Babbage: Variations on a gene

<p>As <a href="https://www.economist.com/coronavirus-pandemic?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">global vaccination efforts</a> continue, how is the coronavirus <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/02/27/is-sars-cov-2-evolving-to-become-more-lethal?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mutating to stay ahead</a>? The head of Britain's covid-19 genomics consortium explains why<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/02/27/the-same-covid-19-mutations-are-appearing-in-different-places?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">genetic sequencing</a> is crucial. Also, how studying individual <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/02/13/studying-cancer-genomes-gene-by-gene-could-improve-treatment?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cancer genes</a> may improve precision treatments. And an AI for an eye—host Kenneth Cukier investigates <a href="https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2020/06/11/the-potential-and-the-pitfalls-of-medical-ai?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the potential of AI</a> in medicine first hand.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe to <em>The Economist</em> for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/podcastoffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p