That's a pretty carefully worded statement—neither a condemnation nor an endorsement of the TV show that NBC is said to be considering. Here's a description of the plot of that show via The Hollywood Reporter:"CRISPR is powerful and profound technology that can help us positively impact human life," said Dr. Jennifer Doudna, professor of molecular and cell biology and chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9. "It is important to introduce it to the public and characterize it correctly but we must remember that this show is dramatized science fiction."
I'm no expert on genetics, but based on my understanding of what CRISPR is capable of, it sounds like those plot lines are far-fetched at best. More likely, they're completely implausible.That said, a sci-fi show that's based (loosely) on a real life genetic tool, and not about vampires or zombies, could be fascinating if done well. It might even make people more interested in actual science.It sounds like Doudna is waiting along with the rest of us to see what the end product is like.Get six of our favorite Motherboard stories every day by signing up for our newsletter.If the project moves forward, each episode will explore a bio-attack and crime — from a genetic assassination attempt on the president to the framing of an unborn child for murder. The show's central character is a scientist with the CDC who is paired with an FBI agent. In the same vein of Castle, romance will blossom between the scientist and the FBI agent as they team to bring down a diabolical genius with a twisted God complex: her former boss. The drama will see mentor and protégé battle for control over the human genome in a game of cat and mouse in which the future of our species may rest and all disease could one day be eradicated.