The paradox of stem cells and the paradoxes of Russian science
Sergey Kiselyov: "A poor state needs a poor science"
On the eve of the speech, the scientist told "Polit.<url>" about his scientific path, the connection of genetics with philology, Putin and state financing.
– Who encouraged you to study biology?
– The beginning of my love for biology was laid at school. We had a permanent school expedition that took place for 15-20 years. We went to work in the Kandalaksha State Reserve to the north and were mainly engaged in bird research. Probably, these were my first biological classes.
On the other hand, logic prompted me to study biology. I didn't want to study physics, mathematics, literature, as a result there were few disciplines left. But I didn't have any sudden transitions: I managed to do everything smoothly without much strain in all subjects.
– What or who encourages you to do genetics?
– Stimulates the idea that genetics is the basis of all processes occurring in life, from the functioning of the body to its behavior in different situations. I don't have any idols. The goal of every scientist should be different – to be looked up to.
– What are you doing now in your scientific activity?
– Issues aimed at biomedical research of the molecular mechanisms of various pathologies, primarily neurodegenerative. In addition, associated with heart or liver failure. My research is also related to the study of the genetic processes that control our diseases and the discovery of those factors by which we can control these processes and correct diseases.
– What scientific disciplines does yours intersect with? Is it difficult for you to discuss with representatives of other scientific fields?
– The closest thing to genetics, of course, is physics and mathematics. Humanities also intersect with biology and genetics. Recently, for example, ethnogenomics and phylogenetics have appeared. These sciences were formed at the junction of genomes – genetics and language – philology. They are developing quite actively and indicate that even philology has some connection with genetics.
For example, do you know when a person started wearing clothes for the first time? This is a thing that belongs to society, ethnos, everyday life. It was the geneticists who, with the help of their tests, discovered that this happened when the head louse separated from the clothes. Geneticists also study the genome of an ethnic group: they look at when the nationalities separated genetically, and what remained in the code of each of them. With the help of genetics, you can study a lot of things, especially at the intersection of sciences. I hope that my genetics will overcome the problems that exist in philology.
– If you could change your occupation today, what kind of direction would it be?
– It is difficult for me to answer this question: we have changed too many state formations. As a child, I did not dream of studying biology, genetics. I preferred to do creative things: I was engaged in coinage, inlay, jewelry. Not professionally, of course, but I really liked it.
– How often do you perform in front of a large audience? Have you participated in unusual projects?
– I often give lectures in my field. I took part in the most unusual event in 2002: it was a working vacation of the president. Vladimir Putin and I went skiing for five days and talked about science in the evenings. He preferred to listen more and tried to understand what the essence of genetics is and what it can give. He did not express any unambiguous opinions about this science, but in general he spoke well.
– At public lectures "Polit.<url>" you said that genetics is experiencing problems with funding from the state.
– It is not genetics that is experiencing problems, but the state is fundamentally wrong about this problem. For some reason, it believes that business should finance this field of science. There is no such thing anywhere in the world – science is 100% funded from the state budget. We just have a poor state, it has not been rich for at least the last 20 years. Here is the usual pattern: a poor state has a poor science.
– Why are you interested in the ProScience format?
– I will make up this opinion only after I perform at the theater on February 9.
Sergey Kiselyov's speech on the topic "The paradox of stem cells" will be held at the Central House of the journalist at the address: Arbatskaya metro station, Nikitsky Boulevard, 8a. Beginning at 19:00.
Tickets can be purchased on the websites ponominalu.ru , kassir.ru , bigbilet.ru and timepad.ru .
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru23.01.2015