As a 2016 report from
the National Academics of Science and the National Academy of Medicine has
noted "Progress in genome editing —technologies for making precise additions, deletions, and alterations to DNA—has generated interest around the globe
because of the promise it holds to improve human health." Such technology,
however, raises complex governance issues. Recently developed CRISPR-Cas9
technology for genome editing, in particular, has brought a host of legal and
ethical issues to the fore with a renewed sense of immediacy and urgency. More
accurate, accessible, and cheaper than previous forms of genome editing, it
brings us closer to previously only imagined uses, for good or ill, of
biotechnology. This panel will explore some of these critical legal challenges,
ranging from implications for reproduction and reshaping the human gene pool to
DIY biohacking and genetic essentialism.
Business
meeting at program conclusion.