See all GES Media Mentions
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Future-proofing Food and Agriculture: NC State’s Genome Editing CenterD’Lyn Ford, NC State CALS News | 11/6/2024How will genome editing benefit food and agriculture? We asked CRISPR expert and NC State Professor Rodolphe Barrangou to explain. • Read more » | 11/6/2024 | D’Lyn Ford | NC State CALS News | How will genome editing benefit food and agriculture? We asked CRISPR expert and NC State Professor Rodolphe Barrangou to explain. | Rodolphe Barrangou |
Finding Could Help Turn Trees Into Affordable, Greener Industrial ChemicalsMick Kulikowski, NC State CALS News | 10/18/2024Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals. • Read more » | 10/18/2024 | Mick Kulikowski | NC State CALS News | Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals. | Jack Wang, Robert Kelly |
The CRISPR Revolution: Chancellor Woodson Talks Science and Innovation with Professor Rodolphe BarrangouRed Chair Chats Podcast, NC State News | 7/10/2024What sounded like science fiction just 10 years ago has become reality, thanks to CRISPR. Professor Rodolphe Barrangou joins Chancellor Woodson to discuss this game-changing technology. • Read more » | 7/10/2024 | Red Chair Chats Podcast | NC State News | What sounded like science fiction just 10 years ago has become reality, thanks to CRISPR. Professor Rodolphe Barrangou joins Chancellor Woodson to discuss this game-changing technology. | Rodolphe Barrangou |
Gene-Edited Salad Greens Are Coming to US Stores This FallEmily Mullin, Wired | 5/31/2024Ultimately, taste and affordability may be more important to consumers than the technology used to produce the greens, says Khara Grieger, assistant professor of environmental health and risk assessment at North Carolina State University...“Bayer is trying to meet consumer desires to eat healthier foods,” Grieger says. “But consumers are going to want to purchase a product that is affordable.” • Read more » | 5/31/2024 | Emily Mullin | Wired | Ultimately, taste and affordability may be more important to consumers than the technology used to produce the greens, says Khara Grieger, assistant professor of environmental health and risk assessment at North Carolina State University...“Bayer is trying to meet consumer desires to eat healthier foods,” Grieger says. “But consumers are going to want to purchase a product that is affordable.” | Khara Grieger |
WTF Is With the Pink Pineapples at the Grocery Store?!Emily Mullin, Wired | 5/27/2024Chris Cummings, a senior research fellow at North Carolina State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center, says that lack of information is probably purposeful. “There is some distinct marketing that’s going on with this particular product,” he says. • Read more » | 5/27/2024 | Emily Mullin | Wired | Chris Cummings, a senior research fellow at North Carolina State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center, says that lack of information is probably purposeful. “There is some distinct marketing that’s going on with this particular product,” he says. | Christopher Cummings |
Brushing with Bacteria: The Debate Over a GMO Tooth MicrobeChristina Szalinski, Undark Magazine | 4/18/2024“Without human trials, you really can’t determine whether it’s safe or efficacious,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. • Read more » | 4/18/2024 | Christina Szalinski | Undark Magazine | “Without human trials, you really can’t determine whether it’s safe or efficacious,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Secret to stellar corn yields? Right hybrid, planted on right dayJohn Hart, Farm Progress | 3/6/2024For North Carolina corn farmers seeking secrets to achieve maximum yields in 2024, Ron Heiniger is offering just one hint this year: choose the right hybrid and plant it on the right day. • Read more » | 3/6/2024 | John Hart | Farm Progress | For North Carolina corn farmers seeking secrets to achieve maximum yields in 2024, Ron Heiniger is offering just one hint this year: choose the right hybrid and plant it on the right day. | Ron Heiniger |
Poised to be first widely consumed gene-edited animals, virus-resistant pigs trot toward marketJon Cohen, Science | 3/1/2024Rodolphe Barrangou, a food scientist at NC State University who is also editor-in-chief of The CRISPR Journal but not involved with the work, says the study is the “end of the beginning” of bringing gene-edited livestock to the wide market because so many farmers will likely want PRRS-resistant pigs. “It’s not just a nice study in a nice model,” says Barrangou, who did pioneering CRISPR work himself. “It’s actually doing it in the real world.” • Read more » | 3/1/2024 | Jon Cohen | Science | Rodolphe Barrangou, a food scientist at NC State University who is also editor-in-chief of The CRISPR Journal but not involved with the work, says the study is the “end of the beginning” of bringing gene-edited livestock to the wide market because so many farmers will likely want PRRS-resistant pigs. “It’s not just a nice study in a nice model,” says Barrangou, who did pioneering CRISPR work himself. “It’s actually doing it in the real world.” | Rodolphe Barrangou |
Genetics and Genomics Academy offers unique courses to studentsSavannah Woodman, The Technician | 2/21/2024Fred Gould, executive director of the academy, said the academy was created to be an interdisciplinary center that could bring the campus together. • Read more » | 2/21/2024 | Savannah Woodman | The Technician | Fred Gould, executive director of the academy, said the academy was created to be an interdisciplinary center that could bring the campus together. | Fred Gould |
From Mentee to MentorKristen Fontana, Global One Health Academy | 2/19/2024Last week, the Global One Health Academy along with the Genetics & Genomics Academy and the Genetic Engineering & Society Center, cohosted a workshop on Mentoring Skills for Graduate Students. This event is part of a series of monthly Interdisciplinary Professional Development Workshops to help graduate students prepare for a career in interdisciplinary research. • Read more » | 2/19/2024 | Kristen Fontana | Global One Health Academy | Last week, the Global One Health Academy along with the Genetics & Genomics Academy and the Genetic Engineering & Society Center, cohosted a workshop on Mentoring Skills for Graduate Students. This event is part of a series of monthly Interdisciplinary Professional Development Workshops to help graduate students prepare for a career in interdisciplinary research. | |
Preventing the Next Plant PlagueD’Lyn Ford, NC State CALS News | 2/16/2024My book is going to be a crime scene investigation study. Who were the victims, the suspects and the many detectives that cracked the potato blight case? • Read more » | 2/16/2024 | D’Lyn Ford | NC State CALS News | My book is going to be a crime scene investigation study. Who were the victims, the suspects and the many detectives that cracked the potato blight case? | Jean Ristaino, Amanda Mainello-Land |
NC State Named a Fulbright Top Producing InstitutionDee Shore, NC State CALS News | 2/14/2024NC State has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of students, faculty and administrators selected for both the U.S. Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs, including three GES faculty members and an AgBioFEWS Fellow. • Read more » | 2/14/2024 | Dee Shore | NC State CALS News | NC State has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of students, faculty and administrators selected for both the U.S. Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs, including three GES faculty members and an AgBioFEWS Fellow. | Jason Delborne, Jabeen Ahmad, Jean Ristaino, Nora Haenn |
Envisioning a More Equitable Food SystemDee Shore, NC State CALS News | 2/13/2024Doctoral candidate and AgBioFEWS Fellow Christopher Gillespie seeks a stronger, more racially equitable food system, and at NC State, he’s taking steps to achieve that. • Read more » | 2/13/2024 | Dee Shore | NC State CALS News | Doctoral candidate and AgBioFEWS Fellow Christopher Gillespie seeks a stronger, more racially equitable food system, and at NC State, he’s taking steps to achieve that. | Christopher Gillespie |
Glow-In-the-Dark Flowers Are Coming This Spring: Meet the Firefly PetuniaSharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens | 2/12/2024Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, is surprised that more studies haven't come out about the environmental risk of luminescent petunias. Possible disruption to plant and insect behavior because of the unnatural light is unclear. “It depends on how widely these are grown and whether they were to establish more wildly,” she told Wired. • Read more » | 2/12/2024 | Sharon Greenthal | Better Homes & Gardens | Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, is surprised that more studies haven't come out about the environmental risk of luminescent petunias. Possible disruption to plant and insect behavior because of the unnatural light is unclear. “It depends on how widely these are grown and whether they were to establish more wildly,” she told Wired. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Starting StrongDee Shore, NC State CALS News | 2/7/2024For example, Eli Hornstein, who holds a Ph.D. from NC State in plant metabolic engineering, has started Elysia Creative Biology to help slow climate change by producing bioengineered crops that can be turned into feed that reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas, from cows. • Read more » | 2/7/2024 | Dee Shore | NC State CALS News | For example, Eli Hornstein, who holds a Ph.D. from NC State in plant metabolic engineering, has started Elysia Creative Biology to help slow climate change by producing bioengineered crops that can be turned into feed that reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas, from cows. | Eli Hornstein |
A Matter Of Trust: Helping The Bioeconomy Reach Its Full Potential With Translational GovernanceChristopher Gillespie, Federation of American Scientists | 2/1/2024Recent failures of the federal regulatory system for biotechnology threaten public trust, and recent regulations have been criticized for their lack of transparency. As a result, cross-sector efforts aim not just to reimagine the bioeconomy but to create a coordinated regulatory system for it. • Read more » | 2/1/2024 | Christopher Gillespie | Federation of American Scientists | Recent failures of the federal regulatory system for biotechnology threaten public trust, and recent regulations have been criticized for their lack of transparency. As a result, cross-sector efforts aim not just to reimagine the bioeconomy but to create a coordinated regulatory system for it. | Christopher Gillespie |
A disease wiped out a lot of Pennsylvania potatoes in 2016. Now research has found out howAlan Yu, WHYY–PBS | 1/29/2024After the 2016 outbreak, Penn State researchers [including AgBioFEWS Fellow Amanda Mainello] collected samples from 26 potato fields in Pennsylvania to study the disease. They recently published their findings, where they managed to identify the specific types of bacteria responsible, some of which had not been identified in Pennsylvania before. • Read more » | 1/29/2024 | Alan Yu | WHYY–PBS | After the 2016 outbreak, Penn State researchers [including AgBioFEWS Fellow Amanda Mainello] collected samples from 26 potato fields in Pennsylvania to study the disease. They recently published their findings, where they managed to identify the specific types of bacteria responsible, some of which had not been identified in Pennsylvania before. | Amanda Mainello |
Are GMOs Safe? Breaking Down the Science of Science-ified FoodsJamie Ducharme, Time | 1/5/2024Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture at NC State who chaired a 2016 NASEM report on genetically engineered crops, often leads educational sessions on GMOs. He likes to show a photograph of a supermarket produce section and ask how many of the vegetables in the picture are genetically modified. He gets lots of guesses as high as 90%—but the right answer is zero. • Read more » | 1/5/2024 | Jamie Ducharme | Time | Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture at NC State who chaired a 2016 NASEM report on genetically engineered crops, often leads educational sessions on GMOs. He likes to show a photograph of a supermarket produce section and ask how many of the vegetables in the picture are genetically modified. He gets lots of guesses as high as 90%—but the right answer is zero. | Fred Gould |
Sweet Potatoes' Flavor is More Complex Than You ThinkVideo, PBS Terra | 11/15/2023In this episode of Hungry Planet, North Carolina State University PhD student Modesta Abugu tells Niba about her research to make sweet potatoes more delicious by identifying the aromatic molecules that give rise to their complex flavor. • Read more » | 11/15/2023 | Video | PBS Terra | In this episode of Hungry Planet, North Carolina State University PhD student Modesta Abugu tells Niba about her research to make sweet potatoes more delicious by identifying the aromatic molecules that give rise to their complex flavor. | Modesta Abugu |
Moving biologicals beyond ‘snake oil’John Hart, Southeast Farm Press | 10/27/2023Katie Barnhill is a senior research scholar with the GES Center at NC State. She has done extensive interviews with farmers on the use of microbiological crop production inoculants, and explained farmers remain hesitant, due to continued skepticism on the products’ efficacy. • Read more » | 10/27/2023 | John Hart | Southeast Farm Press | Katie Barnhill is a senior research scholar with the GES Center at NC State. She has done extensive interviews with farmers on the use of microbiological crop production inoculants, and explained farmers remain hesitant, due to continued skepticism on the products’ efficacy. | Katie Barnhill |
National Academy of Sciences Member Directory: Fred GouldBiosketch, NASEM | 9/27/2023Fred Gould, North Carolina State UniversityPrimary Section: 61, Animal, Nutritional, and Applied Microbial Sciences | 9/27/2023 | Biosketch | NASEM | Fred Gould, North Carolina State UniversityPrimary Section: 61, Animal, Nutritional, and Applied Microbial Sciences Secondary Section: 27, Evolutionary Biology Membership Type: Member (elected 2011) | Fred Gould |
Here Come the Glow-in-the-Dark HouseplantsEmily Mullin, Wired | 9/19/2023Jennifer Kuzma, codirector of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says she’s concerned that the agency didn’t conduct a more formal assessment of the plant’s potential environmental and ecological risks. Even though bioluminescence occurs naturally, glowing plants could affect the behavior of insects and animals that aren’t accustomed to it. “It depends on how widely these are grown and whether they were to establish more wildly,” she says. • Read more » | 9/19/2023 | Emily Mullin | Wired | Jennifer Kuzma, codirector of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says she’s concerned that the agency didn’t conduct a more formal assessment of the plant’s potential environmental and ecological risks. Even though bioluminescence occurs naturally, glowing plants could affect the behavior of insects and animals that aren’t accustomed to it. “It depends on how widely these are grown and whether they were to establish more wildly,” she says. | Jennifer Kuzma |
The American chestnut tree is coming back. Who is it for?Maya L. Kapoor, Grist | 9/13/2023According to Jason Delborne, who studies biotechnology and environmental policy at North Carolina State University, “There are people who are environmentalists at their core, but sick of losing, and interested in the promise of technology to solve the ecological and environmental problems we are facing.” • Read more » | 9/13/2023 | Maya L. Kapoor | Grist | According to Jason Delborne, who studies biotechnology and environmental policy at North Carolina State University, “There are people who are environmentalists at their core, but sick of losing, and interested in the promise of technology to solve the ecological and environmental problems we are facing.” | Jason Delborne Katie Barnhill |
Policy and Transparency: Increasing Public Trust in US Biotechnology RegulationsZabrina J. Bugnosen, ISAAA Blog | 8/16/2023With the release of Executive Order 14801, the North Carolina State University experts [AgBioFEWS Fellows] see a window of opportunity to enhance visibility and encourage trust in the regulatory system. • Read more » | 8/16/2023 | Zabrina J. Bugnosen | ISAAA Blog | With the release of Executive Order 14801, the North Carolina State University experts [AgBioFEWS Fellows] see a window of opportunity to enhance visibility and encourage trust in the regulatory system. | AgBioFEWS Fellows |
Faculty Clusters Fuel a Culture of Excellence at NC StateSam Gunnells , NC State News | 7/12/2023The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) cluster grew into the GES Center and then — to fill the need for greater genetics literacy throughout the university — the Genetics and Genomics Academy was created. • Read more » | 7/12/2023 | Sam Gunnells | NC State News | The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) cluster grew into the GES Center and then — to fill the need for greater genetics literacy throughout the university — the Genetics and Genomics Academy was created. | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould |
Is Our Phosphorus Use Sustainable? Most Stakeholders Doubt ItMatt Shipman, NC State News | 7/5/2023“If we want to develop systems and policies that ensure long-term sustainability of phosphorus resources, we have to understand the needs, wants and concerns of relevant stakeholders,” Grieger says • Read more » | 7/5/2023 | Matt Shipman | NC State News | “If we want to develop systems and policies that ensure long-term sustainability of phosphorus resources, we have to understand the needs, wants and concerns of relevant stakeholders,” Grieger says | Khara Grieger |
First CRISPR-edited salad hits the U.S. marketHeather Frank, WORLD | 6/29/2023Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, doesn’t suspect any safety issues with Pairwise’s mustard greens, but she echoed Hanson’s call for more transparency. • Read more » | 6/29/2023 | Heather Frank | WORLD | Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, doesn’t suspect any safety issues with Pairwise’s mustard greens, but she echoed Hanson’s call for more transparency. | Jennifer Kuzma |
EPA publishes final rule on gene-edited plantsStaff, Oils and Fats International | 6/15/2023According to NC State’s Kuzma, the EPA had struck a reasonable balance. “We need some sort of outside check to make sure that the industry is thinking about risks to non-target organisms and humans when it comes to pesticidal compounds.” • Read more » | 6/15/2023 | Staff | Oils and Fats International | According to NC State’s Kuzma, the EPA had struck a reasonable balance. “We need some sort of outside check to make sure that the industry is thinking about risks to non-target organisms and humans when it comes to pesticidal compounds.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
EPA decision to tighten oversight of gene-edited crops draws mixed responseErik Stokstad, Science | 6/2/2023The move clarifies the regulatory requirements for industry and provides valuable oversight, says Jennifer Kuzma of North Carolina State University, an expert on biotechnology and public policy. • Read more » | 6/2/2023 | Erik Stokstad | Science | The move clarifies the regulatory requirements for industry and provides valuable oversight, says Jennifer Kuzma of North Carolina State University, an expert on biotechnology and public policy. | Jennifer Kuzma |
The Ever-Tenuous Success of Plants Engineered To Kill Insect FoesDan Charles, Science—The Wire | 5/29/2023Scientists understood that the strategy could fail. In 1998, entomologist Fred Gould, at North Carolina State University, laid out some of its weaknesses in the Annual Review of Entomology. • Read more » | 5/29/2023 | Dan Charles | Science—The Wire | Scientists understood that the strategy could fail. In 1998, entomologist Fred Gould, at North Carolina State University, laid out some of its weaknesses in the Annual Review of Entomology. | Fred Gould |
The First Crispr-Edited Salad Is HereEmily Mullin, Wired | 5/16/2023"The direct-to-consumer benefit has not manifested in many technological food products in the past 30 years," says Cummings. "If gene-edited foods are really going to take off, they need to provide a clear and direct benefit to people that helps them financially or nutritionally." • Read more » | 5/16/2023 | Emily Mullin | Wired | "The direct-to-consumer benefit has not manifested in many technological food products in the past 30 years," says Cummings. "If gene-edited foods are really going to take off, they need to provide a clear and direct benefit to people that helps them financially or nutritionally." | Christopher Cummings |
I Don’t Make the Rules, I Comment on ThemChristopher Gillespie, The Equation (Union of Concerned Scientists) | 5/12/2023It is one thing for Congress to pass a law. It is entirely different thing for a federal agency to make a rule (in other words, regulations) in accordance with that law. • Read more » | 5/12/2023 | Christopher Gillespie | The Equation (Union of Concerned Scientists) | It is one thing for Congress to pass a law. It is entirely different thing for a federal agency to make a rule (in other words, regulations) in accordance with that law. | Christopher Gillespie |
Nanomaterials Are In Our Food – Are They Safe? | An Expert ExplainsPodcast, Findig Genius | 5/8/2023How are nanomaterials being used around us – and what are the potential risks? Khara D. Grieger, an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Health and Risk Assessment at NC State, joins us to discuss this intriguing topic. With a Ph.D. in environmental engineering, Khara is interested in unpacking the uses and risks of nanotechnology in agriculture and food production. Drawing from her extensive knowledge of risk assessment, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, her research is truly ahead of its time… • Read more » | 5/8/2023 | Podcast | Findig Genius | How are nanomaterials being used around us – and what are the potential risks? Khara D. Grieger, an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Health and Risk Assessment at NC State, joins us to discuss this intriguing topic. With a Ph.D. in environmental engineering, Khara is interested in unpacking the uses and risks of nanotechnology in agriculture and food production. Drawing from her extensive knowledge of risk assessment, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, her research is truly ahead of its time… | Khara Grieger |
NC State Partner Institutes Bolster U.S. Manufacturing IndustryDeborah Strange, NC State News | 5/2/2023The Biotechnology Program (BIT) studies the molecular side of biotechnology, and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES) examines societal implications of genetic engineering used in biomanufacturing. Together, these units offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to • Read more » | 5/2/2023 | Deborah Strange | NC State News | The Biotechnology Program (BIT) studies the molecular side of biotechnology, and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES) examines societal implications of genetic engineering used in biomanufacturing. Together, these units offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to | Jason Delborne, Katie Barnhill |
The growth of GM foodRuth Alexander, The Food Chain Podcast, BBC World Service | 4/27/2023Professor Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, talks about how labelling can help give consumers choice over whether they eat GM. • Read more » | 4/27/2023 | Ruth Alexander, The Food Chain Podcast | BBC World Service | Professor Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, talks about how labelling can help give consumers choice over whether they eat GM. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Messing with Mother NatureEcoSense for Living Podcast, PBS | 4/24/2023In Galveston, Texas, coyotes dubbed "ghost wolves" carry high amounts of red wolf DNA that may help the population survive; groups consider whether they'll welcome American Chestnut trees engineered with a wheat gene to resist blight; mosquitoes modified to lower disease levels have met with resistance and concern in the Florida Keys. A conversation with Jason Delborne and Fred Gould of the GES Center at NC State University. • Read more » | 4/24/2023 | EcoSense for Living Podcast | PBS | In Galveston, Texas, coyotes dubbed "ghost wolves" carry high amounts of red wolf DNA that may help the population survive; groups consider whether they'll welcome American Chestnut trees engineered with a wheat gene to resist blight; mosquitoes modified to lower disease levels have met with resistance and concern in the Florida Keys. A conversation with Jason Delborne and Fred Gould of the GES Center at NC State University. | Jason Delborne, Fred Gould |
[Seminar Blog] What Influences Your Science? A Case Study On Cultural, Political, and Scientific EntanglementAmanda Rae Brucchieri and Robert Joseph Salerno , University of Maryland, Department of Entomology | 4/14/2023Dr. Fred Gould, a distinguished professor of Entomology at North Carolina State University whose relationship with the University of Maryland extends back over 30 years, addressed a full hall about this shadowed intersection of science and society. In his talk, Gould dove into the 16-year ban of Mendelian genetics in the Soviet Union and the history that resulted in the ban’s conception. • Read more » | 4/14/2023 | Amanda Rae Brucchieri and Robert Joseph Salerno | University of Maryland, Department of Entomology | Dr. Fred Gould, a distinguished professor of Entomology at North Carolina State University whose relationship with the University of Maryland extends back over 30 years, addressed a full hall about this shadowed intersection of science and society. In his talk, Gould dove into the 16-year ban of Mendelian genetics in the Soviet Union and the history that resulted in the ban’s conception. | Fred Gould |
NC State Researchers Assemble Pathogen ‘Tree of Life’Mick Kulikowski, NC State News | 4/3/2023“About 150 new Phytophthora species have been identified since 2000,” says NC State Ph.D. student Allison Coomber, who developed the tool with the team. “This is an unusually large number of plant pathogen species,” Ristaino said. “Many Phytophthora species have broad host ranges, so they can ‘move’ over wider areas.” • Read more » | 4/3/2023 | Mick Kulikowski | NC State News | “About 150 new Phytophthora species have been identified since 2000,” says NC State Ph.D. student Allison Coomber, who developed the tool with the team. “This is an unusually large number of plant pathogen species,” Ristaino said. “Many Phytophthora species have broad host ranges, so they can ‘move’ over wider areas.” | Jean Ristaino, Allison Coomber |
Should we bring back the woolly mammoth? SXSW experts talk ethics behind de-extinctionKara Carlson, Austin American-Statesman | 3/16/2023The ethics of bringing back extinct animals has been a hot topic among scientists and people following de-exinction efforts. Delborne, a social scientist, said it's important to have conversations about who decides what gets brought back and why, and added there is no one right answer. • Read more » | 3/16/2023 | Kara Carlson | Austin American-Statesman | The ethics of bringing back extinct animals has been a hot topic among scientists and people following de-exinction efforts. Delborne, a social scientist, said it's important to have conversations about who decides what gets brought back and why, and added there is no one right answer. | Jason Delborne |
Can we keep CRISPR responsible? The Future of CRISPR with Jennifer KuzmaPodcast + Article, FutureBites with Dr. Bruce McCabe | 2/19/2023Designer babies, agricultural mishaps, extinction via gene drive – all possible now that CRISPR has placed into our hands the awesome power to “edit life” in all its forms. So, how to keep the good while preventing the bad? How to safeguard our future? Is that even possible? I asked Jennifer Kuzma, global expert on biotech responsibility, to shed light on one of the most important governance challenges of our time: how to put guardrails around CRISPR. • Read more » | 2/19/2023 | Podcast + Article | FutureBites with Dr. Bruce McCabe | Designer babies, agricultural mishaps, extinction via gene drive – all possible now that CRISPR has placed into our hands the awesome power to “edit life” in all its forms. So, how to keep the good while preventing the bad? How to safeguard our future? Is that even possible? I asked Jennifer Kuzma, global expert on biotech responsibility, to shed light on one of the most important governance challenges of our time: how to put guardrails around CRISPR. | Jennifer Kuzma |
How CRISPR could help save crops from devastation caused by pestsEmma Foehringer Merchant, MIT Technology Review | 2/2/2023“Chemicals can only travel so far before they degrade in the environment,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy, and society at North Carolina State University. “If you introduce a gene-edited organism that can move through the environment, you have the potential to change or transform environments across a huge spatial and temporal scale.” • Read more » | 2/2/2023 | Emma Foehringer Merchant | MIT Technology Review | “Chemicals can only travel so far before they degrade in the environment,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy, and society at North Carolina State University. “If you introduce a gene-edited organism that can move through the environment, you have the potential to change or transform environments across a huge spatial and temporal scale.” | Jason Delborne |
Sweet-APPS Yielding Sweet SuccessEmma Macek, NC State CALS Magazine | 11/17/2022“By engaging stakeholders within the early stages of technology development, stakeholder needs can be more easily met, food waste can be reduced, and social and environmental sustainability within the industry can be improved.” Khara Grieger • Read more » | 11/17/2022 | Emma Macek | NC State CALS Magazine | “By engaging stakeholders within the early stages of technology development, stakeholder needs can be more easily met, food waste can be reduced, and social and environmental sustainability within the industry can be improved.” Khara Grieger | Khara Grieger, Craig Yencho, Daniela Jones, Cranos Williams |
Modesta Abugu: Improving Sweetpotato Flavor for Nutrition Security, NC State CALS News | 10/7/2022Modesta Abugu came to North Carolina State University from a smallholder farming community in Enugu State, located in southeastern Nigeria, where she grew up helping her mother on a two-acre farm planting, weeding and harvesting cassava, corn and cowpeas. • Read more » | 10/7/2022 | NC State CALS News | Modesta Abugu came to North Carolina State University from a smallholder farming community in Enugu State, located in southeastern Nigeria, where she grew up helping her mother on a two-acre farm planting, weeding and harvesting cassava, corn and cowpeas. | Modesta Abugu | |
Archea, Microbial Superheroes?Jabeen Ahmad, FFAR | 9/27/2022Food insecurity is a concern now and in the future. Globally, the United Nations estimates that about 690 million people are food insecure. By the year 2050, the world population is expected to reach nine billion people, requiring food supplies to double. • Read more » | 9/27/2022 | Jabeen Ahmad | FFAR | Food insecurity is a concern now and in the future. Globally, the United Nations estimates that about 690 million people are food insecure. By the year 2050, the world population is expected to reach nine billion people, requiring food supplies to double. | Jabeen Ahmad |
