Matt : And I would probably be on the board, making decisions about how safe it should be. Because as I think about all the things that could go wrong at the park, that I actually don't end up putting in the comic because it's actually so dark, it's too dark for my comic... So, you know, if it was a real place, I would have to be on the board making decisions to keep this park really safe and ethical and responsible. Matt : It's kind of like a workplace comedy but it's also about the guests who suffer through their vacation there. It explores things like mental health. It explores things like love and acceptance. It explores topics like gene editing and being responsible scientifically but it's also just kind of a crazy ride. Some mRNAs last for as much as one thousand times longer than others. One of the main regulators of how long mRNAs remain intact is a different type of RNA, called a microRNA (miRNA). Small but powerful

Sally: I've enjoyed reading it. I have found it hilarious. Would you visit Genome Island if it existed? You gotta be expecting that question. Matt : It's got Disney-esque things about it, like the charming art style, bright colours, adult humour that is still appropriate for kids. It is for everyone. And I think that's important because the ethical questions that we're being asked, I think we need to bring these questions to the forefront of mainstream media and truly really start having a dialogue so we can move forward in a meaningful and knowledgeable way. Circular RNA — Forms a closed loop. Unlike other single stranded RNA that remains linear, this RNA’s ends join together to become a circle. Sally: And what do you think that comics and science art can do that I suppose traditional science communication, like documentaries on the telly, podcasts like ours can't do? What kind of niche do you think that you are able to fill?Matt : You know, I'm actually not sure because I don't even know if I would think the park should exist in the first place in terms of like - should creating creatures or modifying creatures, or just in general, just messing with DNA in that sense, should it be used for entertainment and capitalistic gain?

Matt : And my personal belief is no. It should always be to help people like cure diseases and research, things that could help and make people and animals alike suffer less in this very questionable world. I would say no, I wouldn't want it to exist in this state. I don't think it's good for entertainment.

Contact

Double stranded RNA — Makes up viral genomes. Each is bound to another complementary RNA strand. (This is the RNA that makes up the COVID-19 genome.) The other problem with the book is that often the information is out of date or, most common, there are discoveries and breakthroughs not recorded by the text. The version I have is from 1991 so there is a gap of 16 years of information. For instance it states that it was believed by scientists to be over 200,000 genes, but it is now known to be only around 20 to 30,000 of them. Sally: What are the sort of criteria that, for you, if this was a real life island and you were sat on the ethics board, would you want to satisfy to make sure that it's okay to go ahead with the technology?

Matt : Absolutely. Jurassic Park was such a huge part of my life. It was probably one of my favourite movies as a child. It still remains one of my favourite movies. But as I started to understand more about genetics in my adulthood, I realised there were so many questions that needed to be asked pertaining to our real lives, but also in a fictional sense because, you know, fiction and real life tend to intermingle most of the time. Especially as a writer, I can't stop thinking about the future and the big questions like the responsibility of science. PIWI-interacting RNA — Regulates the expression of transposons — also called “jumping genes” — by targeting those genes in sperm and egg cells. Ribosomal RNA — Combines with certain proteins to form molecular machines called ribosomes, which translate mRNA. Small interfering RNA — Helps to speed up degradation of mRNA so it does not get translated into more protein. A double-stranded regulatory RNA.

Share

This is as much a history of genetic research as it is about the basics of the subject. He begins with primitive man, moving on to the early philosophers such as Aristotle, before arriving at the real breakthrough moment with the research of Gregor Mendel- the Catholic monk, gardener and scientist. Matt : Genome Island is a sci-fi comedy web comic series. It tells a story of a remote island theme park that's filled with genetically engineered zoo animals, and they use a CRISPR-like technology. They can selectively breed any creature imaginable. And while it might look amazing on the outside, the park is being dangerously mismanaged by its eccentric billionaire CEO.