7. Genome editing: does it move the goalposts on the GM playing field?

D.M. Bruce

7. Genome editing: does it move the goalposts on the GM playing field?

In: Towards a new regulatory framework for GM crops in the European Union

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D.M. Bruce

D.M. Bruce Edinethics Ltd., 11/6 Dundonald Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RZ, United Kingdom.

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 123–129

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-845-2_7

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In the last five years gene editing has emerged as a powerful scientific tool potentially capable of achieving a range of genetic modifications in plants, animals and recently even human embryos. This paper explores whether or not in addition to opening up the scientific potential of genetic modification (GM), but it might open its ethical and social acceptability to publics, retailers, regulators and policy makers. It draws upon our original ethical findings in the 1990s, subsequent assessments of potential acceptability of novel biotechnologies, and long-term public engagement using the Democs card game. It reviews seven main values underlying the major concerns about GM food and crops. It then looks at the nature of gene editing types, set in the context of the range of ways in which the genetic makeup of plants and animals have been altered hitherto. It considers if the new techniques alter some of the basic ethical objections which some apply to GM crops, especially to transgenesis, and whether this would meet with a greater public acceptance. The regulatory implications are briefly considered, requiring a more sensitive system than is currently applied to GM organisms. The largest factor to acceptance may be the perceived usefulness of the application to humans, which might tip the balance against perceptions of risk and uncertainty. The results of playing a Democs card game on GM crops with MSc students over a period of ten years reveals a cautious view but open to the possibility of modification.

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Towards a new regulatory framework for GM crops in the European Union

Scientific, ethical, social and legal issues and the challenges ahead

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086868452

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 11 Sep 2017

Subjects
- Life Sciences

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7. Genome editing: does it move the goalposts on the GM playing field?

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Towards a new regulatory framework for GM crops in the European Union

Scientific, ethical, social and legal issues and the challenges ahead

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