World Food Day: Revisiting the GMO conversationJoseph Opoku Gakpo, My Joy Online | 10/17/2022As we mark the day, I want to talk about what is probably the most significant food security-related development Ghana has witnessed since we celebrated the last World Food Day in October 2021. It has to do with genetically modified (GM) foods which are popularly known as GMOs. • Read more » | 10/17/2022 | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | My Joy Online | As we mark the day, I want to talk about what is probably the most significant food security-related development Ghana has witnessed since we celebrated the last World Food Day in October 2021. It has to do with genetically modified (GM) foods which are popularly known as GMOs. | Joseph Opoku Gakpo |
Opinion: Time to reopen the GE in agriculture debateJacqueline Rowarth, The Country (New Zealand) | 9/19/2022"Much effort has been expended globally over the past four decades to craft and update country-specific and multinational safety regulations that can be applied to crops developed by genetic engineering processes while exempting conventionally bred crops. This differentiation made some sense in the 1980s, but in light of technological advances, it is no longer scientifically defensible." • Read more » | 9/19/2022 | Jacqueline Rowarth | The Country (New Zealand) | "Much effort has been expended globally over the past four decades to craft and update country-specific and multinational safety regulations that can be applied to crops developed by genetic engineering processes while exempting conventionally bred crops. This differentiation made some sense in the 1980s, but in light of technological advances, it is no longer scientifically defensible." | Fred Gould |
A GMO Purple Tomato Is Coming to Grocery Aisles. Will the US Bite?Emily Mullin, WIRED | 9/13/2022Fred Gould, codirector of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center of North Carolina State University, says it will be up to consumers to decide just how valuable a purple tomato is. After all, they can get anthocyanins from other sources—berries, eggplant, and cabbage, for instance. • Read more » | 9/13/2022 | Emily Mullin | WIRED | Fred Gould, codirector of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center of North Carolina State University, says it will be up to consumers to decide just how valuable a purple tomato is. After all, they can get anthocyanins from other sources—berries, eggplant, and cabbage, for instance. | Fred Gould |
NSF announces 4 new Engineering Research Centers focused on agriculture, health, manufacturing and smart citiesStaff, NSF News | 8/10/2022NSF Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering will create microbiome technologies that address challenges at the interface of human health and the built environment, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms and preventing colonization by infectious agents. • Read more » | 8/10/2022 | Staff | NSF News | NSF Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering will create microbiome technologies that address challenges at the interface of human health and the built environment, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms and preventing colonization by infectious agents. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Duke-led Center Seeks to Examine and Engineer the Microbial Communities of Indoor SpacesKen Kingery, Duke University News | 8/10/2022Joining Gunsch on the PreMiEr leadership team are four distinguished faculty from neighboring North Carolina institutions: Jennifer Kuzma, the Goodnight-NCGSK Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State • Read more » | 8/10/2022 | Ken Kingery | Duke University News | Joining Gunsch on the PreMiEr leadership team are four distinguished faculty from neighboring North Carolina institutions: Jennifer Kuzma, the Goodnight-NCGSK Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State | Jennifer Kuzma |
NC State Brings Expertise, Interdisciplinarity to Galapagos ConsortiumDeborah Strange, NC State News | 7/29/2022Saah coordinates programs that research and develop new technologies that prevent species extinction. NC State researchers, such as Fred Gould, have examined genetic technologies to remove invasive species from the Galapagos. • Read more » | 7/29/2022 | Deborah Strange | NC State News | Saah coordinates programs that research and develop new technologies that prevent species extinction. NC State researchers, such as Fred Gould, have examined genetic technologies to remove invasive species from the Galapagos. | Fred Gould, Royden Saah |
NC State University Awarded BioMADE Funding to Advance U.S. Bioindustrial Manufacturing by Educating Future WorkersMatt Simpson, NC State News | 3/2/2022Delborne says that this is a “fantastic opportunity for the GES Center to contribute to an educational mission even as it prepares to work closely with the recently announced Genetics and Genomics Academy at NC State.” • Read more » | 3/2/2022 | Matt Simpson | NC State News | Delborne says that this is a “fantastic opportunity for the GES Center to contribute to an educational mission even as it prepares to work closely with the recently announced Genetics and Genomics Academy at NC State.” | Jason Delborne, Katie Barnhill |
WSSA Announces 2022 Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Weed Science, Weed Science Society of America | 2/23/2022OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD: Ramon Leon, Ph.D., North Carolina State University • Read more » | 2/23/2022 | Weed Science Society of America | OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD: Ramon Leon, Ph.D., North Carolina State University | Ramon Leon | |
Nigerian companies ramp up production to meet high demand for GMO cowpea seedsJoseph Opoku Gakpo, Alliance for Science | 2/22/2022Nigeria’s private local seed companies are expanding production of genetically modified (GM) cowpea seeds to supply farmers eager to grow the pest-resistant crop. • Read more » | 2/22/2022 | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | Alliance for Science | Nigeria’s private local seed companies are expanding production of genetically modified (GM) cowpea seeds to supply farmers eager to grow the pest-resistant crop. | Joseph Opoku Gakpo |
NC State receives USDA/NIFA grant to evaluate societal impacts and foster sustainability of GE and nanotech in agriculturePatti Mulligan, GES Center | 2/10/2022Khara Grieger, together with GES Co-director Jennifer Kuzma, will lead a $650,000 project that will support the responsible development of novel agrifood technologies to contribute to more sustainable food and ag systems. • Read more » | 2/10/2022 | Patti Mulligan | GES Center | Khara Grieger, together with GES Co-director Jennifer Kuzma, will lead a $650,000 project that will support the responsible development of novel agrifood technologies to contribute to more sustainable food and ag systems. | Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma |
What is stopping gene-edited food from saving our planet?Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering | 2/10/2022Adding to Barrangou's sentiment, Jennifer Kuzma, the Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Social Sciences and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State, tells IE that a gene-edited crop that works in the lab or greenhouse needn't work in the field. "Another challenge is that farmers may not want to buy that particular gene-edited seed if it may not deliver enough benefits directly to them. Crops to mitigate climate change may not fit into their economic models," she says. • Read more » | 2/10/2022 | Deena Theresa | Interesting Engineering | Adding to Barrangou's sentiment, Jennifer Kuzma, the Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Social Sciences and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State, tells IE that a gene-edited crop that works in the lab or greenhouse needn't work in the field. "Another challenge is that farmers may not want to buy that particular gene-edited seed if it may not deliver enough benefits directly to them. Crops to mitigate climate change may not fit into their economic models," she says. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Anti-GMO stances ‘insult smallholder farmers’ in Africa and AsiaJoseph Opoku Gakpo, Alliance for Science | 2/3/2022Nassib Mugwanya, a former agricultural extension agent in Uganda who is now a doctoral candidate in agriculture and extension education at North Carolina State University, agreed. “GM crops in Uganda are rooted in the contextual realities of the challenges facing agriculture and smallholder farmers,” he observed. “And if anything, I think GM crops complement indigenous knowledge and agricultural solutions. They help smallholder farmers — especially women — spend less time in the fields as they grow more nutritious crops for the households and communities.” • Read more » | 2/3/2022 | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | Alliance for Science | Nassib Mugwanya, a former agricultural extension agent in Uganda who is now a doctoral candidate in agriculture and extension education at North Carolina State University, agreed. “GM crops in Uganda are rooted in the contextual realities of the challenges facing agriculture and smallholder farmers,” he observed. “And if anything, I think GM crops complement indigenous knowledge and agricultural solutions. They help smallholder farmers — especially women — spend less time in the fields as they grow more nutritious crops for the households and communities.” | Joseph Opoku Gakpo, Nassib Mugwanya |
Two Professors Named 2021 AAAS FellowsAndrew Moore, NC State CNR News | 1/26/2022“As an interdisciplinary scholar who doesn’t fit neatly into traditional academic boxes, I’m really honored to have my contributions recognized by the premier science organization in the United States,” Delborne said. • Read more » | 1/26/2022 | Andrew Moore | NC State CNR News | “As an interdisciplinary scholar who doesn’t fit neatly into traditional academic boxes, I’m really honored to have my contributions recognized by the premier science organization in the United States,” Delborne said. | Jason Delborne |
How CRISPR is solving problems through DNA editingAbbey Slattery, WRAL.com | 1/25/2022"The RTP is one of the CRISPR hubs in the world, and we’ve had multiple CRISPR related startup companies. We are not just impacting science, technology and academia, but also making a real impact in the business world," said Barrangou. • Read more » | 1/25/2022 | Abbey Slattery | WRAL.com | "The RTP is one of the CRISPR hubs in the world, and we’ve had multiple CRISPR related startup companies. We are not just impacting science, technology and academia, but also making a real impact in the business world," said Barrangou. | Rodolphe Barrangou, Jack Wang |
Excelling through mentorship: An interview with Dr. Martha Burford ReiskindModesta Abugu, Women in Genomics | 1/25/2022Dr. Martha Burford Reiskind is one of the female scientists who understands the difference mentorship makes for graduate students’ success and is working to change the system of academic mentorship in graduate school. • Read more » | 1/25/2022 | Modesta Abugu | Women in Genomics | Dr. Martha Burford Reiskind is one of the female scientists who understands the difference mentorship makes for graduate students’ success and is working to change the system of academic mentorship in graduate school. | Modesta Abugu, Martha Burford Reiskind |
Fact Check: Genetic Engineers Have NOT Created Food That Makes Black People InfertileMarlo Lee, Lead Stories | 1/21/2022“The idea that RNA could be targeted specifically at Black people is even more unlikely,” (GES Co-director) Gould said…”there are no genetic distinctions between Black and white people. If the RNA could harm Black people, it would harm white people too.” • Read more » | 1/21/2022 | Marlo Lee | Lead Stories | “The idea that RNA could be targeted specifically at Black people is even more unlikely,” (GES Co-director) Gould said…”there are no genetic distinctions between Black and white people. If the RNA could harm Black people, it would harm white people too.” | Fred Gould |
3 minority-serving agricultural programs for students to know aboutBre Holbert, Ag Daily | 1/14/2022Features photo of AgBioFEWS Fellow DeShae Dillard • Read more » | 1/14/2022 | Bre Holbert | Ag Daily | Features photo of AgBioFEWS Fellow DeShae Dillard | DeShae Dillard |
Advancing a Culture of Interdisciplinary ExcellenceEmily Packard, NC State News | 1/12/2022“The Genetics and Genomics Academy will provide a wealth of opportunities for not just faculty, but also students to build their skills working with a diverse group within the university setting,” said Fred Gould, the academy’s executive director. • Read more » | 1/12/2022 | Emily Packard | NC State News | “The Genetics and Genomics Academy will provide a wealth of opportunities for not just faculty, but also students to build their skills working with a diverse group within the university setting,” said Fred Gould, the academy’s executive director. | Fred Gould |
Enhancing NC State’s Data-Driven, Climate-Smart Agriculture Talent PoolKristin Sargent , NC State CALS News | 1/7/2022Research assistant professor Daniela Jones discovered her spark for solving problems as an industrial engineering student at Mississippi State University. • Read more » | 1/7/2022 | Kristin Sargent | NC State CALS News | Research assistant professor Daniela Jones discovered her spark for solving problems as an industrial engineering student at Mississippi State University. | Daniela Jones |
Blog: Considerations for developing GMO crops around the worldModesta Abugu, GES Center | 11/10/2021Agriculture is changing and so are the technologies needed to improve it. Scientists should be allowed to develop genetically modified (GM) crops to provide options for smallholder farmers who depend on a successful harvest for their livelihood. • Read more » | 11/10/2021 | Modesta Abugu | GES Center | Agriculture is changing and so are the technologies needed to improve it. Scientists should be allowed to develop genetically modified (GM) crops to provide options for smallholder farmers who depend on a successful harvest for their livelihood. | Modesta Abugu |
Science, Technology and Society Second Meeting – Peru 2021Adriana Thalia Gonzales Del Carpio, Sebastián Zárate Vásquez and Amanda Vilchez, Society for Social Studies of Science | 11/8/2021The Second Peruvian STS Meeting was an opportunity to bring together experts and practitioners of science and technology communication, policy, and decision making. • Read more » | 11/8/2021 | Adriana Thalia Gonzales Del Carpio, Sebastián Zárate Vásquez and Amanda Vilchez | Society for Social Studies of Science | The Second Peruvian STS Meeting was an opportunity to bring together experts and practitioners of science and technology communication, policy, and decision making. | Sebastián Zárate |
NC State Launches Universitywide Genetics and Genomics AcademyEmily Packard, NC State News | 11/5/2021Fred Gould has been named executive director of the Genetics and Genomics Academy, effective November 1. Gould is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. • Read more » | 11/5/2021 | Emily Packard | NC State News | Fred Gould has been named executive director of the Genetics and Genomics Academy, effective November 1. Gould is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. | Fred Gould |
Graduate Mentorship Program Extended for Future CohortsRichard Campbell, NC State CALS News | 10/25/2021The program has already impacted 2021-2024 Rockey FFAR Fellows Cohort member DeShae Dillard, an NC State Ph.D. student in entomology. “I was recently accepted into the Leadership Development Committee for ESA. Being a fellow has radically changed my perspective on what I am able to accomplish as an individual.” • Read more » | 10/25/2021 | Richard Campbell | NC State CALS News | The program has already impacted 2021-2024 Rockey FFAR Fellows Cohort member DeShae Dillard, an NC State Ph.D. student in entomology. “I was recently accepted into the Leadership Development Committee for ESA. Being a fellow has radically changed my perspective on what I am able to accomplish as an individual.” | DeShae Dillard |
Khara Grieger to Co-lead Knowledge Transfer Efforts for New $25 million Phosphorus Research CenterPJ Bogdan, NC State CALS News | 10/8/2021“There’s a growing recognition that we need to innovate better – and in a way that takes into account societal perceptions and needs,” Grieger said. • Read more » | 10/8/2021 | PJ Bogdan | NC State CALS News | “There’s a growing recognition that we need to innovate better – and in a way that takes into account societal perceptions and needs,” Grieger said. | Khara Grieger |
Episode 20: Risk, Expertise, and the Power of Community Perspectives in Science and Technology ft. Jason DelborneShobita Parthasarathy, The Received Wisdom Podcast | 10/5/2021In this episode, STS scholars Shobita Parthasarathy and Jack Stilgoe chat with Jason Delborne (beginning at 17:20), a professor at NC State University who has done both research and public and policy engagement related to gene drives, a new form of biotechnology that could transform our ecosystems. • Read more » | 10/5/2021 | Shobita Parthasarathy | The Received Wisdom Podcast | In this episode, STS scholars Shobita Parthasarathy and Jack Stilgoe chat with Jason Delborne (beginning at 17:20), a professor at NC State University who has done both research and public and policy engagement related to gene drives, a new form of biotechnology that could transform our ecosystems. | Jason Delborne |
iGEM. Tackles. SDGs. Todd Kuiken chat with Zeeshan.iGEM, #SynBio Podcast | 10/5/2021In today's episode we discuss with Todd Kuiken of the NC State GES Center: bringing the iGEM SDG (sustainable development goals) working group to life; the first few questions iGEMers should ask themselves when trying to develop an SDG project; and the intense, controversial and hopeful conversations taking place at the UN and within the convention of biological diversity. • Read more » | 10/5/2021 | iGEM | #SynBio Podcast | In today's episode we discuss with Todd Kuiken of the NC State GES Center: bringing the iGEM SDG (sustainable development goals) working group to life; the first few questions iGEMers should ask themselves when trying to develop an SDG project; and the intense, controversial and hopeful conversations taking place at the UN and within the convention of biological diversity. | Todd Kuiken |
What to Know About GMOs: Five Questions with Biotech Policy Expert Jennifer KuzmaNash Dunn, Accolades | 9/29/2021We asked Jennifer Kuzma to share some of her insights with our readers. Here, she answers five essential questions about these increasingly prevalent technologies and products. • Read more » | 9/29/2021 | Nash Dunn | Accolades | We asked Jennifer Kuzma to share some of her insights with our readers. Here, she answers five essential questions about these increasingly prevalent technologies and products. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Podcast: GMOs - from 'Frankenfoods' to Superfoods?Podcast, BBC Business Daily | 8/2/2021Professor Fred Gould, who chaired a large study into safety of GMOs for the National Academy of Sciences in the US, warns that this technology is not a silver bullet for solving all of our environmental and health problems. • Read more » | 8/2/2021 | Podcast | BBC Business Daily | Professor Fred Gould, who chaired a large study into safety of GMOs for the National Academy of Sciences in the US, warns that this technology is not a silver bullet for solving all of our environmental and health problems. | Fred Gould |
A Sterile Solution: How Crispr Could Protect Wild SalmonLisa Abend, Salon | 7/30/2021In the U.S., Kuzma has noted similar trends. "In surveys, people say they see edits or genes inserted from the same species as slightly more acceptable than transgenic," she said, referring to genes inserted from different species. • Read more » | 7/30/2021 | Lisa Abend | Salon | In the U.S., Kuzma has noted similar trends. "In surveys, people say they see edits or genes inserted from the same species as slightly more acceptable than transgenic," she said, referring to genes inserted from different species. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Podcast: By focusing on biotechnology breakthroughs, have scientists overlooked simpler solutions to our food security problems?BBC World Service, Genetic Literacy Project | 7/28/2021By putting their faith in technology, have scientists and companies overlooked other simpler solutions to our food security problems? • Read more » | 7/28/2021 | BBC World Service | Genetic Literacy Project | By putting their faith in technology, have scientists and companies overlooked other simpler solutions to our food security problems? | Jennifer Kuzma |
US universities push for fewer hurdles on gene editing farm animalsPaul Basken, Times Higher Education | 7/26/2021But that’s not unwarranted given the complexities and potential implications of genetic changes that could become permanent and spread across the food supply, said Professor Kuzma, a co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State. Research delays attributed to the FDA may be upsetting some universities but could benefit them in the long run if it prevents a dangerous mistake, Professor Kuzma said. • Read more » | 7/26/2021 | Paul Basken | Times Higher Education | But that’s not unwarranted given the complexities and potential implications of genetic changes that could become permanent and spread across the food supply, said Professor Kuzma, a co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State. Research delays attributed to the FDA may be upsetting some universities but could benefit them in the long run if it prevents a dangerous mistake, Professor Kuzma said. | Jennifer Kuzma |
A Sterile Solution: How Crispr Could Protect Wild SalmonLisa Abend, Undark Magazine | 7/21/2021“The producers thought that only their edit was being introduced,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “You have to be cautious that you’re not getting any off-target” — or unintended — “effects,” she said. One way to guard against this: Sequence the offspring’s entire genome and look carefully for unintended changes in the DNA. • Read more » | 7/21/2021 | Lisa Abend | Undark Magazine | “The producers thought that only their edit was being introduced,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “You have to be cautious that you’re not getting any off-target” — or unintended — “effects,” she said. One way to guard against this: Sequence the offspring’s entire genome and look carefully for unintended changes in the DNA. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Learning to Love G.M.O.sJennifer Kahn, New York Times Magazine | 7/20/2021Nearly half of all U.S. shoppers say that they try not to buy G.M.O. foods, while a study by Jennifer Kuzma, a biochemist who is a director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, found that consumers will pay up to 20 percent more to avoid them.The fear of such unforeseen effects — what Kuzma calls “unknowingness” — is perhaps consumers’ biggest concern when it comes to G.M.O.s. Genetic interactions, after all, are famously complex. Adding a new gene — or simply changing how a gene is regulated (i.e., how active it is) — rarely affects just a single thing. • Read more » | 7/20/2021 | Jennifer Kahn | New York Times Magazine | Nearly half of all U.S. shoppers say that they try not to buy G.M.O. foods, while a study by Jennifer Kuzma, a biochemist who is a director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, found that consumers will pay up to 20 percent more to avoid them.The fear of such unforeseen effects — what Kuzma calls “unknowingness” — is perhaps consumers’ biggest concern when it comes to G.M.O.s. Genetic interactions, after all, are famously complex. Adding a new gene — or simply changing how a gene is regulated (i.e., how active it is) — rarely affects just a single thing. | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould |
Learning to Love G.M.O.sJennifer Kahn, New York Times Magazine | 7/20/2021Despite that, plant geneticists tend not to be overly concerned about the risks of G.M.O.s, as long as the modifications are made with some care. As a 2016 report by the National Academy of Sciences found, G.M.O.s were generally safe, though it allowed that minor impacts were theoretically possible. Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture who was chairman of the committee that prepared the 600-page report, noted that genetic changes that alter a metabolic pathway — the cellular process that transforms biochemical elements into a particular nutrient or compound, like the anthocyanins in Martin’s tomato — were especially important to study because they could cause cascading effects. • Read more » | 7/20/2021 | Jennifer Kahn | New York Times Magazine | Despite that, plant geneticists tend not to be overly concerned about the risks of G.M.O.s, as long as the modifications are made with some care. As a 2016 report by the National Academy of Sciences found, G.M.O.s were generally safe, though it allowed that minor impacts were theoretically possible. Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture who was chairman of the committee that prepared the 600-page report, noted that genetic changes that alter a metabolic pathway — the cellular process that transforms biochemical elements into a particular nutrient or compound, like the anthocyanins in Martin’s tomato — were especially important to study because they could cause cascading effects. | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould |
Fred Gould: Indeed, I Was a HippieMarlin E. Rice, American Entomologist | 6/7/2021Research scientist Fred Gould began his career studying the evolution of spider mite host range and its relationship to the development of insecticide resistance. • Read more » | 6/7/2021 | Marlin E. Rice | American Entomologist | Research scientist Fred Gould began his career studying the evolution of spider mite host range and its relationship to the development of insecticide resistance. | Fred Gould |
First GMO Mosquitoes to Be Released In the Florida KeysTaylor White, Undark | 4/12/2021While the company does not plan to release the mosquitos near areas where the antibiotic is used, Kuzma says the EPA’s risk assessment did not include testing of any standing water for tetracycline — something, she adds, “would have been easy enough to do for good due diligence.” • Read more » | 4/12/2021 | Taylor White | Undark | While the company does not plan to release the mosquitos near areas where the antibiotic is used, Kuzma says the EPA’s risk assessment did not include testing of any standing water for tetracycline — something, she adds, “would have been easy enough to do for good due diligence.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Podcast: Gene editing could revolutionise environmental conservation – but should we use it?Jheni Osman, BBC Sounds | 4/6/2021A conversation with scientists [including Dr. Todd Kuiken] currently researching potential uses of gene editing for environmental conservation, including combining it with a gene drive to control grey squirrel populations, using CRISPR to find the genes responsible for heat tolerance in coral, and editing genetic diversity into species on the brink of extinction. • Read more » | 4/6/2021 | Jheni Osman | BBC Sounds | A conversation with scientists [including Dr. Todd Kuiken] currently researching potential uses of gene editing for environmental conservation, including combining it with a gene drive to control grey squirrel populations, using CRISPR to find the genes responsible for heat tolerance in coral, and editing genetic diversity into species on the brink of extinction. | Todd Kuiken |
Agroecology movement is not against modern technologies - Peasant Farmers Association of GhanaJoseph Opoku Gakpo, Modern Ghana | 3/30/2021Nassib Mugwanya, a Ugandan agricultural communications specialist [and AgBioFEWS Fellow] who previously worked with the National Crops Resources Research Institute, believes the wholistic definition of agroecology creates an opportunity to embrace emerging technologies, such as genetically modified (GM) seeds. • Read more » | 3/30/2021 | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | Modern Ghana | Nassib Mugwanya, a Ugandan agricultural communications specialist [and AgBioFEWS Fellow] who previously worked with the National Crops Resources Research Institute, believes the wholistic definition of agroecology creates an opportunity to embrace emerging technologies, such as genetically modified (GM) seeds. | Nassib Mugwanya |
Village Hears From Experts As Genetic-Mosquito Release Experiment NearsJim McCarthy, Keys Weekly | 3/26/2021“In the laboratory, it turned out the male mosquitoes flew fine and mated well. But in the real environment, they weren’t as strong as the wild type mosquitoes..." said Fred Gould. Jennifer Kuzma, professor of public and international affairs at NC State, outlined a lack of higher level oversight involving not only federal agencies, but also interested parties and external expert advisory panels. • Read more » | 3/26/2021 | Jim McCarthy | Keys Weekly | “In the laboratory, it turned out the male mosquitoes flew fine and mated well. But in the real environment, they weren’t as strong as the wild type mosquitoes..." said Fred Gould. Jennifer Kuzma, professor of public and international affairs at NC State, outlined a lack of higher level oversight involving not only federal agencies, but also interested parties and external expert advisory panels. | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould |
Video: How do local communities participate in gene drive research?, Gene Drive Network | 3/23/2021In this video produced by the Gene Drive Network, Dr. Jason Delborne discusses how local communities can participate in gene drive research, and describes an analogy of "grasping hands," where each participant allows themselves the possibility of being moved. • Read more » | 3/23/2021 | Gene Drive Network | In this video produced by the Gene Drive Network, Dr. Jason Delborne discusses how local communities can participate in gene drive research, and describes an analogy of "grasping hands," where each participant allows themselves the possibility of being moved. | Jason Delborne | |
Podcast: GMOs and Sustainable CropsEmily Journey, GMO Watch | 3/15/2021Dr. Fred Gould shares the importance of GMOs being much more than just how we can alter the food we eat and what scientists are doing now to change the future of potential disease and overall health. • Read more » | 3/15/2021 | Emily Journey | GMO Watch | Dr. Fred Gould shares the importance of GMOs being much more than just how we can alter the food we eat and what scientists are doing now to change the future of potential disease and overall health. | Fred Gould |
Viewpoint: Gene-edited crop developers need to win public trust. Transparency is how they can do itMargaret Evans, Genetic Literacy Project | 3/2/2021“There is a segment of the population where people want to know whether their foods are modified by modern biotechnology and they won’t necessarily distinguish between something that is transgenetic, a first-generation genetic engineered method or a second-generation gene edited technique. I think it’s important for people to know that these gene edited plants are going into the market.” • Read more » | 3/2/2021 | Margaret Evans | Genetic Literacy Project | “There is a segment of the population where people want to know whether their foods are modified by modern biotechnology and they won’t necessarily distinguish between something that is transgenetic, a first-generation genetic engineered method or a second-generation gene edited technique. I think it’s important for people to know that these gene edited plants are going into the market.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Gene Revolution Turns 25 - 1Pamela Smith, DTN Progressive Farmer | 3/1/2021"Consumers want to know which products are genetically modified and which are not. I don't expect that to change for gene-edited crops," Kuzma said. "Crop developers, including companies, have signaled they want to do a better job with gene editing to improve public trust. • Read more » | 3/1/2021 | Pamela Smith | DTN Progressive Farmer | "Consumers want to know which products are genetically modified and which are not. I don't expect that to change for gene-edited crops," Kuzma said. "Crop developers, including companies, have signaled they want to do a better job with gene editing to improve public trust. | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger |
