Your DNA is a transcript of who you are, from your eye colour to your risk of developing cancer – what if we could change the script? DNA editing has been used for years in research labs to answer important questions about disease, but now with the advent of technologies like the CrispR/Cas9 system the possibilities seem endless. This raises some questions:
- Do we understand enough about DNA to change it without creating undesirable side effects?
- Can we treat healthy people to fix genetic predispositions that lead to Huntington’s disease and cancer later in life?
- Should we start worrying about “designer babies”?
- Where do we draw the line?
This public forum intends to answer these questions and many more. Join us for a two-hour session on Tuesday June 6th to learn more about gene editing and what kinds of challenges Canadian scientists, lawyers, and policymakers foresee in these uncertain times.
Invited Speakers :
Natalie Brender, former national director of Genomics in Society at Genome Canada, welcomes everyone to the session and briefly introduces the topic and why it’s an important discussion to have, introduces the speakers.
Erika Kleiderman, associate at McGill’s Centre of Genomics and Policy, discusses policy and ethical considerations of gene editing technologies in health care.
Alan Peterson, professor in Experimental Medicine at McGill, gives brief background on what gene editing is, then discusses how these technologies are used in research and how they are being/will be translated to the clinic.
To register for this public forum, click here.
Registration is free, but seating is limited - so register quickly!
