Image: The Red & Black recently spoke to members of the biochemistry and molecular biology department about the benefits and potential misuse of gene-editing in modern research. The Red & Black cited the announcement of the birth of the first genome-edited babies, an experiment conducted by Chinese scientist He Jiankui, as a story highlighting potential misuses of CRISPR's gene-editing capabilities. But distinguished research professor Michael Terns, with the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, microbiology, and genetics, told The Red & Black that further large-scale use of genome-editing tools would follow careful scientific consensus, and that the benefits of CRISPR research are extensive. “I think that the potential of CRISPR in so many areas of science and its ability to help society in revolutionary ways completely overshadows this … one event,” Terns told The Red & Black. The Red & Black also spoke to David Lee, BMB professor and vice president for research, and Clare Edwards, a Ph.D. student in BMB. Click here to read the article in full.
