At this year's EMBL-EBI Science and Society event at the Cambridge Union, we explore the rise of genome editing technologies with an evening of talks and lively discussion, led by experts in the field Andrew Hessel, Sarah Chan and Dirk Heckl. We'll introduce the science behind genome editing, explore potential applications and exchange ideas about the social and ethical implications of these technologies. 

The emergence of genome editing as a viable way to tackle disease in humans, animals and plants has hit the headlines. Recent applications have certainly been eye-catching: a child cured of leukaemia, mosquitoes resistant to malaria parasites and other stories have people thinking about how this technology might change the way we live. What new applications are in the pipeline - cures for HIV, improving IVF and fertility treatments, or even protecting crops? Will it be possible to transcend nature by ‘enhancing’ the genomes of humans and other species?

Technologies for cloning, shuffling, transferring, and recombining genes have been around for decades, but now that the technologies have matured, we are finally in a position to start editing genomes in a very precise way. The real game changer has been the 2013 discovery of the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, which allows for cheaper, more accurate and easier editing of genomes. While it has promise for transforming our lives, there is a clear and immediate need to work through the ethical and social implications of its use.

How do we balance the benefits to the health of humans, crops and the environment against the potential risks? And what if these new technologies pushed us gradually onto a slippery slope towards greater social inequality? At Rewriting the Code of Life: The science and ethics behind genome editing, we will explore these and many other questions.

Attendance is free and open to all. Please join us.