Report
01 Dec 21
Genome editing and farmed animal breeding: social and ethical issues
This report examines the social and ethical issues raised by the potential use of genome editing technologies in farmed animal breeding.
Published 12/10/2022
A report of the dialogue (PDF) was published on 12 October 2022.
The topic guides and summary of information provided to participants and the executive summary of the report are available via the links on the left hand side of this page. You can also read the press release here.
The dialogue involved 80 members of the public and took place between May and July 2022. It was delivered by research consultancy Basis Social and overseen by an advisory group chaired by Sarah Mukherjee MBE.
Background
Genome editing - known commonly as ‘gene editing’ - is the precise, targeted alteration of a DNA sequence in a living cell. It enables changes to the genome - which aim to secure certain traits in new generations of farmed animals - to be made much faster than through traditional breeding methods.
Research in this area is well advanced, and the UK Parliament is currently debating Government proposals for amending the regulation of some genome edited organisms, including plants and animals, which could pave the way for the introduction of genome editing into the food and farming system.
Claudia joined the NCOB in 2020. She currently leads our work on neural organoids, within the Mind and Brain priority area, and she previously worked on our policy briefing on emerging technologies for mental health support. Claudia represents the NCOB on the Nuffield Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and volunteers as the coordinator for the Foundation’s Mental health, Neurodiversity and Disability support group.
Before joining the team, Claudia worked in academic research, designing and leading projects in both cognitive neuroscience and neuroethics.
Sarah leads our communications activities across all workstreams, aiming to build our public profile and raise awareness of our work and our impact amongst our key audiences.
Sarah has worked in a number of communications roles at the NCOB since joining us in 2008. Prior to that, she worked in development at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, gaining experience in charity fundraising, partnerships and communications.
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