New molecular biological techniques in genetic engineering are currently transforming research in the life sciences and medicine at great speed. The techniques known as genome editing or genome surgery enable comparatively fast, precise and low-cost changes to be made to the DNA of plants and animals and, for therapeutic purposes, of humans.

The 2017 Annual Assembly of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina on 22 and 23 September was entitled “Genome Editing – Challenges for the Future” and will be focusing on these developments. During the two-day event, which was also attended by leading researchers in the field of genome editing, the participants shared their experience and opinions on programmable molecular scissors, clinical research, prospective applications, and the social and legal perspectives on the new techniques.

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