Event Host: School of Communication
Short Description: Ohio State health, communication and ethics experts discuss the ethical, social, legal and health implications of CRISPR-Cas 9, a new method for editing and changing the human genetics.
CRISPR-Cas9, a new method for editing and changing the human genetics, was named the scientific breakthrough of 2015 by the journal Science. But what makes this new means to edit our genetic makeup so revolutionary? Health experts say that it’s easier, cheaper and more effective than previous means of gene editing with the potential of curing or preventing a wide-range of hereditary dis-eases. More importantly, CRISPR-Cas 9 allows every-day scientists to re-move or add genes to humans, animals, and plants and make those changes heritable in future generations.
However, a recent summit of scientists and policy-makers at the National Academy of Sciences called into question the ethical, social, legal, and health implications of this new technology to change our genetic heritage. Some scientists are concerned that that changing and editing genes could have unintended consequences and create new diseases or defects.
Join us for a public conversation on these topics and more with a panel health, communication, and education experts at the WOSU@COSI studios. The panel will be moderated by former WOSU radio host Fred Andrle.
Panelists include:
Kevin Flanagan MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Ohio State College of Medicine
Renhzi Han, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Ryan Nash, MD, Director, Ohio State Center for Bio-ethics and Medical Humanities and Hagop S. Mekhjian Chair in Medical Ethics and Professionalism
Matthew Nisbet, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Communication, The Ohio State University
The event is free and open to the general public with seating beginning at 6:30pm. Attendees will be able to participate in the panel discussion during the Q&A session. Free parking vouchers will be distributed at the event.
The event is free and open to all. Please RSVP your attendance to science_forum@osu.edu by Jan. 26, 2016