Nanotyrannus Debate Revisited, CRISPR Gene Therapy Trials, and In‑Throat Vocal Cord Printing Device

Overview

The Nature Podcast explores (1) the Nanotyrannus versus Tyrannosaurus rex debate, grounded in a near-adult fossil whose bone growth suggests it would stay far smaller than a true T. rex, (2) a CRISPR gene therapy trial aimed at delivering personalized treatments more quickly, inspired by a life-changing baby case, and (3) an ultra-precise, internal throat printing device designed to repair vocal cords with soft robotics and a PlayStation controller for precise control.

Experts discuss evidence, regulatory pathways, and the potential for faster, safer, and more individualized therapies, alongside the challenges of accessing privately held fossils and navigating FDA processes.

Nanotyrannus vs Tyrannosaurus rex: Fossil evidence and the debate

The episode centers on a Tyrannosaurid fossil known as Nanotyrannus, found in Hell Creek formation and debated for decades as either a separate dwarf species or a juvenile T. rex. A newly examined limb bone cross-section study indicates the animal reached adulthood but stopped growing well before the size of Tyrannosaurus rex, projecting an eventual body about one-tenth T. rex size. Lawrence Whitmer, a palaeontologist, highlights the significance of aging bone in determining growth trajectories, and he notes that the new specimen—now housed in a museum—allows broader scientific scrutiny that private collections previously hindered. The debate has long hinged on the lack of well‑documented juvenile T. rex material and the need for accessible, well-verified fossils. Whitmer emphasizes that this cautious, evidence-based approach is essential in resolving a dispute that has shaped sauropod evolution narratives for years.

“The animal would grow up to be 1/10 the size of Tyrannosaurus rex.” - Lawrence Whitmer

Open science and fossil access

The hosts discuss how private collectors and non-museum specimens have historically limited the ability of palaeontologists to test competing hypotheses. The new, more complete fossil provides a crucial data point that could realign evolutionary interpretations within Tyrannosauridae and related lineages. Whitmer reflects on the value of transparent, methodical analyses and how this specimen could reframe long‑standing assumptions about growth patterns in tyrannosaurids.

CRISPR gene therapy trials: personalisation and regulatory pathways

The Nature Briefing segment shifts to human genetics, describing a clinical pathway for personalized CRISPR-based therapies. Building on a baby treated last year for a severe genetic liver condition, researchers aim to accelerate future personalized therapies by streamlining production, coordinating multi‑center efforts, and reducing the time from design to trial. A key focus is the potential for the FDA to use shared safety data across individual, mutation-specific therapies to simplify regulatory submissions, potentially enabling faster trial start dates for new patients. The conversation underscores the shift toward tailor-made regimens while acknowledging the need for rigorous safety, ethical considerations, and clear regulatory guidelines to ensure patient protection and scalable access.

“Personalised treatments are definitely the direction we need to steer towards.” - a researcher

In‑throat vocal cord printing: precision and potential

The episode closes with a glimpse of a novel medical device designed to repair vocal cords from inside the throat using a printer. The tiny, highly precise tool is controlled via a PlayStation-style interface, highlighting advances in soft robotics and the push toward minimally invasive, patient-specific therapies. Experts marvel at the precision required and the ingenuity of bioinspired designs that could transform laryngeal care, while noting the broader theme of how rapid prototyping and precise control can accelerate medical innovation. The discussion situates this device within a broader landscape of regenerative medicine and automated, image-guided interventions.

For listeners, the episode ties together a science-and-health trajectory—from ancient life’s growth patterns and fossil evidence to cutting‑edge gene therapy and forward-looking medical devices—showing how rigorous evidence, regulatory agility, and patient-centered design can redefine what’s possible in biology and medicine.