRISPR
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