Stereo Chemistry · Chemical & Engineering News

David Liu and Stuart Schreiber on the science that motivates, fascinates, and tells us who we are

November 23, 2021·34 min·3 clips

David Liu recalls feeling lost in organic chemistry, sparking curiosity about how he became a leading scientist.

This episode of Stereo Chemistry features a conversation between chemical biologists David Liu and Stuart Schreiber, moderated by C&EN executive editor Lisa Jarvis. Hosts Keri Jansen and Atabay Rodriguez-Penitas introduce the episode as part of a season pairing notable chemists. David Liu opens by recalling his initial, overwhelming encounter with organic chemistry during a lecture by Stuart Schreiber on cyclohexane conformers. The conversation explores the foundational principles and evolution of the field of chemical biology, which Schreiber helped pioneer. Schreiber defines chemical biology as using chemical tools to investigate biological questions. David Liu discusses his laboratory's work on developing genome editing technologies, like base editing. The dialogue covers the historical context of how chemistry began to systematically probe biological systems. Schreiber reflects on the early days of the field and its initial challenges in gaining acceptance. Liu describes the inspiration for his research, often stemming from unmet technological needs in biology and medicine. The episode references specific scientific concepts, such as the use of small molecules to modulate protein function. One insight is how a personal moment of confusion, like Liu's early question to Schreiber, can precede a major scientific career. The discussion reveals how chemical biology strategies can bridge the gap between discovering a molecule and understanding its biological mechanism. A surprising claim is that many transformative tools in biomedicine originate from fundamental chemical exploration rather than targeted design. The conversation highlights the iterative and often non-linear path of scientific innovation. Both scientists emphasize the importance of training researchers to think across the traditional boundaries of chemistry and biology. The tone is conversational, reflective, and educational, capturing a dialogue between mentors and peers. The style is interview-based, with personal anecdotes woven into explanations of complex science. Listeners interested in the history and future of interdisciplinary science, especially at the chemistry-biology interface, would love this episode. Those seeking highly technical details on a single, narrow research topic might find the broader discussion less suited to their interests.

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