Cracking DNA replication - John Diffley - Lifeworks

Excited as a boy by the 1960s space race in America, Crick biochemist John Diffley set out on a thirty-year mission to understand how our cells replicate DNA, and then recreate the process in the lab. In this profile interview, John reveals how big questions posed by religion, lifelong curiosity and a culture of optimism inspired his work. What does it take to discover something new, and how does it feel the moment you do it? In this video: 01:10 The DNA replication problem 02:23 Optimism & science 03:29 DNA & the narrative of life 05:06 Asking big questions 06:31 The image that inspired a 30 year question 08:49 Looking for a new biological paradigm 09:40 The two step discovery 12:10 Building a system to replicate DNA in the lab 13:20 Purifying 42 proteins in 16 complexes 14:47 Seeing the first DNA copied in the lab 16:41 The next thing: DNA replication & evolution #Biology #Evolution #Scientist *About John Diffley* John Diffley is a biochemist leading the Chromosome Replication Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute. By finding out the exact sequence of events involved in DNA replication, the group aims to shed light on how normal cells divide to keep the body healthy and reveal what goes wrong when cells divide out of control as cancer develops. *The Francis Crick Institute* Based in the heart of London, the Crick is one of Europe’s largest labs, home to more than 2,000 scientists and a free public exhibition space. We’re an independent charity and biomedical research institute bringing together people with different expertise to answer some of the biggest questions about life and health. At the Crick, we believe that everyone should have the chance to explore and shape science. That’s why we’re a place for engaging people with research and why it matters. Keep up to date with everything going on at the Crick: • https://www.instagram.com/thefranciscrickinstitute • https://www.tiktok.com/@thecrick • https://www.facebook.com/TheFrancisCrickInstitute/ • https://bsky.app/profile/crick.ac.uk • https://www.crick.ac.uk