Researchers want GMO transparencyPost, GM Watch | 3/1/2021The article reports Kuzma as saying that "even though developers of biotech foods want to do better with a second generation of gene editing, they are really making things more complicated by obscuring the terminology and exempting many things from both regulation and labelling." • Read more » | 3/1/2021 | Post | GM Watch | The article reports Kuzma as saying that "even though developers of biotech foods want to do better with a second generation of gene editing, they are really making things more complicated by obscuring the terminology and exempting many things from both regulation and labelling." | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger |
Researchers want GMO transparencyMargaret Evans, The Western Producer | 2/25/2021“Because many gene-edited crops would be exempt under SECURE, and new GM food-labelling rules may not apply to them, there needs to be some information repository for companies that want to do the right thing and be more transparent,” said Kuzma. “Our recommendations would provide a mechanism for that.” • Read more » | 2/25/2021 | Margaret Evans | The Western Producer | “Because many gene-edited crops would be exempt under SECURE, and new GM food-labelling rules may not apply to them, there needs to be some information repository for companies that want to do the right thing and be more transparent,” said Kuzma. “Our recommendations would provide a mechanism for that.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Alternative weed control - we'll have an app for thatJennifer Howard, Morning Ag Clips | 2/9/2021Researcher and associate professor Ramon Leon's interdisciplinary 3-D Weed Vision System aims to equip farmers with DIY imaging technology to reliably anticipate their cover crop’s performance and address weed escapes with precision accuracy • Read more » | 2/9/2021 | Jennifer Howard | Morning Ag Clips | Researcher and associate professor Ramon Leon's interdisciplinary 3-D Weed Vision System aims to equip farmers with DIY imaging technology to reliably anticipate their cover crop’s performance and address weed escapes with precision accuracy | Ramon Leon |
Gene-Edited Bacon Could Be Coming to Your Plate SoonEmily Mullin, Future Human | 1/27/2021“The developers of genetically engineered animals are thinking that they’re going to have an easier time going through the regulatory process,” says Jennifer Kuzma, PhD, co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, of the proposed change. • Read more » | 1/27/2021 | Emily Mullin | Future Human | “The developers of genetically engineered animals are thinking that they’re going to have an easier time going through the regulatory process,” says Jennifer Kuzma, PhD, co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, of the proposed change. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Biotech: An Environmentalist’s DilemmaTodd Kuiken, Biodesigned | 1/20/2021Environmental scientist Todd Kuiken weighs the pros and cons of deploying biotechnology to protect vulnerable ecosystems. • Read more » | 1/20/2021 | Todd Kuiken | Biodesigned | Environmental scientist Todd Kuiken weighs the pros and cons of deploying biotechnology to protect vulnerable ecosystems. | Todd Kuiken |
Exploring Gene Drive Technologies in Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Human Disease, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health | 1/13/2021Video: Dr. Fred Gould and Sir Charles Godfray (Oxford University) discuss the interesting exploration of gene drive technologies in agriculture, biodiversity, and human disease • Read more » | 1/13/2021 | Foundation for the National Institutes of Health | Video: Dr. Fred Gould and Sir Charles Godfray (Oxford University) discuss the interesting exploration of gene drive technologies in agriculture, biodiversity, and human disease | Fred Gould | |
5 trends fueling food and beverage innovation in 2021Lillianna Byington, Christopher Doering, Megan Poinski , Food Dive | 1/4/2021Consumers will see food with a lot of different traits, such as fresher and tastier, "although they will not necessarily know they are gene edited,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor at North Carolina State University and co-director of its Genetic Engineering and Society Center. • Read more » | 1/4/2021 | Lillianna Byington, Christopher Doering, Megan Poinski | Food Dive | Consumers will see food with a lot of different traits, such as fresher and tastier, "although they will not necessarily know they are gene edited,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor at North Carolina State University and co-director of its Genetic Engineering and Society Center. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Francisco Sagasti, the intellectual who fosters science and democracy in Peru’s most critical hourSebastián Zárate, Society for Social Studies of Science | 12/27/2020Sebastián Zárate (AgBioFEWS Fellow) describes the participation of Francisco Sagasti on the Annual Meeting of CTS in Perú in 2018 and reflects on the challenging role of Sagasti as a National President. • Read more » | 12/27/2020 | Sebastián Zárate | Society for Social Studies of Science | Sebastián Zárate (AgBioFEWS Fellow) describes the participation of Francisco Sagasti on the Annual Meeting of CTS in Perú in 2018 and reflects on the challenging role of Sagasti as a National President. | Sebastián Zárate |
Scientists Set a Path for Field Trials of Gene Drive OrganismsMario Aguilera, UC San Diego Press | 12/17/2020“Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organisms,” published Dec. 18, 2020 in Science by more than 40 researchers, including GES Center Co-Directors Jennifer Kuzma and Fred Gould and GES Executive Committee member Jason Delborne, as well as several other GES-affiliated faculty and scholars. • Read more » | 12/17/2020 | Mario Aguilera | UC San Diego Press | “Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organisms,” published Dec. 18, 2020 in Science by more than 40 researchers, including GES Center Co-Directors Jennifer Kuzma and Fred Gould and GES Executive Committee member Jason Delborne, as well as several other GES-affiliated faculty and scholars. | Jason Delborne, Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma, Royden Saah, Max Scott, Marce Lorenzen |
Awards for Excellence 2020 Recognition Ceremony, NC State News | 12/14/2020Patti Mulligan, GES Center Communications Director, was awarded the NC State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for Efficiency and Innovation, the university’s most prestigious honor bestowed upon non-faculty employees. • Read more » | 12/14/2020 | NC State News | Patti Mulligan, GES Center Communications Director, was awarded the NC State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for Efficiency and Innovation, the university’s most prestigious honor bestowed upon non-faculty employees. | Patti Mulligan | |
Dependence on agroecology will jeopardise our food security – Deputy Agric MinisterJoseph Opoku Gakpo, Joy Online | 12/4/2020Ugandan agriculturalist Nassib Mugwanya has argued the limitations of agroecology will make it difficult to scale it up across Africa. “Whatever the problems and limitations of modern agriculture may be, dogmatic adherence to a model based fundamentally on traditional farming is not the answer. African agriculture needs transformation,” he observes. • Read more » | 12/4/2020 | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | Joy Online | Ugandan agriculturalist Nassib Mugwanya has argued the limitations of agroecology will make it difficult to scale it up across Africa. “Whatever the problems and limitations of modern agriculture may be, dogmatic adherence to a model based fundamentally on traditional farming is not the answer. African agriculture needs transformation,” he observes. | Nassib Mugwanya |
More Transparency Recommended for Gene-Edited CropsMick Kulikowski, NC State News | 11/19/2020NC State researchers Jennifer Kuzma and Khara Grieger, in a policy forum paper published in the journal Science, say that SECURE, though decades in the making, falls short in providing enough public information about gene-edited crops in the food supply. • Read more » | 11/19/2020 | Mick Kulikowski | NC State News | NC State researchers Jennifer Kuzma and Khara Grieger, in a policy forum paper published in the journal Science, say that SECURE, though decades in the making, falls short in providing enough public information about gene-edited crops in the food supply. | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger |
The ‘Public Good’ of Controlling Mobile Pests with Genetically Engineered CropsMargaret Huffman, NC State ARE News | 11/11/2020"While these results suggest that some farmers may be free-riding on their neighbors’ use of Bt crops, this should not be taken to conclude that farmers are necessarily ‘underadopting’ Bt crops,” said Zack Brown, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and GES Center faculty member. • Read more » | 11/11/2020 | Margaret Huffman | NC State ARE News | "While these results suggest that some farmers may be free-riding on their neighbors’ use of Bt crops, this should not be taken to conclude that farmers are necessarily ‘underadopting’ Bt crops,” said Zack Brown, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and GES Center faculty member. | Zack Brown |
Sunrise to Startups, Grad Students Plan FuturesStacy Chandler, NC State CALS Magazine | 11/2/2020AgBioFEWS Fellow Jabeen Ahmad's journey from public defender to plant biologist. “Interdisciplinary studies are crucial now. It is absolutely essential to have a skill set that can cross into all of these different spheres." • Read more » | 11/2/2020 | Stacy Chandler | NC State CALS Magazine | AgBioFEWS Fellow Jabeen Ahmad's journey from public defender to plant biologist. “Interdisciplinary studies are crucial now. It is absolutely essential to have a skill set that can cross into all of these different spheres." | Jabeen Ahmad |
Video: Teach Me in 10 – Gene Drive Research With Dr Jennifer Baltzegar, Technology Networks | 9/10/2020Dr. Baltzegar teaches us about how the maturation of genetic engineering approaches has advanced gene drives, the two different strategies for gene drives and some of the key questions surrounding the application of gene drives in society. • Read more » | 9/10/2020 | Technology Networks | Dr. Baltzegar teaches us about how the maturation of genetic engineering approaches has advanced gene drives, the two different strategies for gene drives and some of the key questions surrounding the application of gene drives in society. | Jennifer Baltzegar | |
Podcast: The Unseen World of Food Nanotechnology, The Measure of Everyday Life podcast | 9/2/2020New advances in nanotechnology offer potential promise for the future as well as raising concerns for some. On this episode, we talk with Khara Grieger of North Carolina State University about her work on public understanding of nanotechnology innovations for food production. • Read more » | 9/2/2020 | The Measure of Everyday Life podcast | New advances in nanotechnology offer potential promise for the future as well as raising concerns for some. On this episode, we talk with Khara Grieger of North Carolina State University about her work on public understanding of nanotechnology innovations for food production. | Khara Grieger | |
Office of Research and Innovation Honors Three with Award for ExcellenceMatt Simpson, NC State ORI News | 8/10/2020SHRA Winner - Patti Mulligan, director of communications for the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, was nominated in the Efficiency and Innovation category. • Read more » | 8/10/2020 | Matt Simpson | NC State ORI News | SHRA Winner - Patti Mulligan, director of communications for the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, was nominated in the Efficiency and Innovation category. | Patti Mulligan |
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will it Succeed?Dyllan Furness, Undark | 8/5/2020While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of people’s digestive systems. • Read more » | 8/5/2020 | Dyllan Furness | Undark | While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of people’s digestive systems. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Returning to Farming’s Roots in the Battle Against the ‘Billion-Dollar Beetle’Rosemary Brandt, NC State ARE News | 7/21/2020Nicknamed the "billion-dollar beetle" for its enormous economic costs to growers in the United States each year, the western corn rootworm is one of the most devastating pests farmers face. • Read more » | 7/21/2020 | Rosemary Brandt | NC State ARE News | Nicknamed the "billion-dollar beetle" for its enormous economic costs to growers in the United States each year, the western corn rootworm is one of the most devastating pests farmers face. | Zack Brown |
Using Leaf Fungi to Improve Crop ResilienceMollie Rappe, NC State CALS News | 6/29/2020Jason Delborne, a researcher with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center and the College of Natural Resources, will lead the efforts to assess public opinion and analyze the potential regulatory pathway for techniques to introduce beneficial plant fungi to crops. • Read more » | 6/29/2020 | Mollie Rappe | NC State CALS News | Jason Delborne, a researcher with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center and the College of Natural Resources, will lead the efforts to assess public opinion and analyze the potential regulatory pathway for techniques to introduce beneficial plant fungi to crops. | Jason Delborne |
Gene-edited mosquitoes are ready for the U.S. — but is the U.S. ready for them?Jenny McGrath, Digital Trends | 6/27/2020Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D., co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center at North Carolina State University, co-authored two articles raising concerns, one in The Conversation and one in The Boston Globe. “It was just surprising to me and my coauthors that, in the face of such an important decision to release the first genetically modified mosquito into the wild, that there wasn’t an external scientific board or panel that could help EPA make that decision." • Read more » | 6/27/2020 | Jenny McGrath | Digital Trends | Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D., co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center at North Carolina State University, co-authored two articles raising concerns, one in The Conversation and one in The Boston Globe. “It was just surprising to me and my coauthors that, in the face of such an important decision to release the first genetically modified mosquito into the wild, that there wasn’t an external scientific board or panel that could help EPA make that decision." | Jennifer Kuzma |
Before genetically modified mosquitoes are released, we need a better EPANatalie Kofler and Jennifer Kuzma, | 6/22/2020If risks are being assessed, it is largely happening behind closed doors between technology developers and EPA employees. • Read more » | 6/22/2020 | Natalie Kofler and Jennifer Kuzma | If risks are being assessed, it is largely happening behind closed doors between technology developers and EPA employees. | Jennifer Kuzma | |
Study uses satellite imagery, internet searches to track COVID-19, how reliable is it?Judith Retana, CBS-17 | 6/11/2020Professor Jennifer Kuzma, a professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and Co-director of Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NCSU said we should take this study with a grain of salt. • Read more » | 6/11/2020 | Judith Retana | CBS-17 | Professor Jennifer Kuzma, a professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and Co-director of Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NCSU said we should take this study with a grain of salt. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Biodesign Challenge Summit 2020Info, Bustler | 6/9/2020BDC 2020 JUDGES: Fred Gould, Co-director, Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State; Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar, North Carolina State University • Read more » | 6/9/2020 | Info | Bustler | BDC 2020 JUDGES: Fred Gould, Co-director, Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State; Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar, North Carolina State University | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould |
Genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in Florida and Texas beginning this summer – silver bullet or jumping the gun?Brian Allan et al, The Conversation | 6/4/2020As vector biologists, geneticists, policy experts and bioethicists, we are concerned that current government oversight and scientific evaluation of GM mosquitoes do not ensure their responsible deployment. • Read more » | 6/4/2020 | Brian Allan et al | The Conversation | As vector biologists, geneticists, policy experts and bioethicists, we are concerned that current government oversight and scientific evaluation of GM mosquitoes do not ensure their responsible deployment. | Jennifer Kuzma |
The Rouge ExperimentersMargaret Talbot, The New Yorker | 5/18/2020Todd Kuiken, a researcher at N.C. State who has studied the D.I.Y.-bio community for years, told me, “At first, there was this fear that biohackers in the basement were going to release pandemics. These were really myths.” • Read more » | 5/18/2020 | Margaret Talbot | The New Yorker | Todd Kuiken, a researcher at N.C. State who has studied the D.I.Y.-bio community for years, told me, “At first, there was this fear that biohackers in the basement were going to release pandemics. These were really myths.” | Todd Kuiken |
Policy Forum: Promoting biosecurity by professionalizing biosecurityRebecca L. Moritz, Kavita M. Berger, Barbara R. Owen, David R. Gillum, Science | 2/21/2020Reference to Todd Kuiken's work: "For example, the implementation of the credential could be modeled after work being done within the DIYbio community, which involves obtaining widespread adoption of safety practices among distributed communities from around the world (10). This is an example of what can be achieved through engagement, communication, and partnership." • Read more » | 2/21/2020 | Rebecca L. Moritz, Kavita M. Berger, Barbara R. Owen, David R. Gillum | Science | Reference to Todd Kuiken's work: "For example, the implementation of the credential could be modeled after work being done within the DIYbio community, which involves obtaining widespread adoption of safety practices among distributed communities from around the world (10). This is an example of what can be achieved through engagement, communication, and partnership." | Todd Kuiken |
Cornell scientists amplify ‘green’ research at AAASBlaine Friedlander, Cornell News | 2/20/2020Nassib Mugwanya, center, a member of the Cornell Alliance for Science’s inaugural cohort (and GES AgBioFEWS Fellow), talks with Ed Buckler, right, a U.S. Department of Agriculture appointee and a Cornell adjunct professor on plant breeding and genetics, after a AAAS agricultural session on Feb. 15. • Read more » | 2/20/2020 | Blaine Friedlander | Cornell News | Nassib Mugwanya, center, a member of the Cornell Alliance for Science’s inaugural cohort (and GES AgBioFEWS Fellow), talks with Ed Buckler, right, a U.S. Department of Agriculture appointee and a Cornell adjunct professor on plant breeding and genetics, after a AAAS agricultural session on Feb. 15. | Nassib Mugwanya |
GRIP4PSI Seed Grant Winners AnnouncedStaff, NC State CALS News | 2/17/2020Four NC State research teams have been selected as recipients of the next phase of the Game-Changing Research Incentive Program (GRIP). The program was initially created in 2016 as a three-year seed-funding initiative to stimulate interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Now, a new initiative — called GRIP4PSI — will encourage the NC State community to collaborate on integrated research • Read more » | 2/17/2020 | Staff | NC State CALS News | Four NC State research teams have been selected as recipients of the next phase of the Game-Changing Research Incentive Program (GRIP). The program was initially created in 2016 as a three-year seed-funding initiative to stimulate interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Now, a new initiative — called GRIP4PSI — will encourage the NC State community to collaborate on integrated research | Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma |
Can CRISPR Save Tufty Fluffytail?Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily | 1/24/2020Resources: ENGINEERING THE WILD: GENE DRIVES AND INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY, By: Jennifer Kuzma and Lindsey Rawls • Read more » | 1/24/2020 | Liz Tracey | JSTOR Daily | Resources: ENGINEERING THE WILD: GENE DRIVES AND INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY, By: Jennifer Kuzma and Lindsey Rawls | Jennifer Kuzma |
At the Crossroads of Art and Biotech, a Warning: Be Careful What You Wish ForBrian Howe, Indy Week | 1/13/2020“There are different ways of knowing things,” Gould adds. “That’s why Molly came up with the name: not artwork, but art’s work. What is an artist supposed to do?" • Read more » | 1/13/2020 | Brian Howe | Indy Week | “There are different ways of knowing things,” Gould adds. “That’s why Molly came up with the name: not artwork, but art’s work. What is an artist supposed to do?" | Fred Gould |
Gene editing could revolutionize the food industry, but it'll have to fight the PR war GMO foods lostIra Basen, CBC Radio | 1/12/2020Kuzma agrees that GMO researchers have sometimes been guilty of "perhaps overstating the promise of the technology and understating potential risk." But she believes those involved in developing gene-editing techniques want to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. • Read more » | 1/12/2020 | Ira Basen | CBC Radio | Kuzma agrees that GMO researchers have sometimes been guilty of "perhaps overstating the promise of the technology and understating potential risk." But she believes those involved in developing gene-editing techniques want to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. | Jennifer Kuzma |
An Ancient Greek Festival For Creating Female SpermGrant Holub-Moorman & Anita Rao, WUNC The State of Things program | 1/10/2020""I'm interested in how we can use art and science to break down some of these symbols to actually break down that hierarchy." - Charlotte Jarvis, Art's Work/Genetic Futures artist • Read more » | 1/10/2020 | Grant Holub-Moorman & Anita Rao | WUNC The State of Things program | ""I'm interested in how we can use art and science to break down some of these symbols to actually break down that hierarchy." - Charlotte Jarvis, Art's Work/Genetic Futures artist | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould, Patti Mulligan |
Feature: The Gene Drive Dilemma: We Can Alter Entire Species, but Should We?Jennifer Kahn, The New York Times Magazine | 1/8/2020Todd Kuiken, a researcher at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says that “it was basically a lesson in how not to do things.” But, he pointed out, the “Monsanto Mistake” also alerted researchers to the need for a more transparent and collaborative approach. • Read more » | 1/8/2020 | Jennifer Kahn | The New York Times Magazine | Todd Kuiken, a researcher at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says that “it was basically a lesson in how not to do things.” But, he pointed out, the “Monsanto Mistake” also alerted researchers to the need for a more transparent and collaborative approach. | Todd Kuiken |
Works - Art's Work in the Age of BiotechnologyAlice Fleerackers, Art the Science | 1/7/2020NC State University is the perfect place to discuss these issues, as the institution has been at the forefront of not only discoveries and innovations in genetics, but is also the home of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES). The Center’s co-director entomologist Fred Gould, along with Molly Renda with NCSU Libraries’ Exhibit Program had discussed creating an art exhibit that addressed the same ethical and practical questions being discussed among GES’s interdisciplinary scholars..." • Read more » | 1/7/2020 | Alice Fleerackers | Art the Science | NC State University is the perfect place to discuss these issues, as the institution has been at the forefront of not only discoveries and innovations in genetics, but is also the home of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES). The Center’s co-director entomologist Fred Gould, along with Molly Renda with NCSU Libraries’ Exhibit Program had discussed creating an art exhibit that addressed the same ethical and practical questions being discussed among GES’s interdisciplinary scholars..." | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould, Patti Mulligan |
Fusing Disciplines, Transforming Graduate EducationStaff, NC State News | 1/2/2020The Agricultural Biotechnology in Food, Energy and Water Systems program brings scholars together to solve grand challenges. • Read more » | 1/2/2020 | Staff | NC State News | The Agricultural Biotechnology in Food, Energy and Water Systems program brings scholars together to solve grand challenges. | Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma |
Exhibition: ‘Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures’Staff, CLOT Magazine | 12/19/2019Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures is an art-science exhibit and symposium of artists, scientists, and humanities scholars, led by the North Carolina State University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center, held at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, the physical and digital display spaces of the University Libraries, and the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). • Read more » | 12/19/2019 | Staff | CLOT Magazine | Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures is an art-science exhibit and symposium of artists, scientists, and humanities scholars, led by the North Carolina State University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center, held at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, the physical and digital display spaces of the University Libraries, and the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould, Patti Mulligan |
Mosquitoes armed with bacteria beat back dengue virusKelly Servick, Science | 11/22/2019"That trial is the “gold standard,” says [GES Co-director] Fred Gould, an evolutionary biologist at NC State. If the results, expected next year, back up the preliminary evidence that Wolbachia reduces dengue, he says, the World Health Organization could approve this microbial ally for broader use. • Read more » | 11/22/2019 | Kelly Servick | Science | "That trial is the “gold standard,” says [GES Co-director] Fred Gould, an evolutionary biologist at NC State. If the results, expected next year, back up the preliminary evidence that Wolbachia reduces dengue, he says, the World Health Organization could approve this microbial ally for broader use. | Fred Gould |
This Gene Technology Could Change the World. Its Maker Isn’t Sure It Should.Shayla Love, VICE | 11/18/2019One accident could affect the whole future of this work. In 1999, a patient died while participating in a gene therapy trial at the University of Pennsylvania, which "really slowed down...the field for a decade at least," according to Kuzma. "Could it happen in the case of gene drive? Yeah," she said. • Read more » | 11/18/2019 | Shayla Love | VICE | One accident could affect the whole future of this work. In 1999, a patient died while participating in a gene therapy trial at the University of Pennsylvania, which "really slowed down...the field for a decade at least," according to Kuzma. "Could it happen in the case of gene drive? Yeah," she said. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Margaret Atwood and the Biotechnology of TomorrowElizabeth Beal, NC State News | 11/18/2019Bringing together literature, science and art to comment on the future of genetic engineering is no small feat. “It feels like the culmination of everything the center has been working towards for the past five years,” says Patti Mulligan, communications director for the GES Center. • Read more » | 11/18/2019 | Elizabeth Beal | NC State News | Bringing together literature, science and art to comment on the future of genetic engineering is no small feat. “It feels like the culmination of everything the center has been working towards for the past five years,” says Patti Mulligan, communications director for the GES Center. | Patti Mulligan, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould |
Margaret Atwood discusses her ‘prophetic’ novel, effects of new science developments on societyRachel Davis, Technician | 11/17/2019Kuzma said the mission of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center was to guide biotechnologies in responsible and sustainable ways. She stressed the importance of integrating social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and the humanities to tackle these issues and hold each other accountable for possible misuse of the new technologies. • Read more » | 11/17/2019 | Rachel Davis | Technician | Kuzma said the mission of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center was to guide biotechnologies in responsible and sustainable ways. She stressed the importance of integrating social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and the humanities to tackle these issues and hold each other accountable for possible misuse of the new technologies. | Jennifer Kuzma |
High-Tech Chestnuts: US to Consider Genetically Altered TreeMichael Hill, The Associated Press; New York Times | 11/6/2019"If the chestnut is approved ... I think it's accurate to say that it does help pave the way for other biotech trees," said Jason Delborne, an associate professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. • Read more » | 11/6/2019 | Michael Hill | The Associated Press; New York Times | "If the chestnut is approved ... I think it's accurate to say that it does help pave the way for other biotech trees," said Jason Delborne, an associate professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. | Jason Delborne |
The world's banana crops are under threat from a deadly fungus. Is gene editing the answer?Laura Brehaut, National Post | 11/4/2019The technique is perhaps best described by Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. In an interview with Gastropod, she likened DNA to a book and CRISPR to a pen: “You can go in and you can edit the letters in a word, or you can change different phrases, or you can edit whole paragraphs at very specific locations.” • Read more » | 11/4/2019 | Laura Brehaut | National Post | The technique is perhaps best described by Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. In an interview with Gastropod, she likened DNA to a book and CRISPR to a pen: “You can go in and you can edit the letters in a word, or you can change different phrases, or you can edit whole paragraphs at very specific locations.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
