Novel gene technology methods such as CRISPR/Cas9 allow scientists to make straightforward, targeted changes to the genomes of humans, animals or plants. This is new territory for legislation as well as for educated citizens. How should gene technology be defined, what modifications can be permitted by the legislator and what is ethically justifiable? And how can such a complex topic be adequately communicated to the public? These are the questions raised by a new research project that was launched at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in collaboration with the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. The Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry for Education and Research, BMBF) will support the project with around 500,000 euros of funding for the next three years.
Humans have always been trying to tweak the genetic traits of plants and animals. For instance, plants have been cross-bred to pass on desired traits to the next generation. This, however, is a slow, not entirely controllable process, where undesired traits may also be passed on. When DNA-cutting enzymes, nick-named gene scissors, were discovered, scientists were able to make site-specific changes in the genome. “Until a few years ago, these methods were rather complicated and cost- and labour- intensive,” explains legal expert Dr. Timo Faltus, who chairs the BMBF project at the MLU, involving Halle University Professors Winfried Kluth and Matthias Kaufmann. Several types of simple and fast-acting gene scissors were developed in the early 2000s, but the real breakthrough happened in 2012, when French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier and her American counterpart Jennifer Doudna developed the CRISPR/Cas9 system. It is now possible to target specific sites in the genome and modify several genes at a time, which is very cost-effective. Since then, countless projects, publications and conferences have on genome-editing have sprung up“, says Faltus.
These developments also have legal implications. There is, for example, no easy answer to the question of how to define a genetically modified organism (GMO). According to the WHO definition, which was adopted by the German Gentechnikgesetz (Gene Technology Act), a GMO is an organism in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.” “The current state of affairs suggests, however, that with CRISPR, such alterations of genetic material cannot be detected. We must now find out whether this is true“, says Faltus. The project is therefore trying to find a more up-to-date definition of gene technology and GMOs.
The project also looks at what has been dubbed DIY biology. As there are fewer technological hurdles to overcome, more and more interested amateurs will be able to carry out experiments with DNA and gene scissors in their own home. “This raises the question how such activities should be viewed from a judicial perspective”, explains Faltus. If this kind of work is classified as research, then this would be part of freedom of research – a guaranteed basic right in our society. It is, however, conceivable that DIY biology could be associated with great risks. Scientific labs must adhere to strict protocols on how to deal with hazardous samples and substances. Scientists are trained over years to follow these standards. “It is not clear to what extent those protocols would apply to private households. This is currently a grey area in our legislation“, says Faltus. At the moment, nobody seems to know to what extent DIY biology has actually taken hold in Germany.
In another part of the project, philosophers working with Prof. Dr. Matthias Kaufmann at Halle University are trying to find out whether the use of these genetic engineering tools can be ethically justified and what moral restrictions would apply. “There is no easy answer – even when used with the best of intentions, such as treating an otherwise incurable disease – genome-editing could have unforeseen consequences for future generations”, says Faltus.
As part of the project, scientists at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, led by Dr. Katrin Vohland, will look into how such complex material can be disseminated to the general public in an understandable and attractive format. After all, says Faltus, in a democracy, everybody must have access to comprehensive information in order to take decisions on essential matters. Various public events and workshops on the subject will be organised in the coming years.
Further information on the project at: http://kluth.jura.uni-halle.de/bmbf_genomelection/
Contact:
Dr. Timo Faltus
Head of Project „GenomELECTION“
Phone: +49 345 55-23168
Email: timo.faltus@jura.uni-halle.de