John Kerr • Feb 20, 2017 •
Pandemics, predators and predicting sea-level rise are just a few of the issues covered in our Sciblogs Horizon Scan special series. We asked experts across the spectrum of New Zealand science to give us their take on the big issues in their field and what might be around the corner. What does the future hold in store for New Zealand … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Feb 15, 2017 •
Just out today are the recommendations of a joint science advisory group of the USA National Academy of Science and the USA Academy of Medicine on gene editing. As an alert to any that might be interested I’ve copied their summary of their recommendations below.This post is meant as a simple heads-up, rather than an analysis of this … Read More
Helen Taylor • Feb 09, 2017 •
New Zealand is known for its bold, proactive conservation strategies. Are we ready to use advanced gene editing techniques to save native species? Imagine being able to turn genes on and off, or change their code and alter their function. This is the reality of gene editing technologies facilitated by enzymes like CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR is essentially a pair of … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jun 12, 2014 •
As a short addition to my previous two articles on Gene editing and GMOs in New Zealand, readers might like to read the arguments presented in an article just published, Moving Beyond the GM Debate, by Ottoline Leyser.[1] The article is one of two Perspectives in the PLoS Genetics’ The Promise of Plant Translational Research collection and is open-access (i.e. free to be … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jun 02, 2014 •
(If you’re not a biologist, you may prefer to start with part one. There’s also a third part.) Are the GMO-related clauses of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 out of date? Perhaps it’s time to start working on a replacement. Recently a legal ruling in New Zealand overturned a previous … Read More
Grant Jacobs • May 30, 2014 •
(Scientists will want to skip straight to part two, which looks at the court ruling. Part three adds further thoughts and introduces a perspective article on GMOs) Last week a legal decision in New Zealand overturned a previous opinion that using gene editing to create variants would not create genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).[1] At the centre … Read More