CRISPR Just Created a Hornless Bull, and It’s a Step Forward for Gene-Edited FoodShelly Fan, Singularity Hub | 10/22/2019“Genetic engineering has a pretty rough history when it comes to foods,” said Dr. Jennifer Kuzma at the North Carolina State University to Gastropod, an excellent podcast covering the science and history of food. • Read more » | 10/22/2019 | Shelly Fan | Singularity Hub | “Genetic engineering has a pretty rough history when it comes to foods,” said Dr. Jennifer Kuzma at the North Carolina State University to Gastropod, an excellent podcast covering the science and history of food. | Jennifer Kuzma |
The Yogurt Industry Has Been Using CRISPR for a DecadeNicola Twilley, Cynthia Graber, and Gastropod, The Atlantic | 10/14/2019As Jennifer Kuzma, the co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State, explained it to Gastropod, if DNA is a book, CRISPR is like a pen. “You can go in and you can edit the letters in a word, or you can change different phrases, or you can edit whole paragraphs at very specific locations,” she said. “Whereas with first-generation transgenic techniques, it was essentially throwing a new paragraph into a book.” • Read more » | 10/14/2019 | Nicola Twilley, Cynthia Graber, and Gastropod | The Atlantic | As Jennifer Kuzma, the co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State, explained it to Gastropod, if DNA is a book, CRISPR is like a pen. “You can go in and you can edit the letters in a word, or you can change different phrases, or you can edit whole paragraphs at very specific locations,” she said. “Whereas with first-generation transgenic techniques, it was essentially throwing a new paragraph into a book.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
How Do We Communicate Genetic Engineering?Dee Shore, NC State CALS Magazine | 10/13/2019In CALS entomologist Fred Gould, Dean Richard Linton sees a master craftsman. “Fred is building,” Linton says, “but not with bricks and concrete.” • Read more » | 10/13/2019 | Dee Shore | NC State CALS Magazine | In CALS entomologist Fred Gould, Dean Richard Linton sees a master craftsman. “Fred is building,” Linton says, “but not with bricks and concrete.” | Fred Gould |
‘Stop Stabbing Yourself,’ a Biohacker Tells His Daredevil PeersKristen V Brown, Bloomberg Businessweek | 10/11/2019Most DIY gene therapy experiments in people have failed or fizzled out. Todd Kuiken, a researcher at NC State University’s Genetic Engineering & Society Center who studies community science labs, says one measure of success for biohackers would be if they could create alternative pathways for careers in science, as computer hackers have for software engineers. • Read more » | 10/11/2019 | Kristen V Brown | Bloomberg Businessweek | Most DIY gene therapy experiments in people have failed or fizzled out. Todd Kuiken, a researcher at NC State University’s Genetic Engineering & Society Center who studies community science labs, says one measure of success for biohackers would be if they could create alternative pathways for careers in science, as computer hackers have for software engineers. | Todd Kuiken |
What’s CRISPR Doing in our Food?, Gastropod | 10/7/2019You've probably heard the hype: CRISPR will revolutionize biotech, cure disease, resurrect extinct species, and even create new-and-(not-so)-improved humans. Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Co-director of the GES Center at NC State, helps us understand the technology's potential, both good and bad, as well as how it might be regulated and labeled • Read more » | 10/7/2019 | Gastropod | You've probably heard the hype: CRISPR will revolutionize biotech, cure disease, resurrect extinct species, and even create new-and-(not-so)-improved humans. Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Co-director of the GES Center at NC State, helps us understand the technology's potential, both good and bad, as well as how it might be regulated and labeled | Jennifer Kuzma | |
Take the Kids: Wander through NC Museum of Art's park to find its corn mazeGo Ask Mom, WRAL News | 9/26/2019This year, the NC Museum of Art waded into the maize maze scene. But, as you might expect, this one isn't as much about getting lost as it is about learning about biotechnology and how it's shaping our genetic futures. • Read more » | 9/26/2019 | Go Ask Mom | WRAL News | This year, the NC Museum of Art waded into the maize maze scene. But, as you might expect, this one isn't as much about getting lost as it is about learning about biotechnology and how it's shaping our genetic futures. | Todd Kuiken |
Tempering Tech with Collective WisdomNatalie Kofler, Earth Island Journal | 9/25/2019Last year, 11 of my colleagues — including Kuzma, Esvelt — and I proposed an alternative approach that would provide a neutral space for balanced deliberation on application of CRISPR and gene drive technologies. In an article entitled “Editing nature: Local roots of global governance” published in Science, we lay out a new decision-making model that would enable local community representatives to decide if and how a genetically engineered organism should be released into the environment. • Read more » | 9/25/2019 | Natalie Kofler | Earth Island Journal | Last year, 11 of my colleagues — including Kuzma, Esvelt — and I proposed an alternative approach that would provide a neutral space for balanced deliberation on application of CRISPR and gene drive technologies. In an article entitled “Editing nature: Local roots of global governance” published in Science, we lay out a new decision-making model that would enable local community representatives to decide if and how a genetically engineered organism should be released into the environment. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Bioerror to bioterror - does synthetic biology give new tools to terrorists? Part 2Natash Mitchell, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National | 9/22/2019From bioerror to bioterror, Science Friction's Natasha Mitchell was the only journalist at a recent closed NATO biosecurity workshop in Switzerland where leaders in the military, science and citizen science, sociology, and technological governance met to consider the threats. • Read more » | 9/22/2019 | Natash Mitchell | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National | From bioerror to bioterror, Science Friction's Natasha Mitchell was the only journalist at a recent closed NATO biosecurity workshop in Switzerland where leaders in the military, science and citizen science, sociology, and technological governance met to consider the threats. | Todd Kuiken |
From bioerror to bioterror - should we worry about synthetic biology? (Part 1)Natash Mitchell, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National | 9/15/2019From bioerror to bioterror, Science Friction's Natasha Mitchell was the only journalist at a recent closed NATO biosecurity workshop in Switzerland where leaders in the military, science and citizen science, sociology, and technological governance met to consider the threats. • Read more » | 9/15/2019 | Natash Mitchell | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National | From bioerror to bioterror, Science Friction's Natasha Mitchell was the only journalist at a recent closed NATO biosecurity workshop in Switzerland where leaders in the military, science and citizen science, sociology, and technological governance met to consider the threats. | Todd Kuiken |
Survey Guages Support for Using Gene Drives to Fight PestsMick Kulikowski, Futurity | 9/12/2019People were more apt to support gene drive systems that controlled the spread of the drive, says Zack Brown, assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics at North Carolina State University and the corresponding author of a paper describing the research. • Read more » | 9/12/2019 | Mick Kulikowski | Futurity | People were more apt to support gene drive systems that controlled the spread of the drive, says Zack Brown, assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics at North Carolina State University and the corresponding author of a paper describing the research. | Zack Brown, Mike Jones |
Corn maze open at North Carolina Museum of Art through October, WTVD ABC11 | 8/13/2019RALEIGH (WTVD) — A quarter-acre corn maze is now open at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. The maze called ‘From Teosinte to Tomorrow’ is a conceptual walk through agricultural history. • Read more » | 8/13/2019 | WTVD ABC11 | RALEIGH (WTVD) — A quarter-acre corn maze is now open at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. The maze called ‘From Teosinte to Tomorrow’ is a conceptual walk through agricultural history. | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould, Patti Mulligan | |
Corn Maze to Open at North Carolina Museum of ArtLauren Bell Issacs, Carolina Parent Magazine | 8/8/2019Ready for fall-ish fun? An art-meets-science corn maze exhibit called "From Teosinte to Tomorrow" is opening in partnership with NC State University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at the North Carolina Museum of Art on Sunday, Aug. 11. • Read more » | 8/8/2019 | Lauren Bell Issacs | Carolina Parent Magazine | Ready for fall-ish fun? An art-meets-science corn maze exhibit called "From Teosinte to Tomorrow" is opening in partnership with NC State University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at the North Carolina Museum of Art on Sunday, Aug. 11. | Todd Kuiken, Fred Gould, Patti Mulligan |
GES Center Awarded Half-Million Dollar Grant to Study Responsible Innovation of Food NanotechnologyPatti Mulligan, NC State CHASS News | 8/2/2019Results from the $499,857 grant include obtaining critical information on responsible innovation practices that can help ensure the sustainability of nanomaterials in food and agricultural applications, identifying stakeholder concerns and highlighting key lessons applicable to novel technologies in food and agriculture sectors more broadly. • Read more » | 8/2/2019 | Patti Mulligan | NC State CHASS News | Results from the $499,857 grant include obtaining critical information on responsible innovation practices that can help ensure the sustainability of nanomaterials in food and agricultural applications, identifying stakeholder concerns and highlighting key lessons applicable to novel technologies in food and agriculture sectors more broadly. | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger |
USDA to biotech: Call your own complianceSteve Suppan, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | 7/30/2019USDA, in its desire to maximize trade in GE crops as soon as possible and everywhere, has proposed a rule that would make it exceedingly difficult to assess a GE plant’s risks, even for the “unfamiliar products” that are targeted for USDA paperwork review, when GE product developers decide not to self-determine their compliance with the rule to increase acceptance of their products by foreign regulators in U.S. export targets . The classification of commercial applicant studies and data as “confidential business information” adds to a proposed rule that, as Professor Kuzma writes, “does not inspire public confidence.” • Read more » | 7/30/2019 | Steve Suppan | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | USDA, in its desire to maximize trade in GE crops as soon as possible and everywhere, has proposed a rule that would make it exceedingly difficult to assess a GE plant’s risks, even for the “unfamiliar products” that are targeted for USDA paperwork review, when GE product developers decide not to self-determine their compliance with the rule to increase acceptance of their products by foreign regulators in U.S. export targets . The classification of commercial applicant studies and data as “confidential business information” adds to a proposed rule that, as Professor Kuzma writes, “does not inspire public confidence.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Just how sustainable is that synbio startup?Meg Wilcox, GreenBiz | 7/23/2019Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, disagrees. "It’s not as simple as saying, we’ll just produce this from algae now," he said. "There are impacts, there are winners and losers, all of that needs to be evaluated and put on the table so people can make a decision with all of that information in front of them." • Read more » | 7/23/2019 | Meg Wilcox | GreenBiz | Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, disagrees. "It’s not as simple as saying, we’ll just produce this from algae now," he said. "There are impacts, there are winners and losers, all of that needs to be evaluated and put on the table so people can make a decision with all of that information in front of them." | Todd Kuiken |
CRISPR conundrum: Strict European court ruling leaves food-testing labs without a planHeidi Ledford, Nature | 7/23/2019European regulators might need to rely on companies to voluntarily share some of that data, says Jennifer Kuzma, a science-policy researcher at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She suspects that some firms would be willing to do so, to avoid the public scepticism that has plagued genetically modified crops. • Read more » | 7/23/2019 | Heidi Ledford | Nature | European regulators might need to rely on companies to voluntarily share some of that data, says Jennifer Kuzma, a science-policy researcher at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She suspects that some firms would be willing to do so, to avoid the public scepticism that has plagued genetically modified crops. | Jennifer Kuzma |
NC bees are dying. Would a consumer ban on a pesticide help?Associated Press, CBS 17 | 7/22/2019“The thing that gets glossed over in the discussions of banning neonics is that the pests themselves aren’t going to go away in these farming systems,” said Burrack, who is also an extension specialist. “Something needs to be done to manage them, and that something might become a more toxic pesticide if this one is removed. That needs to be a part of the conversation.” • Read more » | 7/22/2019 | Associated Press | CBS 17 | “The thing that gets glossed over in the discussions of banning neonics is that the pests themselves aren’t going to go away in these farming systems,” said Burrack, who is also an extension specialist. “Something needs to be done to manage them, and that something might become a more toxic pesticide if this one is removed. That needs to be a part of the conversation.” | Hannah Burrack |
Hacking photosynthesis to feed the futureTara Santora, ScienceLine | 7/20/2019Whether gene hacking to improve yields will affect plants’ susceptibility to pests is still unknown, says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. • Read more » | 7/20/2019 | Tara Santora | ScienceLine | Whether gene hacking to improve yields will affect plants’ susceptibility to pests is still unknown, says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Academic Minute: Forest BiotechDoug Lederman, Inside Higher Ed | 7/8/2019Today on the Academic Minute, Jason Delborne, associate professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University, explores whether we can have genetically engineered trees like we do food • Read more » | 7/8/2019 | Doug Lederman | Inside Higher Ed | Today on the Academic Minute, Jason Delborne, associate professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University, explores whether we can have genetically engineered trees like we do food | Jason Delborne |
Can Genetic Engineering Save Our Planet’s Biodiversity?CNR News, NC State | 6/24/2019“New tools for gene editing and strategies such as synthetic gene drives open up novel opportunities for imagining ways that we might ‘engineer’ biology beyond laboratories and agricultural fields,” said Jason Delborne • Read more » | 6/24/2019 | CNR News | NC State | “New tools for gene editing and strategies such as synthetic gene drives open up novel opportunities for imagining ways that we might ‘engineer’ biology beyond laboratories and agricultural fields,” said Jason Delborne | Jason Delborne |
Workshop Report on Gene Drive Mice for Biodiversity Protection on IslandsKatie Barnhill-Dilling, Jason Delborne, GES Center | 6/24/2019The findings will inform ongoing discussions about the governance of gene drive organisms that may one day be released in the environment. These findings will also contribute to ongoing discussions about early engagement with respect to emerging technologies. • Read more » | 6/24/2019 | Katie Barnhill-Dilling, Jason Delborne | GES Center | The findings will inform ongoing discussions about the governance of gene drive organisms that may one day be released in the environment. These findings will also contribute to ongoing discussions about early engagement with respect to emerging technologies. | Jason Delborne |
Biotechnology Oversight Gets an Early Make-Over by Trump’s White House and USDA: Part 1—The Executive OrderJennifer Kuzma, GES Center | 6/18/2019Although the EO states that agencies should “base regulatory decisions on scientific and technical evidence,” it ignores its own advice. • Read more » | 6/18/2019 | Jennifer Kuzma | GES Center | Although the EO states that agencies should “base regulatory decisions on scientific and technical evidence,” it ignores its own advice. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Crispr gene-editing will change the way Americans eat – here's what's comingKaren Weintraub, The Guardian | 5/30/2019[Kuzma] also said that she sees industry making many of the same public relations mistakes with gene editing that they made with GMOs. The industry is fighting labeling and regulation and not being as transparent as it should be about the challenges and shortcomings of gene editing, she said and wrote in a recent article. • Read more » | 5/30/2019 | Karen Weintraub | The Guardian | [Kuzma] also said that she sees industry making many of the same public relations mistakes with gene editing that they made with GMOs. The industry is fighting labeling and regulation and not being as transparent as it should be about the challenges and shortcomings of gene editing, she said and wrote in a recent article. | Jennifer Kuzma |
BiohackersKarl Gruber, Embo Reports | 5/28/2019Having access to the technology and knowledge to create something dangerous is still a long way from actually creating it though. “Releasing a virus with the intent to cause harm is illegal,” commented Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University. “It's also not that simple. One would need rather sophisticated equipment to engineer, deploy and, importantly, protect themselves from such a virus (if they were even able to obtain it). All of which would require significant money.” Moreover, as Kuiken pointed out, the DIY community is well aware of such risks. • Read more » | 5/28/2019 | Karl Gruber | Embo Reports | Having access to the technology and knowledge to create something dangerous is still a long way from actually creating it though. “Releasing a virus with the intent to cause harm is illegal,” commented Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar at the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University. “It's also not that simple. One would need rather sophisticated equipment to engineer, deploy and, importantly, protect themselves from such a virus (if they were even able to obtain it). All of which would require significant money.” Moreover, as Kuiken pointed out, the DIY community is well aware of such risks. | Todd Kuiken |
Synthetic Biology Is Changing What We Eat. Here’s What You Need to Know.Meg Wilcox, Civil Eats | 5/16/2019Burgess’ concerns of farmer’s livelihoods being displaced are not unfounded, according to Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar at the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. “There are winners and losers. All of that needs to be evaluated and put on the table so people can make informed decisions.” • Read more » | 5/16/2019 | Meg Wilcox | Civil Eats | Burgess’ concerns of farmer’s livelihoods being displaced are not unfounded, according to Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar at the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. “There are winners and losers. All of that needs to be evaluated and put on the table so people can make informed decisions.” | Todd Kuiken |
Gene Editing in the Wild: Who Decides—and How?Niki Wilson, Bioscience | 4/4/2019“It's really a system based on the premise that no new laws are needed because there's no new categories of risk with genetically engineered products,” Kuzma says. “It's definitely not designed for things like gene drives.” • Read more » | 4/4/2019 | Niki Wilson | Bioscience | “It's really a system based on the premise that no new laws are needed because there's no new categories of risk with genetically engineered products,” Kuzma says. “It's definitely not designed for things like gene drives.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
2018-19 University Faculty Scholars NamedEmily Packard, NC State News | 2/27/2019GES Executive Committee Member, Dr. Jason A. Delborne, named 2018-19 University Faculty Scholar. • Read more » | 2/27/2019 | Emily Packard | NC State News | GES Executive Committee Member, Dr. Jason A. Delborne, named 2018-19 University Faculty Scholar. | Jason Delborne |
Plan to plant genetically engineered trees throughout US to save dying forestsJosh Gabbatiss, The Independent | 2/16/2019“People are interested in exploring the potential of biotechnology, which could be used to introduce a specific trait unto a tree species or make it resistant or tolerant a disease or pest,” said Dr Jason Delborne, a social scientist at North Carolina State University. While genetic engineering normally takes place within tight restrictions, these GM trees would be created with the express intention of spreading far and wide. • Read more » | 2/16/2019 | Josh Gabbatiss | The Independent | “People are interested in exploring the potential of biotechnology, which could be used to introduce a specific trait unto a tree species or make it resistant or tolerant a disease or pest,” said Dr Jason Delborne, a social scientist at North Carolina State University. While genetic engineering normally takes place within tight restrictions, these GM trees would be created with the express intention of spreading far and wide. | Jason Delborne |
Video: Complete Feb. 1 lecture by geneticist Fred Gould, Responsible Innovation in Genetic Sciences: Past, Present, and FutureCollege of Science, Clemson University | 2/6/2019Fred Gould, a professor of entomology and plant pathology and the William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture at North Carolina State University, spoke on the ethics of genetic manipulations and biotechnology at noon Feb. 1 in the Watt Auditorium. This lecture titled “Responsible Innovation in Genetic Sciences: Past, Present and Future” was open to faculty, staff, and students. Here is a video of his complete lecture. • Read more » | 2/6/2019 | College of Science | Clemson University | Fred Gould, a professor of entomology and plant pathology and the William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture at North Carolina State University, spoke on the ethics of genetic manipulations and biotechnology at noon Feb. 1 in the Watt Auditorium. This lecture titled “Responsible Innovation in Genetic Sciences: Past, Present and Future” was open to faculty, staff, and students. Here is a video of his complete lecture. | Fred Gould |
Companies Use CRISPR to Improve CropsAshley P. Taylor, The Scientist | 2/1/2019Of course, not everyone in the US believes that less regulation is better. As Kuzma writes in a recent review article, most consumers want the government to ensure the safety of genetically modified crops, and 60 percent of biotech experts she surveyed support some kind of pre-market oversight. • Read more » | 2/1/2019 | Ashley P. Taylor | The Scientist | Of course, not everyone in the US believes that less regulation is better. As Kuzma writes in a recent review article, most consumers want the government to ensure the safety of genetically modified crops, and 60 percent of biotech experts she surveyed support some kind of pre-market oversight. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Okay, Let's Settle This—Are GMOs Bad for You or Not?Erin Magner, Well and Good | 1/30/2019“The first generation of genetically engineered foods took a gene from bacteria that killed insects and put it into plants,” [Kuzma] says. “When grown in a field, these plants kill insects on their own, so farmers can use fewer pesticides.” • Read more » | 1/30/2019 | Erin Magner | Well and Good | “The first generation of genetically engineered foods took a gene from bacteria that killed insects and put it into plants,” [Kuzma] says. “When grown in a field, these plants kill insects on their own, so farmers can use fewer pesticides.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Gene Drives Work in Mice (if They’re Female)John Rennie and Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta | 1/24/2019Fred Gould, an entomologist and evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University, likens gene drives to the fictional substance ice-nine in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle: a bizarre form of ice that freezes all other water it touches. Gene drives spread fast because they are sets of genetic elements that spontaneously copy themselves from a maternal chromosome to a matching paternal one or vice versa. • Read more » | 1/24/2019 | John Rennie and Jordana Cepelewicz | Quanta | Fred Gould, an entomologist and evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University, likens gene drives to the fictional substance ice-nine in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle: a bizarre form of ice that freezes all other water it touches. Gene drives spread fast because they are sets of genetic elements that spontaneously copy themselves from a maternal chromosome to a matching paternal one or vice versa. | Fred Gould |
Tempering Tech with Collective WisdomNatalie Kofler, Earth Island Journal | 1/21/2019Jennifer Kuzma, the co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State has written extensively on this topic. She argues that one reason we are witnessing immense public pushback over GMO foods is because societal values are not considered when regulatory decisions are made in the US. • Read more » | 1/21/2019 | Natalie Kofler | Earth Island Journal | Jennifer Kuzma, the co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State has written extensively on this topic. She argues that one reason we are witnessing immense public pushback over GMO foods is because societal values are not considered when regulatory decisions are made in the US. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Can genetic engineering save disappearing forests?Jason A. Delborne, The Conversation | 1/18/2019Which would reduce wildness more – the introduction of a biotech tree or the eradication of an important tree species? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they remind us of the complexity of decisions to use technology to enhance “nature.” • Read more » | 1/18/2019 | Jason A. Delborne | The Conversation | Which would reduce wildness more – the introduction of a biotech tree or the eradication of an important tree species? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they remind us of the complexity of decisions to use technology to enhance “nature.” | Jason Delborne |
Forest Health and Biotechnology Report, Webinar, Press Release, and Slides PostedOffice of News and Public Information, National Academy of Sciences | 1/15/2019Biotechnology has the potential to help mitigate threats to North American forests from insects and pathogens through the introduction of pest-resistant traits to forest trees. However, many gaps in knowledge remain, particularly related to tree genetics, effects on the environment, and the public’s understanding of the technology. The report examines the potential of biotechnology to mitigate threats to forest tree health; identifies the ecological, ethical, and social implications of deploying biotechnology in forests, and develops a research agenda to address the knowledge gaps.Download the Report | Report Highlights | Press Release | Presentation Slides | Watch the webinar recording below: • Read more » | 1/15/2019 | Office of News and Public Information | National Academy of Sciences | Biotechnology has the potential to help mitigate threats to North American forests from insects and pathogens through the introduction of pest-resistant traits to forest trees. However, many gaps in knowledge remain, particularly related to tree genetics, effects on the environment, and the public’s understanding of the technology. The report examines the potential of biotechnology to mitigate threats to forest tree health; identifies the ecological, ethical, and social implications of deploying biotechnology in forests, and develops a research agenda to address the knowledge gaps.Download the Report | Report Highlights | Press Release | Presentation Slides | Watch the webinar recording below: | Jason Delborne |
Post-normal' science requires unorthodox communication strategies, study saysDavid Tenenbaum, Phys.org | 1/14/2019The new analysis grew from the Third Sackler Colloquium on The Science of Science Communication, and was performed by Brossard, Pam Belluck, a science journalist at The New York Times, and Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture with a specialty in entomology at North Carolina State University. "Our aim," the authors write, "is therefore to use our collective experiences and knowledge to highlight how the current debate about gene drives could benefit from lessons learned from other contexts and sound communication approaches involving multiple actors." • Read more » | 1/14/2019 | David Tenenbaum | Phys.org | The new analysis grew from the Third Sackler Colloquium on The Science of Science Communication, and was performed by Brossard, Pam Belluck, a science journalist at The New York Times, and Fred Gould, a professor of agriculture with a specialty in entomology at North Carolina State University. "Our aim," the authors write, "is therefore to use our collective experiences and knowledge to highlight how the current debate about gene drives could benefit from lessons learned from other contexts and sound communication approaches involving multiple actors." | Fred Gould |
Biotech Could Modify Trees to Protect Against PestsJohn Fialka, Scientific American | 1/10/2019In a press conference on Tuesday, Jason Delborne, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, noted that most studies on using biotechnology to protect forests have been done in Canada and Europe. Relatively little work is underway in the United States. He and other members of the panel stressed that more public funds are needed to expand tree breeding programs and the use of biotechnological tools such as genetic editing... • Read more » | 1/10/2019 | John Fialka | Scientific American | In a press conference on Tuesday, Jason Delborne, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, noted that most studies on using biotechnology to protect forests have been done in Canada and Europe. Relatively little work is underway in the United States. He and other members of the panel stressed that more public funds are needed to expand tree breeding programs and the use of biotechnological tools such as genetic editing... | Jason Delborne |
