Viagra and CRISPR
Viagra’s effect on men was discovered by accident after a clinical trial for a heart disease with some surprising side-effects. Here’s how it happened.
Viagra’s effects on men were first discovered as an unexpected side-effect during trials for a medication meant to help patients with a heart condition. CRISPR cas– 9 is now a tool that can be used to modify and replace genes – but it was first noted as a random collection of genes. In the first of three episodes about the genius of accidents in science, Professor Adam Hart explores how, sometimes, the results you’re looking for are not as important as those that appear unexpectedly.
Picture: Test Tubes, Credit: Grafner/Getty Images
Producer: Rory Galloway
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How Viagra was discovered by accident
Duration: 03:09
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- Mon 5 Nov 201820:32GMTBBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, Europe and the Middle East & News Internet only
- Mon 5 Nov 201821:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia & East Asia only
- Tue 6 Nov 201805:32GMTBBC World Service Online, UK DAB/Freeview, Europe and the Middle East & News Internet only
- Tue 6 Nov 201806:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & South Asia only
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- Tue 6 Nov 201811:32GMTBBC World Service West and Central Africa
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- Mon 12 Nov 201800:32GMTBBC World Service
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