Published: 01-05-2025
As the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) begins its formal deliberations on synthetic biology applications, we find ourselves in a critical window where governance frameworks around the use […]
Resources
ConservationRecommended Reading
Our resources sections bring together a range of interesting articles, reports and papers across several different themes. Follow the link to get started.
Recommendations change often so visit regularly.
Gene Editing is Pollution
Published: 18-02-2025
As the UK pushes ahead with plans to deregulate both environmental and commercial releases of gene-edited crops and foods – and, soon, farm animals – this thoughtful long-read considers whether we are building a bright new future or just a more sophisticated form of man-made pollution.
A Tale of Two CBDs – Trick or Treat at COP16
Published: 31-10-2024
Engineered rats, facial recognition for wildlife, ‘disestablishment’ of crucial horizon-scanning and disregard for international treaties. As COP16 wraps up in Cali, Colombia, here’s a trick-or-treat guide to what, sort of, just happened.
Gene Editing and Conservation – The Unknown and the Unknowable
Published: 11-12-2022
The UK’s Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, allows gene editing of wild and free-living species. Shouldn’t we be talking about that?
Transferring the laboratory to the wild
Published: 04-11-2019
A new briefing from the Third World Network Biosafety Information Service spotlights the emerging use of new genetic engineering techniques such as genome editing and new delivery techniques as a […]
Gene-editing for conservation? Survey finds the public is ‘wary’
Published: 03-10-2019
The applications of CRISPR based genetic engineering tools range from changing colors in butterfly wings to developing gene therapies that might one day cure or prevent human diseases. Some scientists […]
Rewriting nature?
Published: 16-05-2019
Synthetic biology – altering or redesigning genes to meet human objectives – is a fast-developing field. So far mostly applied in agriculture and medicine, synthetic biology could have substantial knock-on […]