HIGHLIGHTS - Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations ReportSusan E. Offutt, Vikram E. Chhatre, Jason A. Delborne, et al., National Academies of Science | 1/8/2019COMMITTEE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS FOREST HEALTH: Susan E. Offutt (Chair), U.S. Government Accountability Office (retired); Vikram E. Chhatre, University of Wyoming; Jason A. Delborne, North Carolina State University; Stephen DiFazio, West Virginia University; Doria R. Gordon, Environmental Defense Fund; Inés Ibáñez, University of Michigan; Gregory Jaffe, Center for Science in the Public Interest; • Read more » | 1/8/2019 | Susan E. Offutt, Vikram E. Chhatre, Jason A. Delborne, et al. | National Academies of Science | COMMITTEE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS FOREST HEALTH: Susan E. Offutt (Chair), U.S. Government Accountability Office (retired); Vikram E. Chhatre, University of Wyoming; Jason A. Delborne, North Carolina State University; Stephen DiFazio, West Virginia University; Doria R. Gordon, Environmental Defense Fund; Inés Ibáñez, University of Michigan; Gregory Jaffe, Center for Science in the Public Interest; | Jason Delborne, Ronald Sederoff |
Gene engineers make super-size plants that are 40% largerAntonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review | 1/3/2019Heike Sederoff, a plant scientist at NC State who has carried out related laboratory studies, describes the new report, published in the journal Science, as the first time such large gains have been seen in a field trial of this type. “It confirms the potential for real agricultural benefits,” she says. • Read more » | 1/3/2019 | Antonio Regalado | MIT Technology Review | Heike Sederoff, a plant scientist at NC State who has carried out related laboratory studies, describes the new report, published in the journal Science, as the first time such large gains have been seen in a field trial of this type. “It confirms the potential for real agricultural benefits,” she says. | Heike Sederoff |
Science is racing to stop another CRISPR baby from being bornJonathan O'Callaghan, Wired | 12/18/2018“I think it’s a matter of a decade or so when it could become very routine and easy to do,” says Jennifer Kuzma, a genetic engineering expert at North Carolina State University. • Read more » | 12/18/2018 | Jonathan O'Callaghan | Wired | “I think it’s a matter of a decade or so when it could become very routine and easy to do,” says Jennifer Kuzma, a genetic engineering expert at North Carolina State University. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Gene-edited farm animals are coming. Will we eat them?Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post | 12/17/2018“We’re at this inflection point in society, where gene editing is really taking off, and now is the time we could have a more sustained public conversation about how we want it used in our world and how we don’t want it to be used,” said Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “All the polls indicate that people are less comfortable with animal biotechnology than plant biotechnology… A regulatory system cannot be based 100 percent on science or scientific risk, and values come into play when setting the standards.” • Read more » | 12/17/2018 | Carolyn Y. Johnson | Washington Post | “We’re at this inflection point in society, where gene editing is really taking off, and now is the time we could have a more sustained public conversation about how we want it used in our world and how we don’t want it to be used,” said Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “All the polls indicate that people are less comfortable with animal biotechnology than plant biotechnology… A regulatory system cannot be based 100 percent on science or scientific risk, and values come into play when setting the standards.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Transparency in science: Talking about the potential of gene editing for conservationBen Creagh, CSIRO ECOS | 12/11/2018Dr. Jason Delborne, Associate Professor of Science, Policy and Society at North Carolina State University, dislikes the term ‘social license to operate’. “It has some assumptions built in that are problematic. It invokes the metaphor of a government licence, which is like a one-time permit. It suggests that once you get it, you’re off and running. And what I’m interested in is the kind of engagement that’s ongoing. There is no particular moment in time when you achieve social license. • Read more » | 12/11/2018 | Ben Creagh | CSIRO ECOS | Dr. Jason Delborne, Associate Professor of Science, Policy and Society at North Carolina State University, dislikes the term ‘social license to operate’. “It has some assumptions built in that are problematic. It invokes the metaphor of a government licence, which is like a one-time permit. It suggests that once you get it, you’re off and running. And what I’m interested in is the kind of engagement that’s ongoing. There is no particular moment in time when you achieve social license. | Jason Delborne, John Godwin |
Debate rages on first gene-edited babies, drives to eliminate diseasesChukwuma Muanya, The Guardian | 12/5/2018“The member states are hearing and thinking that these are sitting in the lab ready to be released, and that is not the case,” says Kuiken. “Nothing I have seen suggested these things are literally ready to go out the door tomorrow. We could have better decisions if everyone knew they could take a breath.” • Read more » | 12/5/2018 | Chukwuma Muanya | The Guardian | “The member states are hearing and thinking that these are sitting in the lab ready to be released, and that is not the case,” says Kuiken. “Nothing I have seen suggested these things are literally ready to go out the door tomorrow. We could have better decisions if everyone knew they could take a breath.” | Todd Kuiken |
UN treaty agrees to limit gene drives but rejects a moratoriumEwan Callaway, Nature | 11/29/2018Todd Kuiken, a biotechnology-policy specialist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh who is part of an expert panel that advises the CBD on gene drives, says that it will take time to parse the language agreed today. The text must be interpreted by the countries that will ultimately license any gene-drive release — and thus he sees no quick end to the debate. • Read more » | 11/29/2018 | Ewan Callaway | Nature | Todd Kuiken, a biotechnology-policy specialist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh who is part of an expert panel that advises the CBD on gene drives, says that it will take time to parse the language agreed today. The text must be interpreted by the countries that will ultimately license any gene-drive release — and thus he sees no quick end to the debate. | Todd Kuiken |
Kudos to Kuzma: Distinguished Professor Named AAAS FellowLauren Kirkpatrick, NC State Humanities and Social Sciences News | 11/28/2018Jennifer Kuzma has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Kuzma is the college’s Goodnight-North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Distinguished Professor in Social Sciences. She co-directs NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. • Read more » | 11/28/2018 | Lauren Kirkpatrick | NC State Humanities and Social Sciences News | Jennifer Kuzma has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Kuzma is the college’s Goodnight-North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Distinguished Professor in Social Sciences. She co-directs NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Science is racing to stop another CRISPR baby from being bornJonathan O'Callaghan, WIRED U.K. | 11/28/2018He’s research has highlighted that there is not really a way to stop rogue actors in some countries doing experiments like this. And as the technique becomes easier and easier, we will almost certainly see a rise in the amount of gene-editing take place. “I think it’s a matter of a decade or so when it could become very routine and easy to do,” says Jennifer Kuzma, a genetic engineering expert at North Carolina State University. • Read more » | 11/28/2018 | Jonathan O'Callaghan | WIRED U.K. | He’s research has highlighted that there is not really a way to stop rogue actors in some countries doing experiments like this. And as the technique becomes easier and easier, we will almost certainly see a rise in the amount of gene-editing take place. “I think it’s a matter of a decade or so when it could become very routine and easy to do,” says Jennifer Kuzma, a genetic engineering expert at North Carolina State University. | Jennifer Kuzma |
What’s the Right Way to Regulate Gene-Edited Crops?Kenneth Miller, Leaps Magazine | 11/16/2018Yet some experts suggest that the broadly permissive American approach and the broadly restrictive EU policy are equally flawed. “What’s behind these regulatory decisions is not science,” says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, a former advisor to the World Economic Forum, who has researched and written extensively on governance issues in biotechnology. “It’s politics, economics, and culture.” • Read more » | 11/16/2018 | Kenneth Miller | Leaps Magazine | Yet some experts suggest that the broadly permissive American approach and the broadly restrictive EU policy are equally flawed. “What’s behind these regulatory decisions is not science,” says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, a former advisor to the World Economic Forum, who has researched and written extensively on governance issues in biotechnology. “It’s politics, economics, and culture.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Ban on ‘gene drives’ is back on the UN’s agenda — worrying scientistsEwan Callaway, Nature | 11/15/2018One probable outcome of the meeting is an outline for future work on policy issues raised by organisms carrying gene drives, says Todd Kuiken, a biotechnology-policy specialist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who is also on the CBD’s synthetic-biology expert panel. • Read more » | 11/15/2018 | Ewan Callaway | Nature | One probable outcome of the meeting is an outline for future work on policy issues raised by organisms carrying gene drives, says Todd Kuiken, a biotechnology-policy specialist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who is also on the CBD’s synthetic-biology expert panel. | Todd Kuiken |
The era of gene-edited food is upon usAssociated Press, New York Post | 11/14/2018“Most gene-edited plants and animals are probably going to be just fine to eat. But you’re only going to do yourself a disservice in the long run if you hide behind the terminology,” Kuzma said. • Read more » | 11/14/2018 | Associated Press | New York Post | “Most gene-edited plants and animals are probably going to be just fine to eat. But you’re only going to do yourself a disservice in the long run if you hide behind the terminology,” Kuzma said. | Jennifer Kuzma |
United Nations considers a test ban on evolution-warping gene drivesAntonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review | 11/13/2018According to Kuiken, the UN is unlikely to endorse a ban, because that requires consensus, and some countries with biotech industries are expected to oppose the measure. But the UN, which takes what’s called a “precautionary” approach to new technologies, has previously adopted restrictive language on some technologies seen as affecting the planet as a whole, including certain biotech seeds and geoengineering techniques. • Read more » | 11/13/2018 | Antonio Regalado | MIT Technology Review | According to Kuiken, the UN is unlikely to endorse a ban, because that requires consensus, and some countries with biotech industries are expected to oppose the measure. But the UN, which takes what’s called a “precautionary” approach to new technologies, has previously adopted restrictive language on some technologies seen as affecting the planet as a whole, including certain biotech seeds and geoengineering techniques. | Todd Kuiken |
Counting The Bugs And Bacteria, You're 'Never Home Alone' (And That's OK)Terry Gross, NPR's Fresh Air | 11/12/2018You may be shocked by what's living in your home — the bacteria, the fungi, viruses, parasites and insects. Probably many more organisms than you imagined. "Every surface; every bit of air; every bit of water in your home is alive," says Rob Dunn, a professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "The average house has thousands of species. • Read more » | 11/12/2018 | Terry Gross | NPR's Fresh Air | You may be shocked by what's living in your home — the bacteria, the fungi, viruses, parasites and insects. Probably many more organisms than you imagined. "Every surface; every bit of air; every bit of water in your home is alive," says Rob Dunn, a professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "The average house has thousands of species. | Rob Dunn |
Editing Nature: Local roots of global governanceNatalie Kofler, James P. Collins, Jennifer Kuzma, et al, Science | 11/2/2018Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor and Co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, was one of the lead authors on an interdisciplinary team calling for global oversight of environmental gene editing in this Science Policy Forum • Read more » | 11/2/2018 | Natalie Kofler, James P. Collins, Jennifer Kuzma, et al | Science | Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor and Co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, was one of the lead authors on an interdisciplinary team calling for global oversight of environmental gene editing in this Science Policy Forum | Jennifer Kuzma |
Engaging community with humilityJason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich, S. Kathleen Barnhill-Dilling, Science | 11/2/2018In his Policy Forum “Building an evidence base for stakeholder engagement” (10 August, p. 554), J. V. Lavery rightly proposes additional reporting and evidence collection to understand best practices for community and stakeholder engagement. However, we are concerned that he framed stakeholder engagement too narrowly. • Read more » | 11/2/2018 | Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich, S. Kathleen Barnhill-Dilling | Science | In his Policy Forum “Building an evidence base for stakeholder engagement” (10 August, p. 554), J. V. Lavery rightly proposes additional reporting and evidence collection to understand best practices for community and stakeholder engagement. However, we are concerned that he framed stakeholder engagement too narrowly. | Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich, Katie Barnhill |
Ep. 29 - Biosafety and Biosecurity in DIYbio with Todd KuikenRyan O'Shea, Future Grind | 10/13/2018In this installment of the Future Grind podcast host Ryan O’Shea speaks with Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar at the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. In this role Todd travels the world to study biosafety and biosecurity within the do-it-yourself biology community. Todd previously spent time in Washington D.C., leading both the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project, and their the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. They discuss his collaboration with DIYbio.org, safety within citizen science, the handling of public perception, what is holding DIYbio back, and more! • Read more » | 10/13/2018 | Ryan O'Shea | Future Grind | In this installment of the Future Grind podcast host Ryan O’Shea speaks with Todd Kuiken, Senior Research Scholar at the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. In this role Todd travels the world to study biosafety and biosecurity within the do-it-yourself biology community. Todd previously spent time in Washington D.C., leading both the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project, and their the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. They discuss his collaboration with DIYbio.org, safety within citizen science, the handling of public perception, what is holding DIYbio back, and more! | Todd Kuiken |
Scientists: US military program could be seen as bioweaponCandice Choi and Seth Borenstein, Associated Press | 10/4/2018North Carolina State University entomologist Fred Gould, who chaired a National Academy of Sciences panel on genetically modified food and is not part of the DARPA research, said too many biological interactions would need to be perfectly manipulated, so the chance of it working is “pretty close to zero.” • Read more » | 10/4/2018 | Candice Choi and Seth Borenstein | Associated Press | North Carolina State University entomologist Fred Gould, who chaired a National Academy of Sciences panel on genetically modified food and is not part of the DARPA research, said too many biological interactions would need to be perfectly manipulated, so the chance of it working is “pretty close to zero.” | Fred Gould |
Scathing Report Accuses the Pentagon of Developing an Agricultural BioweaponGeorge Dvorsky, Gizmodo | 10/4/2018“The social, ethical, political, and ecological implications of producing HEGAAs are significant and worthy of the same level of attention as exploring the science underpinning the potential technology,” Delborne told Gizmodo. “The authors argue persuasively that specifying insects as the preferred delivery mechanism for HEGAAs is poorly justified by visions of agricultural applications. The infrastructure and expertise required for spraying agricultural fields—at least in the U.S. context—is well established, and this delivery mechanism would offer greater control over the potential spread of a HEGAA.” • Read more » | 10/4/2018 | George Dvorsky | Gizmodo | “The social, ethical, political, and ecological implications of producing HEGAAs are significant and worthy of the same level of attention as exploring the science underpinning the potential technology,” Delborne told Gizmodo. “The authors argue persuasively that specifying insects as the preferred delivery mechanism for HEGAAs is poorly justified by visions of agricultural applications. The infrastructure and expertise required for spraying agricultural fields—at least in the U.S. context—is well established, and this delivery mechanism would offer greater control over the potential spread of a HEGAA.” | Jason Delborne |
Regulate This!: How Genetic Engineering is RegulatedAlex McKiernan, Science for the Rest of Us Pod | 10/3/2018Dr. Jennifer Kuzma from NC State walks us through the complicated world of regulations that control how genetically engineering plants and animals make into our world and onto our plates. Really interesting conversation with broad implications for how society regulates complex technologies. • Read more » | 10/3/2018 | Alex McKiernan | Science for the Rest of Us Pod | Dr. Jennifer Kuzma from NC State walks us through the complicated world of regulations that control how genetically engineering plants and animals make into our world and onto our plates. Really interesting conversation with broad implications for how society regulates complex technologies. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Here's the Plan to End Malaria with Crispr-Edited MosquitoesMegan Molteni, WIRED | 9/24/2018“There are some unique dimensions to this that put us in uncharted territory,” says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. One of the issues is that gene drives are designed to spread. That makes it next to impossible to do confined field trials, as is traditional for genetically modified crops. • Read more » | 9/24/2018 | Megan Molteni | WIRED | “There are some unique dimensions to this that put us in uncharted territory,” says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. One of the issues is that gene drives are designed to spread. That makes it next to impossible to do confined field trials, as is traditional for genetically modified crops. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Common weed killer—believed harmless to animals—may be harming bees worldwideWarren Cornwall, Science | 9/24/2018“This is really critical,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh who was not involved in the work. The study challenges the conventional wisdom that animals are immune to glyphosate because it targets a cellular mechanism particular to plants and some bacteria. “I was surprised.” • Read more » | 9/24/2018 | Warren Cornwall | Science | “This is really critical,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh who was not involved in the work. The study challenges the conventional wisdom that animals are immune to glyphosate because it targets a cellular mechanism particular to plants and some bacteria. “I was surprised.” | Fred Gould |
Malaria and CRISPR: Gene-editing causes complete collapse of mosquito population in 'major breakthrough' for disease eradicationHannah Osborne, Newsweek | 9/24/2018Fred Gould, distinguished professor of entomology at North Carolina State University, who was not involved in the study, said the results were very promising. “This is a big step forward,” he told Newsweek. “There was huge excitement over using CRISPR for gene drive to fight malaria, but in the first studies the mosquitoes evolved resistance to the drive very quickly. The innovative approach used in this study suggests a way around the problem of resistance. If the drive mechanism functions under diverse environmental conditions and resistance doesn’t evolve when this approach is used on a larger experimental scale, this will be a major breakthrough on the road to suppression of malaria.” • Read more » | 9/24/2018 | Hannah Osborne | Newsweek | Fred Gould, distinguished professor of entomology at North Carolina State University, who was not involved in the study, said the results were very promising. “This is a big step forward,” he told Newsweek. “There was huge excitement over using CRISPR for gene drive to fight malaria, but in the first studies the mosquitoes evolved resistance to the drive very quickly. The innovative approach used in this study suggests a way around the problem of resistance. If the drive mechanism functions under diverse environmental conditions and resistance doesn’t evolve when this approach is used on a larger experimental scale, this will be a major breakthrough on the road to suppression of malaria.” | Fred Gould |
Changing the Landscape of Graduate EducationDee Shore, NC State News | 9/6/2018With support from NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the university provost, plus a $3 million grant awarded this week by the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship (NRT) program, center leaders and other university faculty members plan to implement a program called AgBioFEWS, or Agricultural Biotechnology in Our Evolving Food, Energy and Water Systems. • Read more » | 9/6/2018 | Dee Shore | NC State News | With support from NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the university provost, plus a $3 million grant awarded this week by the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship (NRT) program, center leaders and other university faculty members plan to implement a program called AgBioFEWS, or Agricultural Biotechnology in Our Evolving Food, Energy and Water Systems. | Fred Gould |
Processed Food: Genetically modified or gene-edited: Is there a difference?, Sarasota Herald Tribune | 8/28/2018Caitlin Dewey • Read more » | 8/28/2018 | Sarasota Herald Tribune | Caitlin Dewey | Jennifer Kuzma | |
Building bioethics into the future of life sciences innovationRick Mullin, Chemical & Engineering News | 8/27/2018Scientists who refuse to engage with ethicists and the public will find themselves at a disadvantage. “Just because you are a scientist and have invented something doesn’t mean you have authority over it,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist and co-director of the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. He points to the National Academies report’s advocacy of participatory decision-making. Resistance from the science community based on ethicists and the public not fully understanding the science wears thin, he says. “You are a pretty poor scientist if you can’t explain what these things are about to an ethicist,” he says. • Read more » | 8/27/2018 | Rick Mullin | Chemical & Engineering News | Scientists who refuse to engage with ethicists and the public will find themselves at a disadvantage. “Just because you are a scientist and have invented something doesn’t mean you have authority over it,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist and co-director of the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. He points to the National Academies report’s advocacy of participatory decision-making. Resistance from the science community based on ethicists and the public not fully understanding the science wears thin, he says. “You are a pretty poor scientist if you can’t explain what these things are about to an ethicist,” he says. | Fred Gould |
Weed killer in your cereal? Maybe, but don't panicMaggie Fox, NBC News | 8/17/2018“With all things, it is the level of exposure that matters,” said Fred Gould, head of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “The poison is in the concentration.” • Read more » | 8/17/2018 | Maggie Fox | NBC News | “With all things, it is the level of exposure that matters,” said Fred Gould, head of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “The poison is in the concentration.” | Fred Gould |
The Future of Food: Scientists have found a fast and cheap way to edit your food's DNACaitlin Dewey, Washington Post | 8/11/2018“We need a mandatory regulatory process: not just for scientific reasons, but for consumer and public confidence,” Kuzma said. “I think the vast majority of gene-edited foods are going to be as safe as their conventionally bred counterparts. But I don’t buy into the argument that’s true all the time for every crop.” • Read more » | 8/11/2018 | Caitlin Dewey | Washington Post | “We need a mandatory regulatory process: not just for scientific reasons, but for consumer and public confidence,” Kuzma said. “I think the vast majority of gene-edited foods are going to be as safe as their conventionally bred counterparts. But I don’t buy into the argument that’s true all the time for every crop.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
EU ruling on gene-edited plants and GMOs is more status quo than disruptiveTodd Kuiken, GES Center | 8/6/2018OPINION | The recent European Union ruling regarding gene-edited plants and GMO crops is more status quo than ground breaking or disruptive. • Read more » | 8/6/2018 | Todd Kuiken | GES Center | OPINION | The recent European Union ruling regarding gene-edited plants and GMO crops is more status quo than ground breaking or disruptive. | Todd Kuiken |
The CRISPR whispererMarla Vacek Broadfoot, NC State Alumni | 8/2/2018Rodolphe Barrangou ’00 MS, ’04 Ph.D., felt out of place. There he was, his sleek 6-foot-2 frame tucked into a new tuxedo, mingling at an opulent hall at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Champagne was poured, awards were given, speeches were made. At one point, he found himself posing for pictures with Anthony Fauci, a renowned HIV/AIDS researcher. “It’s a fluke!” Barrangou recalls thinking at the time, no doubt struck with a bout of imposter syndrome. “I’m here with Tony Fauci! He’s saved millions of lives. What have I done?” • Read more » | 8/2/2018 | Marla Vacek Broadfoot | NC State Alumni | Rodolphe Barrangou ’00 MS, ’04 Ph.D., felt out of place. There he was, his sleek 6-foot-2 frame tucked into a new tuxedo, mingling at an opulent hall at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Champagne was poured, awards were given, speeches were made. At one point, he found himself posing for pictures with Anthony Fauci, a renowned HIV/AIDS researcher. “It’s a fluke!” Barrangou recalls thinking at the time, no doubt struck with a bout of imposter syndrome. “I’m here with Tony Fauci! He’s saved millions of lives. What have I done?” | Rodolphe Barrangou |
What Is a Genetically Modified Crop? A European Ruling Sows ConfusionCarl Zimmer, New York Times | 7/27/2018In Europe, plants created with gene-editing technologies will be stringently regulated as G.M.O.’s. But older crops whose DNA has been altered will be left alone. • Read more » | 7/27/2018 | Carl Zimmer | New York Times | In Europe, plants created with gene-editing technologies will be stringently regulated as G.M.O.’s. But older crops whose DNA has been altered will be left alone. | Jennifer Kuzma |
This Man Rewrites the Genetic Code of AnimalsAki Ito, Bloomberg | 7/19/2018Kuzma also says there needs to be a broader conversation about the underlying ethics of the technology. “With these genetic engineering techniques becoming easier to implement and more powerful too, we’re at a critical point where things could change in the natural world,” she says. • Read more » | 7/19/2018 | Aki Ito | Bloomberg | Kuzma also says there needs to be a broader conversation about the underlying ethics of the technology. “With these genetic engineering techniques becoming easier to implement and more powerful too, we’re at a critical point where things could change in the natural world,” she says. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Pesticide Resistance Arms RaceTracey Peake, NC State News Podcast | 6/29/2018In this episode we talk with Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences, about the rising rates of herbicide and pesticide resistance, the current state of the resistance arms race and what we need to do in the future to protect our crops and human health from resistant pests. • Read more » | 6/29/2018 | Tracey Peake | NC State News Podcast | In this episode we talk with Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences, about the rising rates of herbicide and pesticide resistance, the current state of the resistance arms race and what we need to do in the future to protect our crops and human health from resistant pests. | Fred Gould |
GMO grass is creeping across OregonJulia Rosen, High Country News | 6/25/2018To critics, the case laid bare glaring weaknesses in the country’s oversight of genetically engineered, or GE, crops. While biotechnology’s defenders say the process is already overly rigorous, others have long argued that regulations, which haven’t changed significantly since 1987, don’t do enough to protect agriculture and the environment. Neither the USDA nor any government agency must weigh the full social, economic and ecological impacts of GE products, says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “There’s really no place that’s looking at this broadly from a risk-benefit perspective.” • Read more » | 6/25/2018 | Julia Rosen | High Country News | To critics, the case laid bare glaring weaknesses in the country’s oversight of genetically engineered, or GE, crops. While biotechnology’s defenders say the process is already overly rigorous, others have long argued that regulations, which haven’t changed significantly since 1987, don’t do enough to protect agriculture and the environment. Neither the USDA nor any government agency must weigh the full social, economic and ecological impacts of GE products, says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “There’s really no place that’s looking at this broadly from a risk-benefit perspective.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Trump’s plan to reshuffle government strikes familiar notesInsider Staff Report, Science | 6/21/2018Jennifer Kuzma, a social scientist who co-directs the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, likes the idea—not a new one—of housing food safety within one agency but questions whether USDA’s mission to promote agriculture industry makes it a good fit. An agency dedicated to protecting public health or the environment would make more sense, she says. • Read more » | 6/21/2018 | Insider Staff Report | Science | Jennifer Kuzma, a social scientist who co-directs the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, likes the idea—not a new one—of housing food safety within one agency but questions whether USDA’s mission to promote agriculture industry makes it a good fit. An agency dedicated to protecting public health or the environment would make more sense, she says. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Weeds Are Winning in the War against Herbicide ResistanceBrooke Borel, Scientific American | 6/18/2018Although academics and companies are looking for technical alternatives such as sprays made from biological compounds, a recent review by researchers at North Carolina State University cautions that society may not be able to science its way out of this thorny problem. There is a “considerable chance,” the authors write, “that the evolution of pest resistance will outpace human innovation.” Addressing the situation requires a collective effort between funding agencies, regulators, farmers and others, the authors add in the review, published in Science. “We need to approach things from more than a single technical fix,” says co-author Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State. • Read more » | 6/18/2018 | Brooke Borel | Scientific American | Although academics and companies are looking for technical alternatives such as sprays made from biological compounds, a recent review by researchers at North Carolina State University cautions that society may not be able to science its way out of this thorny problem. There is a “considerable chance,” the authors write, “that the evolution of pest resistance will outpace human innovation.” Addressing the situation requires a collective effort between funding agencies, regulators, farmers and others, the authors add in the review, published in Science. “We need to approach things from more than a single technical fix,” says co-author Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Biohackers are about open-access to science, not DIY pandemics. Stop misrepresenting usDaniel Grushkin, Stat News | 6/4/2018Todd Kuiken, a researcher at North Carolina State University, and I combatted these myths in “Seven Myths and Realities about Do-It-Yourself Biology,” a report that was published by the Woodrow Wilson Center. • Read more » | 6/4/2018 | Daniel Grushkin | Stat News | Todd Kuiken, a researcher at North Carolina State University, and I combatted these myths in “Seven Myths and Realities about Do-It-Yourself Biology,” a report that was published by the Woodrow Wilson Center. | Todd Kuiken |
