The Common Reading Program hosts a panel of scientists at 5 p.m. Tues., March 26, in CUE 203 to discuss “Gene Editing and Ethics: DNA Manipulation in Animals and Humans.” The public is welcome at no charge.
Panelists include: Bill Kabasenche, philosophy associate professor who researches bioethics; Lisette Maddison, director of the Gene Editing Reagent Core laboratory in the Center for Reproductive Biology; and, Samantha Noll, assistant professor of bioethics affiliated with the Functional Genomics Initiative in the School of Molecular Biosciences. The presentation is in line with topics raised in this year’s common book, Soonish: Ten emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything.
Karen Weathermon, Common Reading director, said that news broke last year about a Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, creating the first gene-edited babies using CRISPR technology. This story provoked world-wide concern. What is this technology, and what benefits can it bring? How is it being used in WSU research projects? And what are the ethical questions and constraints this technology sparks?
For more on the common reading, visit https://CommonReading.wsu.edu.
