Genetic modification in the light of research ethics - Is it unethical not to bet on GMOs?

The Norwegian Genetic Technology Act has remained unchanged for 30 years. At the same time, there has been a revolution in genetic engineering methods in the last 10 years. This was marked by the awarding of the Kavli Prize in 2018 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 to Jennifer Doudna and Emanuelle Charpentier for the discovery of gene editing in bacteria and the further development of this into a general method – CRISPR-Cas9, which is revolutionizing life science, biotechnology and medicine.

In 2020, a genetic technology committee was set up by the Solberg government which, among other things, was to report on the development of genetic engineering, and make recommendations on regulation. On Tuesday 6 June 2023, the Genetic Technology Committee led by committee chair Anna Wargelius presented the report for political leadership in the Ministry of Climate and Environment. In a debate entry in Dagsavisen on 12 June, the NOU majority wrote that "It is unethical not to use genetic technology that can contribute to solving pressing global challenges". In this seminar, we will get a presentation of the genetic technology committee's investigation, in addition to several short presentations followed by a debate about genetic technology seen in a research ethics light.

These participate: committee chair Anna Wargelius, professor Espen Gamlund, someone from the Biotechnology Council's secretariat, project manager Sigrid Bratlie and professor Eivind Dale Valen.

More complementary program to come. The seminar ends with a simple lunch from 12:00-13:00.

The seminar will be held in Norwegian.