<p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/sidmukherjee2/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2&utm_content=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2-podfeed"> View the Show Notes Page for This Episode</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2&utm_content=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2-podfeed"> Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2&utm_content=230227-pod-sidmukherjee2-podfeed"> Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter</a></p> <p>Siddhartha Mukherjee is an oncologist, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and previous guest on The Drive. In this episode, Sid discusses many of the subjects of his latest book, The Song of the Cell, including the incredible discovery of the cell and how it transformed medicine. He explains the evolutionary drive to go from single-cell to multicellular life and unpacks the four different types of cell-based therapies and the problems they are attempting to solve. He also provides the latest in gene therapy, such as CRISPR, and the ethical questions around human gene editing. Additionally, he touches on a number of fascinating topics, such as the challenges of medical science, the human brain, learning styles, his writing process, mental health, and more.</p> <p><strong>We discuss:</strong></p> <ul type="disc"> <li>How the cell brings the genome to life, and how Sid's recent book fits into his prior work to tell a story [2:30];</li> <li>How the germ theory of disease and an understanding of the cell fueled a big leap in medicine [9:45];</li> <li>What is the evolutionary drive for multicellular life? [17:15];</li> <li>Four types of cell therapies and the challenges of gene therapy [26:00];</li> <li>CAR T-cell therapy: promising gene therapy for cancer [36:30];</li> <li>The possibility of using gene therapy to treat germline mutations like sickle cell disease [41:45];</li> <li>The incredible revolution of gene editing with CRISPR [45:15];</li> <li>Ethical questions around human gene editing [52:30];</li> <li>The complex role of genetics in mental illness [1:01:30];</li> <li>Two types of problems in science: the "eye in the sandstorm" problem and the "sand in the eye" problem [1:06:15];</li> <li>Understanding neural networks: an example of the "sand in the eye" problem being solved [1:08:45];</li> <li>Importance of learning by doing: comparing the learning styles of a doctoral student to a medical student [1:16:30];</li> <li>Sid's unique and brilliant style of writing [1:20:45];</li> <li>Falling as the leading cause of accidental death: a liability of multicellular existence [1:25:00];</li> <li>Sid's struggle with depression and his desire to change the stigma around mental illness [1:29:15]; and</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> <p>Connect With Peter on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterattiamd/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kGsMa0LygSX9nkBcBH1Sg">YouTube</a></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Practice Rigorous Hand Hygiene
Insist on rigorous handwashing, especially in medical settings, to prevent the transfer of “material substance” (germs) that cause infection and dramatically reduce mortality rates, as demonstrated by Semmelweis’s historical discovery.
2. Prioritize Patient Self-Diagnosis
When diagnosing a patient, always ask them, “What do you think the problem is?” because patients often provide crucial insights into their condition that doctors frequently overlook, aiding in more accurate diagnoses.
3. Embrace Experiential Learning
Recognize that practical skills in medicine and science, such as troubleshooting failures and managing complex projects, cannot be learned from textbooks alone. Actively engage in “learning by doing, learning by being, learning by experiencing” and seek guidance from peers who have practical experience.
4. View Mental Illness Organically
Challenge the notion of “special victimhood” associated with mental disorders by understanding the brain as a cellular cluster with physiology, similar to other organs like the pancreas or heart. This perspective helps remove blame and opens avenues for treating dysfunction in mood-regulating circuits.
5. Ethically Weigh Disease vs. Desire
When considering interventions like gene editing, differentiate between addressing “disease” (fundamentally linked to suffering) and fulfilling “desire” (ameliorating suffering where none exists). Prioritize interventions that alleviate actual suffering over those driven purely by scientific aspiration or enhancement.
6. Adopt a Holistic Writing Process
Use writing as a method for thinking and understanding, drawing from diverse sources like history, mythology, philosophy, and personal experiences. Combine memoir, journalistic, and travel writing to create a comprehensive and personal narrative that invites readers into your perspective.
7. Deepen Health Knowledge via Membership
To take your knowledge of health and wellness to the next level, consider joining a membership program that offers more in-depth, exclusive content, as suggested by the podcast host.
8. Read Mukherjee’s Science Books
For a profound understanding of life, cells, and medicine, read Siddhartha Mukherjee’s books, particularly “The Song of the Cell,” which offers a captivating journey through the history and future of cellular biology.
9. Strategic Reading of Science Trilogy
When reading Siddhartha Mukherjee’s “Life Series” (The Gene, The Song of the Cell, The Emperor of All Maladies), consider reading them chronologically as they appeared for a story that progressively delves deeper into medical mysteries, or start with “The Gene,” then “The Cell,” and finally “The Emperor of All Maladies” to understand the progression from information to life to dysfunction.
10. Understand Biophysical Size Limits
To understand the natural biophysical limitations on creature size, seek out Stephen Gould’s essay that discusses the volume-to-surface area ratio and its impact on an organism’s ability to sustain aerobic living.
11. Support Podcasts with Reviews
Leave a review on your podcast player (e.g., Apple Podcasts) to support the podcast and help spread the word about valuable content to a wider audience.