New Council project on genome editing

This year, the Council is starting a new project exploring the ethical issues around genome editing techniques, such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system.In our 2012 report on the prevention of mitochondrial DNA disorders, we recognised the need for a broader public discussion of the ethics of different kinds of germline therapies.To help define the scope of the project, the Council will be holding a workshop on 22 April with invited participants from a range of backgrounds to flesh out the most important issues and identify the main questions the Council should address with regard to genome editing.We’ve invited participants, and any others with an interest in the topic, to each to submit up to 300 words in response to the question: What are the most important challenges raised by genome editing that the Nuffield Council on Bioethics should address? The responses will be used as the basis for the discussion at the workshop.Read our blog by Assistant Director, Peter Mills, on the moral implications of genome editing or download the background paper by Dr Ainsley Newson and Dr Anthony Wrigley, commissioned by the Council entitled Identifying key developments, issues and questions relating to techniques of genome editing with engineered nucleases.