Megan MacGregor

Genome editing - a suite of methods for creating changes in DNA more accurately than previous approaches - was hailed as the 2011 Method of the Year by Nature Methods, and the CRISPR/Cas9 system of genome editing was named the 2015 Breakthrough of the Year by Science. The technology has since excited interest across the globe because of its potential. Scientific breakthroughs followed its discovery as the technology provided the ability for scientists to rectify some of the most serious biological diseases. However, the selfish ambitions of one scientist, He Jiankui, erupted debate within bioethic communities to establish effective governance and mitigation strategies. As humanity enters a gene-editing revolution, a future for designer babies may approach sooner than we think. This Independent Study Unit focuses on the application of genome editing in humans by examining social, ethical and scientific ramifications, examples of differing national approaches and avenues to assist a sustainable genome editing future.