More for all: Nature by design? | Palmerston North

Prestigious Speakers 
Editing Our Genes: Promises and Pitfalls
Once a science fiction fantasy, the power to engineer DNA is now within reach. With that power comes complex and sometimes contentious questions about what can, and what should, be done to change ourselves and the world around us. Using a new genome editing technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, scientists are exploring deletion, alteration, and addition of genes to a huge variety of organisms, from yeast to kumara, and from mosquitoes to dairy cattle. Perhaps most promising, but also most controversial, are the possible uses of the technology in humans.

Host Kim Hill  is joined by bioethicist Josephine Johnston and a panel of experts to explore the implications of gene editing technologies for New Zealand.

More for all: Nature by design?

If gene editing technologies are to become widely utilised throughout agricultural production, what needs to be considered. For example, could there be other repercussions if developing crops resistant to bacterial blight or plantations that are more adaptable to drought, or producing animals with more muscle for increased meat yield?

Agriculture panel:

Dr Julie Everett-Hincks
Agricultural Law researcher, University of Otago

Dr William Rolleston
National president (2014-17), Federated Farmers 

Kevin Prime ONZM
Farmer, Forester, Conservationist, Kaumātua for Foundation North, also Commissioner for Environment Court 

Josephine Johnston
Director of Research and Research scholar, The Hastings Center

Kim Hill
Host and Broadcaster, RNZ National

Presented in partnership with the David and Genevieve Becroft Foundation, The University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and RNZ National. 

PUBLIC EVENT – If available, door sales will be only $30, but best to book your ticket to guarantee your seat(s).

Views expressed at this event may not reflect those of Royal Society Te Apārangi.