Rewriting Life: The Promise And Peril Of Editing Your DNALeslie Stahl, World Science Festival | 6/1/2018Watch: GES Co-director Fred Gould discussing the origins of agricultural genetic engineering, CRISPR, & using the technology to combat diseases like malaria • Read more » | 6/1/2018 | Leslie Stahl | World Science Festival | Watch: GES Co-director Fred Gould discussing the origins of agricultural genetic engineering, CRISPR, & using the technology to combat diseases like malaria | Fred Gould |
DIY Biohacking, with Todd KuikenAndrew Maynard and Heather Ross, Future Out Loud podcast | 5/21/2018Andrew Maynard and Heather Ross talk with senior researcher and DIY Bio expert Dr. Todd Kuiken at the 2018 Governance of Emerging Technologies and Science conference, about the present and future of DIY bio communities in the U.S. and worldwide. • Read more » | 5/21/2018 | Andrew Maynard and Heather Ross | Future Out Loud podcast | Andrew Maynard and Heather Ross talk with senior researcher and DIY Bio expert Dr. Todd Kuiken at the 2018 Governance of Emerging Technologies and Science conference, about the present and future of DIY bio communities in the U.S. and worldwide. | Todd Kuiken |
Wicked evolution: Can we address the sociobiological dilemma of pesticide resistance?Fred Gould, Zachary S. Brown, Jennifer Kuzma, Science | 5/18/2018Resistance to insecticides and herbicides has cost billions of U.S. dollars in the agricultural sector and could result in millions of lives lost to insect-vectored diseases. We mostly continue to use pesticides as if resistance is a temporary issue that will be addressed by commercialization of new pesticides with novel modes of action. However, current evidence suggests that insect and weed evolution may outstrip our ability to replace outmoded chemicals and other control mechanisms. To avoid this outcome, we must address the mix of ecological, genetic, economic, and sociopolitical factors that prevent implementation of sustainable pest management practices. We offer an ambitious proposition. • Read more » | 5/18/2018 | Fred Gould, Zachary S. Brown, Jennifer Kuzma | Science | Resistance to insecticides and herbicides has cost billions of U.S. dollars in the agricultural sector and could result in millions of lives lost to insect-vectored diseases. We mostly continue to use pesticides as if resistance is a temporary issue that will be addressed by commercialization of new pesticides with novel modes of action. However, current evidence suggests that insect and weed evolution may outstrip our ability to replace outmoded chemicals and other control mechanisms. To avoid this outcome, we must address the mix of ecological, genetic, economic, and sociopolitical factors that prevent implementation of sustainable pest management practices. We offer an ambitious proposition. | Fred Gould, Zack Brown, Jennifer Kuzma |
What Happens If We Run Out? Pesticide Resistance Needs Attention, Large-Scale StudyFred Gould, Mick Kulikowski, NC State News | 5/17/2018“What is the impact on people if these herbicides and pesticides run out?” said Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture at NC State and the corresponding author of the paper. “Resistance to pesticides is rising in critical weed and insect species, threatening our ability to harness these pests. Weed species have evolved resistance to every class of herbicide in use, and more than 550 arthropods have resistance to at least one pesticide.” • Read more » | 5/17/2018 | Fred Gould, Mick Kulikowski | NC State News | “What is the impact on people if these herbicides and pesticides run out?” said Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture at NC State and the corresponding author of the paper. “Resistance to pesticides is rising in critical weed and insect species, threatening our ability to harness these pests. Weed species have evolved resistance to every class of herbicide in use, and more than 550 arthropods have resistance to at least one pesticide.” | Fred Gould, Zack Brown, Jennifer Kuzma |
As lab-grown meat advances, U.S. lawmakers call for regulationKelly Servick, Science | 5/10/2018The regulatory conundrum facing lab-grown meat—like debates about oversight of genetic engineering—are signs of a regulatory system that hasn’t kept pace with technological advances, says Todd Kuiken, an environmental scientist who studies biotech regulation at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “We’re in crazy land now. … There’s so much coming at us, that it’s really hard to keep track of all the new products and changing technologies,” he says. “And now we’re getting actual products ready to go and no one’s quite sure what to do with them.” • Read more » | 5/10/2018 | Kelly Servick | Science | The regulatory conundrum facing lab-grown meat—like debates about oversight of genetic engineering—are signs of a regulatory system that hasn’t kept pace with technological advances, says Todd Kuiken, an environmental scientist who studies biotech regulation at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “We’re in crazy land now. … There’s so much coming at us, that it’s really hard to keep track of all the new products and changing technologies,” he says. “And now we’re getting actual products ready to go and no one’s quite sure what to do with them.” | Todd Kuiken |
NC State Recognizes Exceptional FacultyEmily Packard, NC State Provost News | 5/1/2018Jennifer Kuzma: Recognized by Provost for dedication to teaching, research and engagement • Read more » | 5/1/2018 | Emily Packard | NC State Provost News | Jennifer Kuzma: Recognized by Provost for dedication to teaching, research and engagement | Jennifer Kuzma |
AAAS Sciline Gene Drives media briefing for journalistsJoshua Colburn, SciLine | 4/25/2018Jennifer Kuzma: Gene drives and responsible innovation • Read more » | 4/25/2018 | Joshua Colburn | SciLine | Jennifer Kuzma: Gene drives and responsible innovation | Jennifer Kuzma |
Is This Tomato Engineered? Inside the Coming Battle Over Gene-Edited FoodJacob Bunge and Amy Dockser Marcus, Wall Street Journal | 4/15/2018Professor Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says she understands why companies want to stay away from the GMO label, but says referring to the new gene-editing techniques as breeding “seems a little disingenuous.” “It is a biotech-improved crop,” she says. “Something along those lines would be more honest and is more likely not to come back and bite them in the future if consumers find out it is not really just breeding, it’s something more.” • Read more » | 4/15/2018 | Jacob Bunge and Amy Dockser Marcus | Wall Street Journal | Professor Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, says she understands why companies want to stay away from the GMO label, but says referring to the new gene-editing techniques as breeding “seems a little disingenuous.” “It is a biotech-improved crop,” she says. “Something along those lines would be more honest and is more likely not to come back and bite them in the future if consumers find out it is not really just breeding, it’s something more.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Insect Gene Drives, Part 2 - with Jennifer KuzmaPaul Vincelli, Talking Biotech Podcast | 4/6/2018Dr. Kuzma speaks with Dr. Paul Vincelli (@Pvincell) about the social and political considerations of gene drives. She discusses ethics, policy and regulation, as well surprising imperatives where gene drives may be necessary for conservation or human health. • Read more » | 4/6/2018 | Paul Vincelli | Talking Biotech Podcast | Dr. Kuzma speaks with Dr. Paul Vincelli (@Pvincell) about the social and political considerations of gene drives. She discusses ethics, policy and regulation, as well surprising imperatives where gene drives may be necessary for conservation or human health. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Future Job: Freelance BiohackersMartin Hahn, Crisprcas12a | 4/5/2018Todd Kuiken, an environmentally friendly scientist, claims that leading bio scientists increasingly feel they do not need a PhD being a scientist. He claims that any strong, scientifically inclined mind is able to help the body of science. The greater minds that are devoted to solving the world’s medical problems, the more rapidly the human race will be able to solve them. • Read more » | 4/5/2018 | Martin Hahn | Crisprcas12a | Todd Kuiken, an environmentally friendly scientist, claims that leading bio scientists increasingly feel they do not need a PhD being a scientist. He claims that any strong, scientifically inclined mind is able to help the body of science. The greater minds that are devoted to solving the world’s medical problems, the more rapidly the human race will be able to solve them. | Todd Kuiken |
Insect Gene Drives, Part 1 - with Fred GouldPaul Vincelli, Talking Biotech Podcast | 3/31/2018Gene drives are a powerful technology that may be used to control pests. The concepts key off of exploiting genetic vulnerabilities that are rapidly inherited, and cause populations to crash over a short time. Such instances happen naturally, but now scientists are engineering the genetics of pests to induce steep population declines from gene drives. Dr. Fred Gould from North Carolina State University discusses the technology, its risks, regulation and some of the social aspects of application of the science. • Read more » | 3/31/2018 | Paul Vincelli | Talking Biotech Podcast | Gene drives are a powerful technology that may be used to control pests. The concepts key off of exploiting genetic vulnerabilities that are rapidly inherited, and cause populations to crash over a short time. Such instances happen naturally, but now scientists are engineering the genetics of pests to induce steep population declines from gene drives. Dr. Fred Gould from North Carolina State University discusses the technology, its risks, regulation and some of the social aspects of application of the science. | Fred Gould |
Would DNA Be Able To Altering Save Imperiled Species?Kathiann Kowalski, Science News for Students | 3/8/2018“Do we as humans really have the right to do this?” Kuiken asks. That’s a big question. What he means is that there’s a lot at stake with a version of a gene drive that is designed to spread a change in the environment forever. Even with the daisy chain, he wonders whether humans have the right “to remove one species from one area where we don’t want it, or that we don’t think is good for it.” • Read more » | 3/8/2018 | Kathiann Kowalski | Science News for Students | “Do we as humans really have the right to do this?” Kuiken asks. That’s a big question. What he means is that there’s a lot at stake with a version of a gene drive that is designed to spread a change in the environment forever. Even with the daisy chain, he wonders whether humans have the right “to remove one species from one area where we don’t want it, or that we don’t think is good for it.” | Todd Kuiken |
Could WA be the genetic testing ground for 'synthetic mice' to end mice?Katherine Wilson, The Sydney Morning Herald | 2/24/2018Last May, GBIRd's Todd Kuiken expressed concern about DARPA "bending the entire field of synthetic biology towards military applications." In July, Packard instructed the group to target Kuiken with "specific in-reach" and "remind him he's on the GBIRd team, despite his personal views about DARPA". He emailed Kuiken, telling him to "align your messaging" and "avoid criticising GBIRd and our pursuit of DARPA". • Read more » | 2/24/2018 | Katherine Wilson | The Sydney Morning Herald | Last May, GBIRd's Todd Kuiken expressed concern about DARPA "bending the entire field of synthetic biology towards military applications." In July, Packard instructed the group to target Kuiken with "specific in-reach" and "remind him he's on the GBIRd team, despite his personal views about DARPA". He emailed Kuiken, telling him to "align your messaging" and "avoid criticising GBIRd and our pursuit of DARPA". | Todd Kuiken |
AAAS Elections resultsJennifer Kuzma elected to the Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering committee of AAAS, Science | 1/26/2018Jennifer Kuzma elected to AAAS • Read more » | 1/26/2018 | Jennifer Kuzma elected to the Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering committee of AAAS | Science | Jennifer Kuzma elected to AAAS | Jennifer Kuzma |
Synthetic species made to shun sex with wild organismsEwan Callaway, Nature | 1/15/2018Dr. Fred Gould, in Nature, discusses a gene editing tool designed to prevent interbreeding between synthetic and wild organisms. The technology targets gene expression, and could be applied to mosquitoes to control infectious diseases, such as malaria, or to invasive species, like Asian carp. “This is an ingenious system and, if successful, could have many applications,” and that he is excited to see new approaches that could be used for genetic biocontrol of pests beyond what is currently available. “I would never want to put all my eggs in one basket.” • Read more » | 1/15/2018 | Ewan Callaway | Nature | Dr. Fred Gould, in Nature, discusses a gene editing tool designed to prevent interbreeding between synthetic and wild organisms. The technology targets gene expression, and could be applied to mosquitoes to control infectious diseases, such as malaria, or to invasive species, like Asian carp. “This is an ingenious system and, if successful, could have many applications,” and that he is excited to see new approaches that could be used for genetic biocontrol of pests beyond what is currently available. “I would never want to put all my eggs in one basket.” | Fred Gould |
First in Future podcast: Jennifer KuzmaLeslie Boney, Institute for Emerging Issues | 12/15/2017Dr. Jennifer Kuzma speaks with Leslie Boney, Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State on the First in Future podcast. In this pod, Dr. Kuzma discusses gene edited mosquitoes, the ethics of Ancestry.com, DIYbio, and why Millennials give her hope. Plus, her book recommendations – Rise of the Robots by Martin Ford – and which Bob Dylan song best summarizes her view of the future. • Read more » | 12/15/2017 | Leslie Boney | Institute for Emerging Issues | Dr. Jennifer Kuzma speaks with Leslie Boney, Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State on the First in Future podcast. In this pod, Dr. Kuzma discusses gene edited mosquitoes, the ethics of Ancestry.com, DIYbio, and why Millennials give her hope. Plus, her book recommendations – Rise of the Robots by Martin Ford – and which Bob Dylan song best summarizes her view of the future. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Is there really a covert manipulation of U.N. discussions about regulating gene drives?Jon Cohen, Science | 12/11/2017It had scandal written all over it. Disclosed emails revealed that a covert coalition lobbying for relaxed regulations around a genetic extinction technology, with help from a well-funded public relations firm, Emerging Ag, was attempting to game the system and manipulate the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). That was the spin in press releases issued last week by several watchdog groups that want a moratorium on research related to gene drives, which could enable bioengineers to increase the odds of passing down genes to offspring. The people in the supposed covert coalition say it’s nothing of the sort, they have no interest in gaming the system, and that their opponents are manipulating the truth. “It’s complete bullshit,” says Todd Kuiken, a synthetic biology researcher at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who is a central target of the criticisms. “It’s asinine.” • Read more » | 12/11/2017 | Jon Cohen | Science | It had scandal written all over it. Disclosed emails revealed that a covert coalition lobbying for relaxed regulations around a genetic extinction technology, with help from a well-funded public relations firm, Emerging Ag, was attempting to game the system and manipulate the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). That was the spin in press releases issued last week by several watchdog groups that want a moratorium on research related to gene drives, which could enable bioengineers to increase the odds of passing down genes to offspring. The people in the supposed covert coalition say it’s nothing of the sort, they have no interest in gaming the system, and that their opponents are manipulating the truth. “It’s complete bullshit,” says Todd Kuiken, a synthetic biology researcher at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who is a central target of the criticisms. “It’s asinine.” | Todd Kuiken |
Genetic tool that can doom a species under UN reviewEditorial staff, Phys.org | 12/5/2017"Imposing a moratorium on such promising, life-saving and life-improving innovations so early in their development would be unwarranted, damaging and irresponsible," the group said last December in response to the moratorium push. Todd Kuiken, a researcher at North Carolina State University and a member of AHTEG, agrees. "From a science perspective, putting a blanket moratorium on gene drive research just doesn't make sense to me," he told AFP. "You can't learn anything if you can't study it." • Read more » | 12/5/2017 | Editorial staff | Phys.org | "Imposing a moratorium on such promising, life-saving and life-improving innovations so early in their development would be unwarranted, damaging and irresponsible," the group said last December in response to the moratorium push. Todd Kuiken, a researcher at North Carolina State University and a member of AHTEG, agrees. "From a science perspective, putting a blanket moratorium on gene drive research just doesn't make sense to me," he told AFP. "You can't learn anything if you can't study it." | Todd Kuiken |
The Ability To Edit Genes Raises Big Questions On RegulationJennifer Brookland and Frank Stasio, WUNC's The State of Things | 11/28/2017But scientists are also calling for greater thought and reflection as we make changes that could have unforeseen consequences on organisms and ecosystems. Host Frank Stasio talks with Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar for the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University, about who should have access to gene editing tools and how the international community might continue to regulate them. • Read more » | 11/28/2017 | Jennifer Brookland and Frank Stasio | WUNC's The State of Things | But scientists are also calling for greater thought and reflection as we make changes that could have unforeseen consequences on organisms and ecosystems. Host Frank Stasio talks with Todd Kuiken, senior research scholar for the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University, about who should have access to gene editing tools and how the international community might continue to regulate them. | Todd Kuiken |
Scientist to the Senators: Ph.D. Student Johanna ElsensohnChelsea Kellner, NC State CALS News | 11/21/2017Ph.D. student Johanna Elsensohn understands the importance of intersecting science with policy: During the international Zika virus crisis, she worked with policymakers on one of her regular trips to Washington, D.C., as an entomology expert and advisor. Elsensohn studies genetic pest management, using genetic tools to modify pests themselves rather than plants. She was drawn to CALS for the chance to “not only focus on my discipline, but also on the social, economic, political implications of what my work implies.” • Read more » | 11/21/2017 | Chelsea Kellner | NC State CALS News | Ph.D. student Johanna Elsensohn understands the importance of intersecting science with policy: During the international Zika virus crisis, she worked with policymakers on one of her regular trips to Washington, D.C., as an entomology expert and advisor. Elsensohn studies genetic pest management, using genetic tools to modify pests themselves rather than plants. She was drawn to CALS for the chance to “not only focus on my discipline, but also on the social, economic, political implications of what my work implies.” | Johnanna Elsensohn |
Gene Drives’ Are Too Risky for Field Trials, Scientists SayCarl Zimmer, New York Times | 11/16/2017International negotiations might be required before such genetically modified mosquitoes were set loose. “That’s not a question for scientists to answer on their own,” said Jason A. Delborne, a social scientist at North Carolina State University and a member of the N.A.S. gene drive committee. • Read more » | 11/16/2017 | Carl Zimmer | New York Times | International negotiations might be required before such genetically modified mosquitoes were set loose. “That’s not a question for scientists to answer on their own,” said Jason A. Delborne, a social scientist at North Carolina State University and a member of the N.A.S. gene drive committee. | Jason Delborne |
New Model Warns About CRISPR Gene Drives in the WildBrooke Borel, Quanta | 11/16/2017Among those who disagree with their assessment is Jason Delborne, one of the authors of the 2016 report and a professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. While the 2016 report did suggest a stepwise approach to field tests, the authors “concluded that not enough was known to pursue an environmental release,” Delborne wrote by email. • Read more » | 11/16/2017 | Brooke Borel | Quanta | Among those who disagree with their assessment is Jason Delborne, one of the authors of the 2016 report and a professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. While the 2016 report did suggest a stepwise approach to field tests, the authors “concluded that not enough was known to pursue an environmental release,” Delborne wrote by email. | Jason Delborne |
Genetically Engineering the Natural World, it Turns Out, Could Be a DisasterKristen V. Brown, Gizmodo | 11/16/2017“This is part of an ongoing conversation about the balances of risk and benefits of gene drive technology,” said Jason Delborne, a scientist who works on gene drives at North Carolina State University who was not involved in the recent work. “These new papers signal that we should be even more cautious about gene drive technology.” • Read more » | 11/16/2017 | Kristen V. Brown | Gizmodo | “This is part of an ongoing conversation about the balances of risk and benefits of gene drive technology,” said Jason Delborne, a scientist who works on gene drives at North Carolina State University who was not involved in the recent work. “These new papers signal that we should be even more cautious about gene drive technology.” | Jason Delborne |
Student Spotlight: Mike Jones and the Economics of Cutting-Edge Ag TechnologyChelsea Kellner, NC State CALS News | 11/14/2017The academic journey of Florida native Mike Jones spans Peruvian potato fields and the irrigated deserts of Syria to arrive where Jones is today: on NC State’s campus, a Ph.D. student investigating the impacts and public perception of cutting-edge agricultural technology. • Read more » | 11/14/2017 | Chelsea Kellner | NC State CALS News | The academic journey of Florida native Mike Jones spans Peruvian potato fields and the irrigated deserts of Syria to arrive where Jones is today: on NC State’s campus, a Ph.D. student investigating the impacts and public perception of cutting-edge agricultural technology. | Mike Jones |
Politics “Trumps” Science in the Regulation of Genetically Engineered CropsJennifer Kuzma, GES Center | 11/7/2017OPINION | In recent years, the regulatory system for biotechnology products has not kept pace with newer ways of engineering organisms, such as through the use of gene editing like CRISPR-Cas9 systems. Under the Obama administration, progress had been made in clarifying U.S. biotechnology regulations. In January 2017, in the last few days of Obama’s term, several proposals were made for updating agency regulations and guidance documents. In particular, new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations were proposed for genetically engineered (GE) crops. • Read more » | 11/7/2017 | Jennifer Kuzma | GES Center | OPINION | In recent years, the regulatory system for biotechnology products has not kept pace with newer ways of engineering organisms, such as through the use of gene editing like CRISPR-Cas9 systems. Under the Obama administration, progress had been made in clarifying U.S. biotechnology regulations. In January 2017, in the last few days of Obama’s term, several proposals were made for updating agency regulations and guidance documents. In particular, new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations were proposed for genetically engineered (GE) crops. | Jennifer Kuzma |
USDA scraps overhaul of GMO and gene edited crop regulations that biotech advocates viewed as 'unscientific'"Paul McDivitt, Genetic Literacy Project | 11/7/2017“My thinking is that if a rule is criticized by both sides on the same points, it has probably struck a good balance,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor at North Carolina State University’s School of Public and International Affairs. She sees the Trump administration’s anti-regulation philosophy at work, and GE crop developers as the likely beneficiary of the withdrawal. • Read more » | 11/7/2017 | Paul McDivitt | Genetic Literacy Project | “My thinking is that if a rule is criticized by both sides on the same points, it has probably struck a good balance,” said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor at North Carolina State University’s School of Public and International Affairs. She sees the Trump administration’s anti-regulation philosophy at work, and GE crop developers as the likely beneficiary of the withdrawal. | Jennifer Kuzma |
Trump’s agriculture department reverses course on biotech rulesKelly Servick, Science | 11/6/2017It’s a predictable move by President Donald Trump’s White House to take another look at the policies of the previous administration, says Jennifer Kuzma, a social scientist who co-directs the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “I expected them to eventually catch wind that this was something that USDA was doing, and reverse it.” • Read more » | 11/6/2017 | Kelly Servick | Science | It’s a predictable move by President Donald Trump’s White House to take another look at the policies of the previous administration, says Jennifer Kuzma, a social scientist who co-directs the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “I expected them to eventually catch wind that this was something that USDA was doing, and reverse it.” | Jennifer Kuzma |
Could Genetic Engineering Save the Galápagos?Stephen S. Hall, Scientific American | 11/1/2017Two of his colleagues, Fred Gould and David Threadgill, were already discussing the possibility of tinkering with the mouse genome in an attempt to create mice incapable of producing female offspring. Two other colleagues, Jennifer Kuzma and Jason Delborne, became deeply involved in how to engage the larger world of stakeholders—government regulatory agencies, animal management officials, bioethicists and, of course, the general public—in considering the prospect of releasing genetically altered animals into the wild. Kuzma and Gould serve as co-directors of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State. • Read more » | 11/1/2017 | Stephen S. Hall | Scientific American | Two of his colleagues, Fred Gould and David Threadgill, were already discussing the possibility of tinkering with the mouse genome in an attempt to create mice incapable of producing female offspring. Two other colleagues, Jennifer Kuzma and Jason Delborne, became deeply involved in how to engage the larger world of stakeholders—government regulatory agencies, animal management officials, bioethicists and, of course, the general public—in considering the prospect of releasing genetically altered animals into the wild. Kuzma and Gould serve as co-directors of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State. | Jason Delborne, Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma |
Our (Possible) Genetic FuturesChelsea Kellner, NC State CALS News | 10/25/2017Titled “Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Future(s),” the exhibit was a partnership between NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES), the NC State Libraries and the museum, CAM Raleigh. It’s part of a broader effort to maintain public education and engagement that can help guide the cutting edge innovation. • Read more » | 10/25/2017 | Chelsea Kellner | NC State CALS News | Titled “Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Future(s),” the exhibit was a partnership between NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES), the NC State Libraries and the museum, CAM Raleigh. It’s part of a broader effort to maintain public education and engagement that can help guide the cutting edge innovation. | GES Center |
GM Mosquitoes Closer to Release in U.S.Abby Olena, The Scientist | 10/13/2017“Aedes aegypti transmit dengue, Zika, and other viral diseases,” explains North Carolina State University entomologist Fred Gould. Because vaccine development has thus far been challenging and the available dengue vaccine is only partially effective, the current strategy for combatting these diseases is insect control, which includes spraying millions of dollars worth of insecticides. As an alternative, biotech firms have been working on developing tools like the genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes and mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that can disrupt virus transmission from mosquito to human. “You need to come at it from all directions responsibly,” Gould adds. • Read more » | 10/13/2017 | Abby Olena | The Scientist | “Aedes aegypti transmit dengue, Zika, and other viral diseases,” explains North Carolina State University entomologist Fred Gould. Because vaccine development has thus far been challenging and the available dengue vaccine is only partially effective, the current strategy for combatting these diseases is insect control, which includes spraying millions of dollars worth of insecticides. As an alternative, biotech firms have been working on developing tools like the genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes and mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that can disrupt virus transmission from mosquito to human. “You need to come at it from all directions responsibly,” Gould adds. | Fred Gould |
