Ministers are keen to use Brexit to enable gene editing, a form of genetic modification that is severely restricted in the EU, in the UK, although a public consultation found that 87% of respondents consider GM plants a higher risk than traditional plant breeding methods. Let`s face it, there are certainly big ethical questions that need to be answered in the future. Late last year, a group of UNESCO scientists, philosophers and jurists called for a halt to gene editing until it better understands the impact it would have on heritability and human germline. And today`s decision has been greeted with concern by some groups. „The UK government`s announcement will strengthen the case for a more rational approach to genetic modification in the EU,“ said Detlef Weigel, director of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, which has long advocated for changing the rules. Harnessing the genetic resources that nature has provided through genetic engineering will open up new opportunities for farmers to grow more resilient crops. This will support the development of new and innovative ways to protect the environment, such as significantly reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides and herbicides to protect pollinators. Another potential benefit is to make plants more resilient to weather and climate change. Germline therapy is still a very new technology. In the UK, it is illegal to perform this therapy on humans. Gene editing involves the use and modification of genes that have already been found in an organism, as opposed to other forms of genetic modification that may use genes imported from other plants or animals.

Gene editing can be used to mimic the effects of traditional plant breeding, but it is accelerated because it is done in the lab instead of requiring years of repeated selective selection. Environment Minister George Eustice said: „Gene editing has the capacity to use the genetic resources that nature has provided. It is a tool that could help us address some of the biggest challenges we face – in terms of food security, climate change and biodiversity loss. „Unfortunately, there is a liberal-conservative alliance for a relaxation of the rules on genetically modified plants, with some even calling for complete deregulation,“ said Tilly Metz, a Luxembourg Green MEP who has spoken out against any changes to the rules. She added: „This announcement is described in response to Defra`s consultation on the regulation of genetic engineering. However, [at the time of writing], no details have been provided on what George Eustice actually learned from the exercise. Contributions to the consultation received by GM Freeze raised various concerns about Defra`s proposals to dismantle GMO protection measures, but this announcement suggests the minister is not listening. While laws in the UK and some other countries currently prohibit the creation of genetically modified babies, a handful of experiments around the world have shown that DNA editing could, in principle, prevent children from inheriting serious diseases caused by faulty genes. On 29 September, the British government announced that it would facilitate research and development of genetically modified crops from the end of this year. Permits will still be required for field trials of modified crops, but there will be less bureaucracy.

The UK has officially announced that it will relax rules for research on genetically modified plants, raising hopes among scientists that the EU could do the same. All scientists conducting research using genetic engineering must continue to inform Defra of all research trials. For the time being, GM plants will continue to be classified as GM organisms, and commercial cultivation of these plants and food produced from them should continue to be authorised under existing rules. Another consideration is that any change to an embryo`s DNA would affect all of its cells, including sperm or eggs, meaning the genetic changes would be passed on to all future generations. In the vast majority of cases, alternative methods such as preimplantation testing can also be used to test embryos for harmful DNA. With the UK now „totally liberal“ on genetic engineering, the EU must maintain the precautionary principle, she said. The immediate change is small and only affects England, but the government says it will be followed by plans for new primary legislation that will allow for much greater use of gene editing in plants in the UK and a redefinition of genetic modification in law. The report does not call for a change in UK legislation to allow GM babies, but rather calls for research into the safety and effectiveness of the approach, its societal impact and a broad debate on its implications.