CRISPR: A Game Changing Gene-Editing Tool and Implications for Science and Policy

Gene Editing: Science and Policy Implications The discovery of CRISPR-Cas has led to a major research revolution. This ancient mechanism of bacterial immunity is not only an extraordinarily powerful tool for understanding how the genome works, but also one with a potentially infinite array of applications in medicine, agriculture, and ecosystem engineering. Its great promise was acknowledged with the selection of CRISPR as Science's 2015 Breakthrough of the Year. CRISPR has now been widely adopted by labs around the globe, opening up new opportunities to push the frontiers of science further and accelerating our understanding of genes and their effects. While the tremendous potential of this technology has been widely embraced, the societal and ethical implications of its use and specific applications are starting to be widely debated. This session discusses current progress in the technology and highlights some of the ways it could be used to tackle key questions in various research fields. Speakers will discuss some of the challenges ahead for harnessing the full potential of CRISPR, taking into consideration emerging ethical and policy considerations.