Can Scientists Convince the Public to Accept CRISPR and Gene Drives?Brooke Borel, Scientific American | 10/1/2017“Without transparency, we might see a kind of hyperpolarization,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. Concerned groups will feel marginalized, and advocates won’t receive critical feedback needed to improve design and safety. “This puts the technology at risk of a knee-jerk moratorium at the first sign of difficulty,” he notes. • Read more » | 10/1/2017 | Brooke Borel | Scientific American | “Without transparency, we might see a kind of hyperpolarization,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. Concerned groups will feel marginalized, and advocates won’t receive critical feedback needed to improve design and safety. “This puts the technology at risk of a knee-jerk moratorium at the first sign of difficulty,” he notes. | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma |
The microbes in a mosquito's gut may help fight malariaKelly Servick, Science | 9/28/2017“I had been one of the people who was pretty skeptical that this could work,” says Fred Gould, an evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. That’s in part because it’s hard to get a bacterium to thrive in the competitive environment of the gut, he says, and to stick with the mosquitoes as they grow from larvae to adults. “But it looks like they’re making some interesting progress here.” • Read more » | 9/28/2017 | Kelly Servick | Science | “I had been one of the people who was pretty skeptical that this could work,” says Fred Gould, an evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. That’s in part because it’s hard to get a bacterium to thrive in the competitive environment of the gut, he says, and to stick with the mosquitoes as they grow from larvae to adults. “But it looks like they’re making some interesting progress here.” | Fred Gould |
Genetically Modified Moths Come to New YorkSarah Zhang, The Atlantic | 9/8/2017Scientists are watching the diamondback moth trial closely. “I’ll be very interested to see if this thing succeeds,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist at North Carolina State University. In addition to diamondback moths and mosquitoes, Oxitec has a handful of other genetically engineered insects that can be used to tackle common pests: the Mediterranean fruit fly, the Mexican fruit fly, and the olive fly. • Read more » | 9/8/2017 | Sarah Zhang | The Atlantic | Scientists are watching the diamondback moth trial closely. “I’ll be very interested to see if this thing succeeds,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist at North Carolina State University. In addition to diamondback moths and mosquitoes, Oxitec has a handful of other genetically engineered insects that can be used to tackle common pests: the Mediterranean fruit fly, the Mexican fruit fly, and the olive fly. | Fred Gould |
NC State Receives DARPA Funding to Develop, Test Gene Drive SystemJohn Godwin, NC State News | 8/3/2017In one approach, said project principal investigator John Godwin, an NC State professor of biological sciences, researchers would use genetic techniques to affect sex ratios by preventing the development of most female offspring. A few fertile males would continue to drive the sex-change construct through subsequent generations. The lack of females would quickly cause mouse populations to plummet. • Read more » | 8/3/2017 | John Godwin | NC State News | In one approach, said project principal investigator John Godwin, an NC State professor of biological sciences, researchers would use genetic techniques to affect sex ratios by preventing the development of most female offspring. A few fertile males would continue to drive the sex-change construct through subsequent generations. The lack of females would quickly cause mouse populations to plummet. | Todd Kuiken |
US defence agencies grapple with gene drivesEwan Callaway, Nature | 7/21/2017Todd Kuiken, who studies policy relating to synthetic biology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, is glad to see gene-drive research receive more funding. But he has qualms about the US military’s interest in the field; with Safe Genes, DARPA has become the world’s largest government funder of gene-drive research. Kuiken worries that this could sow suspicions about gene drives in parts of the world that view the US military in a less-than-favourable light, including countries that stand to benefit from the elimination of disease carriers such as mosquitoes. • Read more » | 7/21/2017 | Ewan Callaway | Nature | Todd Kuiken, who studies policy relating to synthetic biology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, is glad to see gene-drive research receive more funding. But he has qualms about the US military’s interest in the field; with Safe Genes, DARPA has become the world’s largest government funder of gene-drive research. Kuiken worries that this could sow suspicions about gene drives in parts of the world that view the US military in a less-than-favourable light, including countries that stand to benefit from the elimination of disease carriers such as mosquitoes. | Todd Kuiken |
Should Genetic Engineering Be Used as a Tool for Conservation?Richard Conniff, Yale Environment 360 | 7/20/2017“The success of this idea depends heavily,” according to gene drive researcher Megan Serr, “on the genetically modified male mice being ‘studs’ with the island lady mice … Will she want a hybrid male that is part wild, part lab?” Beyond that, the research program needs to figure out how many modified mice to introduce to eradicate an invasive population in a habitat of a particular size. • Read more » | 7/20/2017 | Richard Conniff | Yale Environment 360 | “The success of this idea depends heavily,” according to gene drive researcher Megan Serr, “on the genetically modified male mice being ‘studs’ with the island lady mice … Will she want a hybrid male that is part wild, part lab?” Beyond that, the research program needs to figure out how many modified mice to introduce to eradicate an invasive population in a habitat of a particular size. | Megan Serr |
How Genetically Modified Mice Could One Day Save Island BirdsBrooke Borel, Audubon Magazine | 7/11/2017CRISPR wouldn’t be unveiled for another year, but Godwin’s colleagues were already working on a natural gene drive in mosquitoes to curb dengue fever. Could a similar approach, he wondered, combat invasive mice? Given his expertise, Godwin was especially curious whether an engineered mouse would stand a chance wooing wild females. He convinced entomologist Fred Gould, co-director of NC State’s Center on Genetic Engineering and Society, and David Threadgill, a mouse geneticist with a focus on biomedicine, to take on Farallon mice as a test case. They arranged a conference call with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the islands. • Read more » | 7/11/2017 | Brooke Borel | Audubon Magazine | CRISPR wouldn’t be unveiled for another year, but Godwin’s colleagues were already working on a natural gene drive in mosquitoes to curb dengue fever. Could a similar approach, he wondered, combat invasive mice? Given his expertise, Godwin was especially curious whether an engineered mouse would stand a chance wooing wild females. He convinced entomologist Fred Gould, co-director of NC State’s Center on Genetic Engineering and Society, and David Threadgill, a mouse geneticist with a focus on biomedicine, to take on Farallon mice as a test case. They arranged a conference call with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the islands. | Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma, John Godwin |
DARPA’s Synthetic Biology Initiatives Could Militarize the EnvironmentTodd Kuiken, Slate | 5/15/2017In recent years, however, the military—mostly under the umbrella of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—has created a new suite of programs that take a very different approach to harnessing the power of nature: synthetic biology. Among other initiatives, researchers at DARPA are attempting to engineer insects to deliver protective genes to plants; to transform bacteria and yeast into factories to produce on-demand chemicals and fuels; and to develop methods to reverse any threats posed by gene drives. • Read more » | 5/15/2017 | Todd Kuiken | Slate | In recent years, however, the military—mostly under the umbrella of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—has created a new suite of programs that take a very different approach to harnessing the power of nature: synthetic biology. Among other initiatives, researchers at DARPA are attempting to engineer insects to deliver protective genes to plants; to transform bacteria and yeast into factories to produce on-demand chemicals and fuels; and to develop methods to reverse any threats posed by gene drives. | Todd Kuiken |
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| Recent News Posts | ||||
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| Advancing Agriculture | Guest Author | Aug 14, 2024 | With a background in journalism and a passion for agricultural development, NC State doctoral student Joseph Gakpo hopes to leverage his education to make a difference in his native Ghana. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/08/ghana-agriculture-joseph-gakpo/ |
| Small-scale Science with Big Results: Using Nanotechnology to Improve Agricultural Sustainability | newswire | Jul 18, 2024 | Khara Grieger and her team at NC State are leveraging nanotechnology to enhance agricultural sustainability, aiming to boost crop resilience and minimize environmental impact. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/07/small-scale-science-with-big-results-using-nanotechnology-to-improve-agricultural-sustainability/ |
| Study Analyzes Potato-Pathogen ‘Arms Race’ After Irish Famine | newswire | Aug 5, 2024 | Researchers examine both the pathogen's effector genes and the plant's resistance genes simultaneously in a first-of-its-kind analysis. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/08/study-analyzes-potato-pathogen-arms-race-after-irish-famine/ |
| Blog: "To the USDA, and Beyond!": The Intersection of Governance and Biotechnology Innovation | Guest Author | May 30, 2024 | Christopher J. Gillespie | Recently, on National Agriculture Day, Dr. Jennifer Rowland, the Biotechnology Coordinator at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), gave a talk at the GES Colloquium that left a “big footprint”. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/05/blog-to-the-usda-and-beyond/ |
| Blog: Grappling with complexities of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe | Guest Author | Apr 18, 2024 | Eric Butoto | Embarking on a three-month journey with CIMMYT in Zimbabwe, I delved into the heart of smallholder agriculture, witnessing firsthand the challenges, innovations, and unwavering resilience of farmers, offering a glimpse into their lives and the quest for food security in a changing climate. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/04/blog-grappling-with-complexities-of-smallholder-farmers-in-zimbabwe/ |
| Blog: Science Ideology and Policy: Eugenics in the South | Guest Author | Apr 16, 2024 | Ruthie Stokes | In the annals of history, the American South has been marked by a complex tapestry of culture, tradition, and struggle. Yet, amidst the backdrop of rural landscapes and Jim Crow laws, there lurked a shadowy chapter: the era of eugenics. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/04/blog-science-ideology-policy-eugenics-in-the-south/ |
| Blog: Saving Our Seeds, Changing Our Perspective | Guest Author | Apr 2, 2024 | Asa Budnick | The act of saving a seed holds varied meanings, from my perspective as a molecular biologist, refrigerating seeds for experiments, to the broader perspectives of farmers, breeders, and nations, reflecting the diverse value and conservation methods of seeds, as explored in Dr. Helen Anne Curry’s discussion on seed conservation history and its intersections with scientific, imperialistic, and agricultural narratives. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/04/blog-saving-our-seeds-changing-our-perspective/ |
| Blog: Bringing in Indigenous Perspectives on Synthetic Biology for Conservation | Guest Author | Feb 27, 2024 | Jill Furgurson | Dr. Kirsty Wissing's colloquium presentation highlighted the essential role of Indigenous participation in shaping conservation agendas, advocating for approaches that honor traditional ecological knowledge. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/blog-bringing-in-indigenous-perspectives-on-synbio-for-conservation/ |
| Blog: Key Ecological Perspectives: Tracing the Evolution of GMO Oversight with Dr. David Andow | Guest Author | Feb 21, 2024 | Nick Loschin | Dr. David Andow provided his insights and expertise on ecological and evolutionary perspectives related to genetic engineering through key events from the 1980s to the early 2000s | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/tracing-the-evolution-of-gmo-oversight-with-david-andow/ |
| Preventing the Next Plant Plague | Guest Author | Feb 19, 2024 | NC State's Jean Ristaino will write a book on her Irish Potato Famine research and work to prevent future plant disease outbreaks while in Dublin as a Fulbright scholar. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/preventing-the-next-plant-plague/ |
| NC State Named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution | Guest Author | Feb 16, 2024 | NC State has been recognized as one of the universities with the highest number of students, faculty and administrators selected for both the U.S. Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs, including three GES faculty members and an AgBioFEWS Fellow in 2023–24. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/nc-state-named-a-fulbright-top-producing-institution/ |
| Blog: Remembering 20th Century Eugenics in North Carolina | Guest Author | Feb 14, 2024 | Nolan Speicher | In a recent GES colloquium, PhD student Grace Wiedrich shared archival research that invites audiences to reflect on the eugenics movement and its intersections with our local history. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/blog-remembering-20th-century-eugenics-in-nc/ |
| Envisioning a More Equitable Food System | Guest Author | Feb 13, 2024 | Doctoral candidate and AgBioFEWS Fellow Christopher Gillespie seeks a stronger, more racially equitable food system, and at NC State, he’s taking steps to achieve that. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/equitable-food-systems/ |
| Starting Strong | Guest Author | Feb 7, 2024 | The first small companies to join the startup program are pursuing diverse products aimed at solving different agricultural problems. For example, Eli Hornstein, who holds a Ph.D. from NC State in plant metabolic engineering, has started Elysia Creative Biology to help slow climate change by producing bioengineered crops that can be turned into feed that reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas, from cows. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/02/eli-hornstein-start-up-elysia-at-psi/ |
| Excited about biotech & ethics? Apply for the GES Minor Fellowship! | Patti Mulligan | Jan 26, 2024 | Exciting news for NC State graduate students! Applications for the 2024-2025 Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) minor fellowship are now open. Here's your chance to delve into the societal, technological, and ecological issues surrounding the development and potential use of genetically engineered organisms. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/01/ges-minor-announcement/ |
| Blog: Interdisciplinary Reflections on the U.S. Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy | Khara Grieger | Jan 24, 2024 | In December, GES-affiliated faculty and students participated in a roundtable discussion on the EO at the recent Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, held in Washington, DC. The roundtable aimed to discuss the strengths and limitations of the recent EO on bio-innovation from interdisciplinary perspectives, highlighting aspects of biotechnology regulation and risk in particular. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2024/01/blog-reflections-biotech-eo/ |
| Delborne Awarded Prestigious AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship | Patti Mulligan | Sep 20, 2023 | The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Jason Delborne, Professor of Science, Policy, and Society in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, and Dr. Morgan DiCarlo, Dr. William Casola, and Mr. William Murray MNE, North Carolina State University alumni, as members of the 51st class of the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) program. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/09/delborne-awarded-prestigious-aaas-science-tech-policy-fellowship/ |
| NSF News: Is our phosphorus use sustainable? | Guest Author | Aug 23, 2023 | A U.S. National Science Foundation-supported study finds that most phosphorus stakeholders — representing a wide swath of industry, agriculture, environmental and policy interests — have significant doubts about the long-term sustainability of existing phosphorus management systems. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/08/nsf-news-is-our-phosphorus-use-sustainable/ |
| Is Our Phosphorus Use Sustainable? Most Stakeholders Doubt It | Khara Grieger | Jul 6, 2023 | Matt Shipman and Khara Grieger | A new study finds that most phosphorus stakeholders – representing a wide swath of industry, agriculture, environmental and policy interests – have significant doubts about the long-term sustainability of existing phosphorus management systems. The study underscores the complex challenges facing policymakers and other decision-makers as they attempt to ensure our continued access to a critical resource that is finite and largely non-renewable. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/07/is-our-phosphorus-use-sustainable-most-stakeholders-doubt-it/ |
| Blog: The Challenges of GMO Detection and Traceability in a Globalized Food System | Guest Author | Apr 7, 2023 | By Joseph Opoku Gakpo and Modesta Abugu | The traceability and detection of biotech foods in a globalized system remain crucial, and while detection methods have improved, many challenges remain, especially for products of new genomic methods like CRISPR. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/04/blog-the-challenges-of-gmo-detection-and-traceability-in-a-globalized-food-system/ |
| Blog: Impressions from the field: biotechnology, scale, and change | Guest Author | Apr 5, 2023 | By Asa Budnick and Jill Furgurson | Over the summer of 2022, the last cohort of AgBioFEWS graduate students conducted field research in eastern North Carolina, gaining insights into the intersection of biotechnology, farm size, and environmental shifts on farmers. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/04/blog-impressions-from-the-field-biotechnology-scale-and-change/ |
| Why do we love cats and hate rats? | Guest Author | Mar 6, 2023 | By NC State Libraries News | Why do we dote on parakeets but not pigeons? Why do we let cats curl up on our laps but catch rats in traps? Science writer Bethany Brookshire, author of the new book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villians visits NC State on April 4th. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/03/why-do-we-love-cats-and-hate-rats/ |
| Blog: Reflections on COP15 | Khara Grieger | Jan 13, 2023 | GES members attended the recent UN biodiversity conference to better understand the impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity and conservation. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2023/01/blog-reflections-on-cop15/ |
| Experts from 14 Nations Discuss Global Gene Drive Project Registry | Guest Author | Dec 15, 2022 | By Yadira Galindo | UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science led 70 participants from 14 nations, including several GES Center faculty, in a discussion on the ways in which a gene drive project registry could both contribute to and detract from the fair development, testing and use of gene-drive modified organisms | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/12/experts-from-14-nations-discuss-global-gene-drive-project-registry/ |
| Tradition Meets Innovation | Guest Author | Nov 18, 2022 | By Kristen Sargent | Fueled by their father’s passion for agriculture, Ruthie and DJ Stokes are keeping a family promise: do what you love. The fourth-generation farmers have found common ground in supporting producers back home and feeding a growing population. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/11/tradition-meets-innovation/ |
| Modesta Abugu: Improving Sweetpotato Flavor for Nutrition Security | Guest Author | Oct 7, 2022 | By Brandon Hopper | Ph.D. student Modesta Abugu is researching flavor compounds in sweetpotatoes with a goal of increasing consumption and improving global nutrition security. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/10/modesta-abugu-improving-sweetpotato-flavor-for-nutrition-security/ |
| Blog: Archea, Microbial Superheroes? | Guest Author | Sep 27, 2022 | Jabeen Ahmad, September 27, 2022 | Food insecurity is a concern now and in the future. Globally, the United Nations estimates that about 690 million people are food insecure. By the year 2050, the world population is expected to reach nine billion people, requiring food supplies to double. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/09/blog-archea-microbial-superheroes/ |
| NC State part of $26 million grant to study microbiomes | Guest Author | Sep 7, 2022 | Heidi Reid, September 7, 2022 | NC State is taking part in the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) to research genetically engineered microbiomes. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/09/nc-state-part-of-26-million-grant-to-study-microbiomes/ |
| Exploring the Social, Ethical Sides of Microbiome Engineering | Guest Author | Sep 7, 2022 | Nash Dunn, September 7, 2022 | At NSF center, NC State to Lead Research on Societal and Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/09/exploring-the-social-ethical-sides-of-microbiome-engineering/ |
| Researchers Propose New Framework for Regulating Engineered Crops | Guest Author | Sep 1, 2022 | Mick Kulikoswki, September 1, 2022 | A Policy Forum article published today in Science calls for a new approach to regulating genetically engineered (GE) crops, arguing that current approaches for triggering safety testing vary dramatically among countries and generally lack scientific merit – particularly as advances in crop breeding have blurred the lines between conventional breeding and genetic engineering. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/09/researchers-propose-new-framework-for-regulating-ge-crops/ |
| NC State to Research Implications of Engineered Microbiomes with New NSF Center Grant | Guest Author | Aug 10, 2022 | Deborah Strange, August 10, 2022 | NC State University is part of a five-year, $26 million National Science Foundation center researching microbiome engineering. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/08/nsf-premier-erc/ |
| NC State Brings Expertise, Interdisciplinarity to Galapagos Consortium | Guest Author | Jul 29, 2022 | Deborah Strange, July 29, 2022 | In joining the International Galapagos Science Consortium, NC State bolsters its current research and service on the archipelago. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/07/international-galapagos-science-consortium/ |
| ¿Será la edición génica una alternativa de corto plazo para hacer frente a la subida de precios de alimentos? | Guest Author | Jul 26, 2022 | Gonzalo Muñoz y Mike Jones, March 29, 2022 | La edición génica es la metodología más reciente y por lo tanto es necesario crear nuevos marcos regulatorios, patentes y licenciamientos. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/07/blog-idb-sera-la-edicion-genica-una-alternativa-de-corto-plazo/ |
| Plant Science Pioneer Fights Late Blight of the Past and Future | Guest Author | Mar 29, 2022 | March 29, 2022 | Jean Ristaino has made history by tracking late blight’s origins, and she is making history again by fighting future late blight outbreaks as a scientist with the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/03/plant-science-pioneer-fights-late-blight-of-the-past-and-future/ |
| Seed Funding Speeds Growth for TreeCo — an NC State Startup | Guest Author | Mar 16, 2022 | March 16, 2022 | Just shy of three years ago, Jack Wang and Rodolphe Barrangou — two NC State professors — received support from the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund, a competitive internal seed funding program. Now, their startup TreeCo is thriving. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/03/treeco-seed-funding/ |
| NC State University Awarded BioMADE Funding to Advance U.S. Bioindustrial Manufacturing by Educating Future Workers | Guest Author | Mar 3, 2022 | With a new project funded by BioMADE — led by professor Gary Gilleskie — NC State will help train the workforce needed to advance bioindustrial manufacturing in the U.S. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/03/biomade-funding-to-educate-future-bioindustrial-manufacturing-workers/ |
| Tips for a Good Zoom Recording | Patti Mulligan | Feb 16, 2022 | Whether you are giving a big presentation, or responsible for making sure it goes well, here are some tips to make sure your next Zoom meeting recording looks great. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/02/tips-for-a-good-zoom-recording/ |
| 2021-22 University Faculty Scholars Named | newswire | Feb 8, 2022 | NC State recently announced its 2021-22 class of University Faculty Scholars. These 23 early- and mid-career faculty received this designation in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and contributions to NC State through their teaching, scholarship and service to the university and beyond. | https://news.ncsu.edu/2022/01/2021-22-university-faculty-scholars-named/ |
| What to Know About GMOs | newswire | Nov 2, 2021 | Jennifer Kuzma, Goodnight-NCGSK Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and a biotech policy expert, answers some common questions about genetically modified organisms. Kuzma is the co-founder and co-director of NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. | https://chass.ncsu.edu/news/2021/09/29/what-to-know-about-gmos/ |
| More Transparency Recommended for Gene-Edited Crops | newswire | Nov 19, 2020 | NC State researchers suggest mechanism to provide more information about biotech crops and products. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/11/more-transparency-recommended-for-gene-edited-crops/ |
| Fusing Disciplines, Transforming Graduate Education | newswire | Jan 2, 2020 | An interdisciplinary program prepares students to grapple with the growing role of genetic engineering and biotechnology in agriculture — and solve complex societal problems. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/01/fusing-disciplines-transforming-graduate-education/ |
| NC State receives USDA/NIFA grant to evaluate societal impacts and foster sustainability of GE and nanotech in agriculture | Patti Mulligan | Feb 11, 2022 | February 10, 2022 | Khara Grieger, together with GES Co-director Jennifer Kuzma, will lead a $650,000 project that will support the responsible development of novel agrifood technologies to contribute to more sustainable food and ag systems. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/02/nc-state-receives-usda-nifa-grant-on-societal-impacts-of-ge-and-nanotech/ |
| Two Professors Named 2021 AAAS Fellows | Guest Author | Jan 26, 2022 | Delborne and Watzin are recognized for their “scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2022/01/two-professors-named-2021-aaas-fellows/ |
| Blog: Considerations for developing GMO crops around the world | Guest Author | Nov 10, 2021 | Agriculture is changing and so are the technologies needed to improve it. Scientists should be allowed to develop genetically modified (GM) crops to provide options for smallholder farmers who depend on a successful harvest for their livelihood. That position was highlighted in a panel discussion featuring biotechnology leaders at the Genetics Engineering and Society colloquium organized by the third cohort of the AgBioFEWs fellowship. The question that informed this colloquium was, who makes the decision on which GM crops are developed around the world? | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/11/blog-considerations-for-developing-gmo-crops-around-the-world/ |
| Fred Gould named Executive Director of NC State Genetics and Genomics Academy | Guest Author | Nov 5, 2021 | Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Resource Management and Chief of Staff Duane Larick today officially announced the launch of NC State’s Genetics and Genomics Academy. The academy represents a universitywide, interdisciplinary effort to engage faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students in harnessing the power of science to serve society | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/11/fred-gould-named-executive-director-of-nc-state-genetics-and-genomics-academy/ |
| Khara Grieger to Co-lead Knowledge Transfer Efforts for New $25 million Phosphorus Research Center | Guest Author | Oct 8, 2021 | October 8, 2021 | Khara Grieger will co-lead Knowledge Transfer efforts between researchers and stakeholders for NC State’s new $25 million NSF STEPS Center. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/10/khara-grieger-to-co-lead-knowledge-transfer-efforts-for-new-25-million-phosphorus-research-center/ |
| What to Know About GMOs | Guest Author | Sep 29, 2021 | NC State biotech policy expert Jennifer Kuzma answers top questions about genetically modified organisms. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/09/what-to-know-about-gmos/ |
| A Sterile Solution: How Crispr Could Protect Wild Salmon | Guest Author | Jul 21, 2021 | Gene-editing technology may prevent escaped farmed salmon from interbreeding with their wild counterparts. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/07/a-sterile-solution-how-crispr-could-protect-wild-salmon/ |
| Cultural Beliefs and Stakeholder Affiliation Influence Attitudes Towards Responsible Research and Innovation | Frontiers in Political Science | Jennifer Kuzma | Jun 24, 2021 | Jennifer Kuzma, June 24, 2021 | Biotech developers are concerned about the future of gene editing having experienced the contentious history of first-generation GM foods. They have also expressed desires to do better with public engagement in gene-editing innovation. The framework of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) may provide a way forward to act on their desires for greater public legitimacy. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/06/cultural-beliefs-and-stakeholder-affiliation-influence-attitudes-towards-rri/ |
| A Focus on "Intended Consequences" to Drive Conservation Action | Conservation Science and Practice | Patti Mulligan | Apr 15, 2021 | Press Release, April 15, 2021 | A newly published special issue of Conservation Science and Practice makes the case for rebalancing the risk–benefit equation in conservation. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/04/intended-consequences-press-release/ |
| First GMO Mosquitoes to Be Released In the Florida Keys | Undark | Guest Author | Apr 12, 2021 | The EPA approved Oxitec's mosquitoes for release this spring. Some scientists and locals want to halt the deployment. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/04/first-gmo-mosquitoes-to-be-released-in-the-florida-keys-undark/ |
