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Genome editing in agriculture a new approach or still GM?

There is a lot of publicity for the new technology of gene editing (CRISPRs), a very precise method for making genetic changes in any organism. The use of gene editing has revitalised research in both crop and animal agriculture aimed at introducing planned genetic changes. Is gene editing different from previous GM technologies? And what are the risks and benefits of these technologies in plant and animal breeding? The speaker will discuss some recent examples of applications and the issues of regulation and public acceptance.

Prof. Helen Sang grew up in Brighton. Her research career has taken her to Cambridge, Harvard and Edinburgh universities. She was then appointed as Principal Investigator at The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh. Here, her main research focus has been the development of technologies for genetic modification of the chicken, which are applied in basic biomedical research, biotechnology and investigating the potential for developing disease resistance in production chickens. Her research has been supported by the BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust and industry. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

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