Resurrecting mammoths and the effect of water and oxygen in
creating genetic mutations were among the topics raised by an
audience of more than a hundred students from schools in Camden,
Barnet and Kent when they questioned the Nobel Laureate Tim
Hunt and his colleague Julie Cooper about science.
The discussion, chaired by the Guardian’s science correspondent Alok
Jha, began with a question on how long it would take to develop nanorobots to attack cancer
cells. Tim Hunt was sceptical. He argued that cancer cells were
already attacked by chemotherapy treatments saying it would take a
long time to develop a nanorobot capable of recognising a cancerous
cell. He explained that cancers were caused when a person’s own
cells begin to divide uncontrollably, making them very difficult to
target. In response, another student asked if viruses could be used
to attack cancers. Julie Cooper responded: “Possibly… why don’t you
come and work for us and find out?”
The question of whether or not it would be possible to use the
DNA of a woolly mammoth to grow a new animal prompted some
disagreement and a long discussion. Julie Cooper said it was
not possible while Tim Hunt thought it might be possible if a piece
of DNA of high enough quality was used and placed inside an
elephant’s egg which had the nucleus removed. He concluded: “it
would be very, very difficult but not impossible”.
“Which cancer is the most dangerous?” asked one student. “I’d
recommend trying to avoid getting cancer in the first place,” said
Tim Hunt. “Don’t smoke!” Tim Hunt went on to explain that mutations
happen often in cells and are caused by environmental factors. He
added that mutation was necessary for life on earth: “mutation got
life out of the primordial swamp… without mutations” he explained,
“there would be no humans and no music”. He told the audience two
of the biggest causes of mutations were essential to the fabric of
life: water and oxygen.
The discussion turned to stories in the newspapers read by some
of the students about the daily reports of everyday items that
are said to cause cancer or cure it. Alok Jha urged students to be
cautious: “Always check the source of these stories” he said, “very
often they are not what they seem.” He explained that the journal
publishing the research should always be mentioned.
Turning to the best ways to advance science, one questioner
asked: “Is competition better than collaboration?” “Both have a
place,” said Julie Cooper but collaboration is more important.” Tim
Hunt agreed but added: “Fields where there is no competition can
get lazy,” he said. “You want to be first.”
The discussion was organised by Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute at
the Wellcome Trust in London.