Instead of calling gene editing good or bad, let’s talk about what it might be used for
This post is by Jonny Hazell, senior policy adviser at the Royal Society, writing in a personal capacity
So much commentary on the public debate around agricultural genetic technologies begins with the assertion “we need to talk about gene editing” [1]. Why? Did we talk about other plant breeding technologies, like x-ray mutagenesis or marker assisted selection? Should we have done? Unless there’s something inherently harmful about a technology, ie you cannot use it without creating something that poses a risk to human or environmental health, then surely the important thing to discuss is the problem the technology is being used to address and the consequences of the proposed solution.
This post is by Green Alliance associate Julie Hill.
Inside track 