| PSI Profile: Ross Sozzani, Platform Director for Plant Improvement | Guest Author | Feb 9, 2021 | D'Lyn Ford, Feb. 9, 2021 | The plant improvement platform director for the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative shares her vision: collaboration, innovative crop technologies and students ready for the workforce. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/02/psi-profile-ross-sozzani-platform-director-for-plant-improvement/ |
| Invasive Flies Prefer Untouched Territory When Laying Eggs | Guest Author | Feb 15, 2021 | Hannah Burrack and Matt Shipman, Feb. 15, 2021 | The finding raises questions about how the flies can tell whether a piece of fruit is virgin territory – and what that might mean for pest control. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/02/d-suzukii-untouched-fruit/ |
| Biotech: An Environmentalist's Dilemma | Todd Kuiken | Jan 21, 2021 | Biodesigned, Jan. 21, 2021 | Environmental scientist Todd Kuiken weighs the pros and cons of deploying biotechnology to protect vulnerable ecosystems. Can altering the DNA of species save them from the impacts of human induced climate change, or will it wreak a new form of havoc?" | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2021/01/biotech-an-environmentalists-dilemma/ |
| Scientists Set a Path for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms | Science | Guest Author | Dec 17, 2020 | Press Release, December 17, 2020 | As genetically engineered organisms ramp up, a multidisciplinary coalition offers a framework for ethical, socially engaged and transparent field practices | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/12/scientists-set-path-for-field-trials-of-gene-drive-organisms/ |
| Researchers Recommend More Transparency for Gene-Edited Crops | Science | Guest Author | Nov 19, 2020 | Press Release, November 19, 2020 | New government regulations for biotechnology will create gaps in oversight of gene-edited crops and the provision of information to consumers. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/11/gene-editing-transparency/ |
| The ‘Public Good’ of Controlling Mobile Pests with Genetically Engineered Crops | Guest Author | Nov 12, 2020 | Margaret Huffman, Nov. 11 2020 | Choosing to plant genetically engineered seed that will grow insect-resistant corn (Bt corn) is more expensive at the time of planting but is common practice in places like the United States and the Philippines. This study takes a closer look at those who do not plant genetically engineered seed because their neighbors use of Bt corn eliminated the local pest pressure. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/11/the-public-good-of-controlling-mobile-pests-with-genetically-engineered-crops/ |
| Student Spotlight: Jabeen Ahmad, AgBioFEWS Fellow | Guest Author | Nov 2, 2020 | CALS Magazine, Fall 2020 | AgBioFEWS Fellow Jabeen Ahmad's interdisciplinary journey from public defender to plant biologist. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/11/student-spotlight-jabeen-ahmad/ |
| Responsible Innovation in Biotechnology: Stakeholder attitudes and implications for research policy | Elementa | Jennifer Kuzma | Sep 1, 2020 | Jennifer Kuzma, September 1, 2020 | This article explores attitudes of stakeholders involved in biotechnology towards the Responsible Innovation (RI) framework. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/09/stakeholder-attitudes-towards-responsible-innovation-elementa/ |
| Office of Research and Innovation Honors Three with Award for Excellence | Patti Mulligan | Aug 13, 2020 | Matt Simpson, August 10, 2020 | Three Office of Research and Innovation employees won this year’s Award for Excellence — SHRA employee Patti Mulligan and EHRA employees Daniel Findley and Nicholas Leblanc. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/08/office-of-research-and-innovation-honors-three-with-award-for-excellence/ |
| Returning to Farming’s Roots in the Battle Against the ‘Billion-Dollar Beetle’ | Agricultural and Resource Economics | Guest Author | Jul 21, 2020 | Rosemary Brandt, July 21, 2020 | Nicknamed the "billion-dollar beetle" for its enormous economic costs to growers in the United States each year, the western corn rootworm is one of the most devastating pests farmers face. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/07/returning-to-farmings-roots-in-the-battle-against-the-billion-dollar-beetle/ |
| CALS News - Using Leaf Fungi to Improve Crop Resilience | Patti Mulligan | Jun 29, 2020 | Mollie Rappe, June 29, 2020 | Jason Delborne, a researcher with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center and the College of Natural Resources, will lead the efforts to assess public opinion and analyze the potential regulatory pathway for techniques to introduce beneficial plant fungi to crops. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/06/cals-news-using-fungi-to-improve-crop-resilience/ |
| Blog: We must do better... | Todd Kuiken | Jun 11, 2020 | Todd Kuiken, June 11, 2020 | The following reflection was part of a special GES colloquium held on June 5, 2020, discussing the new USDA regulations on GM crops. Which was held in the midst of national protests against police brutality. They are my personal reflections in support of #blacklivesmatter and the systemic racism and inequalities seen throughout our institutions. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/06/we-must-do-better/ |
| Genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in Florida and Texas beginning this summer – silver bullet or jumping the gun? | Jennifer Kuzma | Jun 3, 2020 | Jennifer Kuzma, June 3, 2020 | Release of GM mosquitoes in Florida is imminent. But a multidisciplinary team of scientists believe that more studies are needed first. They encourage a publicly accessible registry for GM organisms. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/06/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-could-be-released-in-florida-and-texas-beginning-this-summer-silver-bullet-or-jumping-the-gun/ |
| Blog: COVID-19 Reveals the Personal Side of Globalization - GM Researchers Should Take Note | Nora Haenn | May 20, 2020 | Nora Haenn, 5/20/2020 | COVID-19 has shown us, there’s an important consequence for the way globalization is both local at all points and persistently invisible in its entirety. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/05/covid19-reveals-personal-side-of-globalization-gm-researchers-take-note/ |
| Jennifer Kuzma awarded Outstanding Research Award, inducted into Research Leadership Academy | Guest Author | May 11, 2020 | Matt Simpson, May 5, 2020 | The Office of Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Alumni Association, has selected six NC State faculty members as recipients of this year’s Outstanding Research Award. The six awardees will also be inducted to the Research Leadership Academy (RLA). | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/05/jennifer-kuzma-awarded-outstanding-research-award/ |
| Blog: Yes, and... | Guest Author | Apr 22, 2020 | Royden Saah and Eli Hornstein, 4/22/2020 | To counter the COVID-19 pandemic, YES we can be responsible AND take urgent, unfamiliar action. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/04/yes-and-covid/ |
| Decision-making about Emerging Technologies and Global Risks | Patti Mulligan | Apr 14, 2020 | GES Center receives NSF Grant to investigate geoengineering for global climate change | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/04/nsf-grant-decision-making-about-emerging-technologies-and-global-risks/ |
| Blog: Review of Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures | We Make Money Not Art | Guest Author | Apr 7, 2020 | Regine Debatty - April 6, 2020 | Artists offer new insights about genetic engineering by bringing it out of the lab and into public places to challenge viewers’ understandings about the human condition, the material of our bodies | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/04/blog-review-arts-work-genetic-futures/ |
| COVID-19—Biotechnology Is Never Enough | Jennifer Kuzma | Apr 3, 2020 | The currently-unfolding COVID-19 case boldly underscores the reality that science and technology are never enough to solve global health problems alone. Rather, we need a strategic and systematic integration of social sciences, risk sciences, and communication along with science, technology, and innovation to adequately meet the challenges of emerging global risks, such as COVID-19. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/04/covid-19-biotech-is-never-enough/ |
| Virtual Colloquium: Zoom Instructions | Patti Mulligan | Mar 19, 2020 | GES Colloquium Zoom registration information | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/03/virtual-colloquium-zoom-instructions/ |
| WUNC: An Ancient Greek Festival For Creating Female Sperm | Guest Author | Jan 10, 2020 | Grant Holub-Moorman & Anita Rao - January 10, 2020 | Semen is a potent substance, both literally and symbolically. It was described by Chinese proverb as “equal to ten drops of blood”; by Sumerians as “a divine substance... | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/01/wunc-ancient-greek-festival-creating-female-sperm/ |
| Indy Week: At the Crossroads of Art and Biotech, a Warning: Be Careful What You Wish For | Guest Author | Jan 13, 2020 | Brian Howe - January 13, 2020 | The Gregg Museum's "Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures" is less concerned with answering big questions than in finding head-spinning new ways to ask them. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/01/indy-week-crossroads-of-art-and-biotech/ |
| Art the Science Blog: WORKS – Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology | Guest Author | Jan 7, 2020 | Alice Fleerackers - January 7, 2020 | From "designer babies" to de-extinct woolly mammoths, recent developments in biotechnology have profoundly changed what we view as possible. But each of these possibilities brings... | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2020/01/art-the-science-blog-works-awab/ |
| Lessons Learned for Risk Governance of Synthetic Biology, Nanomaterials, and Other Emerging Technologies in a Post-2020 World | Todd Kuiken | Dec 13, 2019 | Khara Grieger and Todd Kuiken, Dec. 13, 2019 | On December 9th, a symposium was held at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, entitled “Risk Analysis of Engineered Nanomaterials: Where Have We Been, Lessons Learned, and Transfer of Knowledge to Other Emerging Technologies,” as a part of the Advanced Materials and Technologies Specialty Group. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/12/lessons-learned-risk-governance-synbio-nano-post2020-world/ |
| CALS News - Fred Gould: My Journey to Interdisciplinary Research | Patti Mulligan | Dec 2, 2019 | Mollie Rappe, Dec 2, 2019 | NC State Distinguished Professor Fred Gould shares his journey to interdisciplinary research on genetically modified pests and beyond, as well as the challenges he overcame along the way. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/12/cals-news-fred-gould-journey-to-interdisciplinary-research/ |
| Margaret Atwood discusses her 'prophetic' novel, effects of new science developments on society | Guest Author | Nov 17, 2019 | On Friday, Nov. 15, Margaret Atwood, the critically acclaimed dystopian novelist of "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Testaments" visited Talley Student Union's State Ballroom and discussed a plethora of issues | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/11/margaret-atwood-discusses-prophetic-novel/ |
| Margaret Atwood and the Biotechnology of Tomorrow | Guest Author | Nov 18, 2019 | Renowned author Margaret Atwood visited NC State to discuss fiction's role in the future of biotechnology and genetic engineering. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/11/margaret-atwood-and-the-biotechnology-of-tomorrow/ |
| CALS Spotlight on Fred Gould: How Do We Communicate Genetic Engineering? | Guest Author | Oct 15, 2019 | Dee Shore, Fall 2019 | NC State professor and genetic engineer Fred Gould is focused on clear communication and the public good. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/10/cals-fred-gould-the-biggest-battle-ahead-is-misinformation/ |
| Announcing: Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures Exhibition | Patti Mulligan | Oct 1, 2019 | Raleigh, NC – NC State University Libraries and the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center present the Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology, opening at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design on Thursday, October 17, 6 to 8 p.m. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/10/press-release-arts-work-genetic-futures-opening-oct-17/ |
| Student Spotlight: DeShae Dillard, AgBioFEWS Fellow | Guest Author | Sep 18, 2019 | Dee Shore, Sept. 17, 2019 | When he first set foot in Columbia, North Carolina, this summer, NC State Ph.D. student DeShae Dillard felt as though he’d arrived in another country. There, the AgBioFEWS Fellow learned more about rural life, especially the everyday challenges of farming. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/09/student-spotlight-deshae-dillard/ |
| Does the US public support using gene drives to control agricultural pests? | Guest Author | Sep 11, 2019 | Mike Jones, Sep. 11, 2019 | The development of gene drives is progressing more rapidly than our understanding of public values towards these technologies. Findings from this research can inform responsible innovation in gene drive development and risk assessment. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/09/does-the-us-support-gene-drives-to-control-ag-pests/ |
| Announcing: An Evening with Margaret Atwood - Friday, Nov. 15 | Patti Mulligan | Aug 21, 2019 | The GES Center is excited to announce: An Evening with Margaret Atwood, Internationally-renowned author of The Handmaid's Tale, Friday, Nov. 15 at Talley Student Union, NC State University. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/08/announcing-an-evening-with-margaret-atwood-friday-nov-15/ |
| NC State corn maze opens at NC Museum of Art through October | Patti Mulligan | Aug 13, 2019 | WTVD ABC 11, August 13, 2019 | A quarter-acre corn maze is now open at the NC Museum of Art's Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/08/wtvd-corn-maze-open-at-nc-museum-of-art-through-october/ |
| Field_Notes: Expanding the Possibilities of Bioart | Patti Mulligan | Apr 8, 2019 | Hannah Star Rogers, April 8, 2019 | In the first entry in a series of contributions, Hannah Star Rogers convenes reflections from Leena Valkeapää, Saara Hannula, and Erich Berger on the 2018 convening of the Helsinki-based Bioart Society. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/04/field_notes-expanding-the-possibilities-of-bioart/ |
| USDA to biotech: Call your own compliance | Patti Mulligan | Jul 30, 2019 | Steven Suppan, July 30, 2019 | The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants agribusiness to sell more genetically engineered (GE) seeds and food products all over the world, as soon as possible. This rule would go beyond already controversial genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to encompass hundreds of new products of new gene and genome editing techniques. The fastest way to do that? | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/07/usda-to-biotech-call-your-own-compliance/ |
| GES Center awarded half-million dollar grant to study responsible innovation of food nanotechnology | Patti Mulligan | Jul 25, 2019 | July 25, 2019 | Khara Grieger and Jennifer Kuzma will lead a two-year, USDA-funded study of responsible innovation of food nanotechnology. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/07/usda-grant-implications-of-nanotech-in-food-ag/ |
| Faculty Spotlight: Khara Grieger | Patti Mulligan | Jul 15, 2019 | Patti Mulligan, July 15, 2019 | INTERVIEW: We sat down with the GES Center's newest Senior Research Scholar, Khara Grieger. She joined our team in the spring of 2019, but has already given a colloquium and is working on several nanotechnology-related research projects. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/07/faculty-spotlight-khara-grieger/ |
| Biotechnology Oversight Gets an Early Make-Over by Trump’s White House and USDA: Part 2 - The USDA-APHIS Rule | Jennifer Kuzma | Jul 2, 2019 | Jennifer Kuzma, July 2, 2019 | USDA-APHIS has proposed an oversight process for GE crops that appears to be a significant departure from the current one. This article discusses the features of the proposed new rule, along with its strengths and weaknesses and my recommendations for how it should be amended. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/07/ag-biotech-oversight-makeover-part-2-usda-aphis-rule/ |
| Can Genetic Engineering Save Our Planet’s Biodiversity? | Guest Author | Jun 25, 2019 | Andrew Moore, June 24, 2019 | Researchers at NC State’s College of Natural Resources — and around the world — are considering ways to employ genetic engineering for conservation. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/06/can-genetic-engineering-save-our-planets-biodiversity/ |
| Workshop Report on Gene Drive Mice for Biodiversity Protection on Islands | Jason Delborne | Jun 24, 2019 | S. Kathleen Barnhill-Dilling, June 24, 2019 | Mice offer an ideal genetic model for exploring the possibility of developing a synthetic gene drive in mammals. As pests, they pose challenges to human health, agricultural yields and storage, and biodiversity, especially on islands where they are not native. If research on gene drives in mice were to progress to a field trial, an island ecosystem would offer an additional level of physical containment. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/06/workshop-report-gene-drive-mice/ |
| Biotechnology Oversight Gets an Early Make-Over by Trump’s White House and USDA: Part 1—The Executive Order | Jennifer Kuzma | Jun 18, 2019 | Jennifer Kuzma, June 18, 2019 | Last week, the Trump administration set the tone for its oversight of agricultural biotechnology (ag biotech) through two major actions: 1) Signing the Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products Executive Order; and 2) Proposing a draft rule on the Movement of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs), changing how USDA reviews GE plants. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/06/ag-biotech-oversight-makeover-part-1-eo/ |
| IUCN Report: Genetic frontiers for conservation - An assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation | Todd Kuiken | May 9, 2019 | Todd Kuiken, May 9, 2019 | Synthetic biology – altering or redesigning genes to meet human objectives – is a fast-developing field with significant potential impacts on nature conservation, according to the Genetic frontiers for conservation assessment report. So far mostly applied in agriculture and medicine, synthetic biology could have substantial knock-on effects on conservation – including modified genes spreading to non-target species and affecting broader ecosystems, but also benefits such as saving threatened species, reduced fertiliser use or diminished demand for products derived from threatened species. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/05/genetic-frontiers-for-conservation-iucn/ |
| Curating Art and Science: Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology | Patti Mulligan | Mar 25, 2019 | Hannah Star Rogers, March 25, 2019 | Resurrecting the Sublime is a synthetic biology based artwork which presents the scents of extinct plants, produced through a combination of techniques, materials, and ideas from art and biotechnology. This work will be installed as part of the Art's Work/Genetic Futures exhibit in the fall of 2019. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/03/curating-art-and-science-arts-work-in-the-age-of-biotechnology/ |
| Governing evolution - A socioecological comparison of resistance management for Bt crops | Zachary Brown | Mar 25, 2019 | Zachary Brown, March 21, 2019 | Cooperative management of pest susceptibility to transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops is pursued worldwide in a variety of forms and to varying degrees of success depending on context. We examine this context using a comparative socioecological analysis of resistance management in Australia, Brazil, India, and the United States. We find that a shared understanding of resistance risks among government regulators, growers, and other actors is critical for effective governance. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/03/brown-governing-evolution-socioeco-comparison-resistance-bt-crops/ |
| Procedurally Robust Risk Assessment Framework for Novel Genetically Engineered Organisms and Gene Drives | Jennifer Kuzma | Mar 12, 2019 | Jennifer Kuzma, March 8, 2019 | This article reviews the current state of gene-editing regulation for crops, illuminating the ways in which technology developers are repeating practices that may lead to the public and ethical failures of the first generation genetically engineered crops, and argues that the contentious socio-political history of genetic engineering will repeat itself for gene editing if these continue. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/03/kuzma_risk-assessment-novel-geos/ |
| Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication | Patti Mulligan | Mar 6, 2019 | March 4, 2019 | Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication, by S. Kathleen Barnhill-Dilling, Megan Serr, Dimitri V. Blondel and John Godwin. Abstract: Gene drives represent a dynamic and controversial set of technologies with applications that range from mosquito control to the conservation of biological diversity on islands. Currently, gene drives are being developed in mice that may one day serve as an important tool for reducing invasive rodent pests, a key threat to island biodiversity and economies. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/03/sustainability-framework-for-gene-drive-mice/ |
| 2018-19 University Faculty Scholars Named | Patti Mulligan | Feb 27, 2019 | NC State’s 2018-19 class of University Faculty Scholars was announced today. These 20 early- and mid-career faculty [including GES Center Executive Committee Member, Jason Delborne] receive this designation due to their significant academic achievements and contributions to NC State through their teaching, research and community engagement. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/02/2018-19-university-faculty-scholars-named/ |
| Report: Stakeholder Perspectives on Gene Drive Mice for Biodiversity Protection on Islands | Jason Delborne | Feb 20, 2019 | Jason Delborne, February 20, 2019 | This article reviews the current state of gene-editing regulation for crops, illuminating the ways in which technology developers are repeating practices that may lead to the public and ethical failures of the first generation genetically engineered crops, and argues that the contentious socio-political history of genetic engineering will repeat itself for gene editing if these continue. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/02/report-gene-drive-landscape/ |
| Can genetic engineering save disappearing forests? | Jason Delborne | Jan 18, 2019 | Jason Delborne, January 18, 2019 | Forests in the US face many threats: climate change, invasive species, pests and pathogens. Could genetically engineering trees make these plants more resilient?" | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/01/can-genetic-engineering-save-disappearing-forests/ |
| Kudos to Kuzma: Distinguished Professor Named AAAS Fellow | Patti Mulligan | Nov 28, 2018 | Jennifer Kuzma has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Kuzma is the college’s Goodnight-North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Distinguished Professor in Social Sciences and co-directs NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/11/kudos-to-kuzma-distinguished-professor-named-aaas-fellow/ |
| 4 NC State Faculty Named AAAS Fellows | newswire | Nov 27, 2018 | The American Association for the Advancement of Science elects 416 fellows, including four from NC State. Meet our newest members of the prestigious organization. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/11/4-nc-state-faculty-named-aaas-fellows/ |
| ‘Changing the Landscape of Graduate Education’ | newswire | Sep 6, 2018 | NC State’s AgBioFEWS program will blend natural and social sciences to train next-generation problem-solvers in agricultural biotechnology. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/09/changing-the-landscape-of-graduate-education-2/ |
| Changing the Landscape of Graduate Education | newswire | Sep 6, 2018 | Problems related to food, energy and water are becoming increasingly complex. NC State is taking a new approach to prepare the scientists who will solve them. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/09/changing-the-landscape-of-graduate-education/ |
| How to Limit Mosquito Exposure | newswire | Aug 8, 2016 | As we head into prime mosquito season in North Carolina, NC State University Ph.D. student Sophia Webster outlines ways you can limit your exposure by eliminating standing water or using insect sprays. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/08/how-to-limit-mosquito-exposure/ |
| Engineering a New Mosquito | newswire | Aug 15, 2016 | The field of genetic engineering offers an array of approaches to eliminating human diseases spread by mosquitoes. NC State Univeristy Ph.D. student Sophia Webster is conducting research on one viable solution to the problem. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/08/engineering-a-new-mosquito/ |
| Graduate Students Share Stories with Legislators | newswire | Jun 5, 2018 | More than 30 graduate students and their leaders from across the state were on hand for Graduate Education Day 2018 at the N.C. General Assembly recently to share their research and advocate for the value of graduate education. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/graduate-students-share-stories-with-legislators/ |
| 10 of the Most Diabolical Crop Pests in North Carolina | newswire | Jun 26, 2018 | Ten of the most vexing pests that prey on agriculture in North Carolina. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/10-of-the-most-diabolical-crop-pests-in-north-carolina-2/ |
| Issues: Regulating Gene-Edited Crops | Jennifer Kuzma | Dec 10, 2018 | This article reviews the current state of gene-editing regulation for crops, illuminating the ways in which technology developers are repeating practices that may lead to the public and ethical failures of the first generation genetically engineered crops, and argues that the contentious socio-political history of genetic engineering will repeat itself for gene editing if these continue. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/12/kuzma-issues-regulating-gene-edited-crops/ |
| GES Center Co-director Jennifer Kuzma Named AAAS Fellow | Patti Mulligan | Nov 27, 2018 | Jennifer Kuzma, Goodnight-North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Distinguished Professor in Social Sciences and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State, elected for distinguished translational work in bridging the bench and society, advancing anticipatory governance of new technologies, and contributions to methods for oversight policy analysis. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/11/ges-center-co-director-jennifer-kuzma-named-aaas-fellow/ |
| WP: Gene-edited farm animals are coming. Will we eat them? | Patti Mulligan | Dec 18, 2018 | “We’re at this inflection point in society, where gene editing is really taking off, and now is the time we could have a more sustained public conversation about how we want it used in our world and how we don’t want it to be used,” said Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “All the polls indicate that people are less comfortable with animal biotechnology than plant biotechnology... A regulatory system cannot be based 100 percent on science or scientific risk, and values come into play when setting the standards.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/12/ap-kuzma-ge-farm-animals/ |
| AP: Kuzma discusses need for case-by-case scrutiny of gene-edited foods | Patti Mulligan | Nov 14, 2018 | Per Kuzma, companies will have to be up-front about how these new foods were made and the evidence that they’re healthy. She wants regulators to decide case-by-case which changes are no big deal and which might need more scrutiny.“Most gene-edited plants and animals are probably going to be just fine to eat. But you’re only going to do yourself a disservice in the long run if you hide behind the terminology,” Kuzma said. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/11/ap-kuzma-scrutiny-gene-edited-foods/ |
| Editing nature: Local roots of global governance | Patti Mulligan | Nov 1, 2018 | Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor and Co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, was one of the lead authors on an interdisciplinary team calling for global oversight of environmental gene editing in this Science Policy Forum, Editing Nature: Local roots of global governance. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/11/editing-nature-local-roots-of-global-governance/ |
| The Problems Driving Resistance to Bt Crops—and Some Proposed Solutions | Patti Mulligan | Oct 26, 2018 | By: DOMINIC REISIG, Entomology Today | Bt crops—those genetically engineered to produce an insecticidal toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis—are special due to their benefits: reducing foliar insecticide applications, which increase populations of beneficial insects and minimize environmental harm; reducing pest populations throughout the landscape; and preserving yield, to name a few. Therefore, preventing resistance to Bt crops is important and is usually formalized in a set of Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) practices. Because bollworm is now resistant to two Bt toxin families in cotton, IRM practices may have to change to slow resistance to other Bt toxins. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/10/problems-driving-resistance-to-bt-crops/ |
| Report: Biotechnology, the American Chestnut, and Public Engagement | Patti Mulligan | Oct 25, 2018 | In April 2018, a team of NC State faculty and students convened a stakeholder workshop to explore opportunities for public engagement surrounding the development, regulatory review, and potential deployment of a genetically engineered American chestnut tree. As perhaps the first GMO designed to spread and persist in the wild, the tree has the potential to restore a functionally extinct species, but also raises important ethical, political, ecological, and cultural questions. This report describes the workshop and its purpose, details the substance of the discussions, and offers the research team’s perspective on lessons learned and ways forward. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/10/chestnut-report/ |
| Podcast: Regulate This!: How Genetic Engineering is Regulated, with Jennifer Kuzma | Jennifer Kuzma | Oct 3, 2018 | Podcast - Regulate This!: How Genetic Engineering is Regulated Dr. Jennifer Kuzma from NC State walks us through the complicated world of regulations that control how genetically engineering plants and animals make into our world and onto our plates. Really interesting conversation with broad implications for how society regulates complex technologies. Length: 1 hour, 28 minutes | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/10/podcast-regulate-this-with-jennifer-kuzma/ |
| ‘Changing the Landscape of Graduate Education’ | Patti Mulligan | Sep 6, 2018 | GES Center to launch NSF-funded AgBioFEWS graduate program, blending natural and social sciences to train next-gen problem-solvers in agricultural biotechnology. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/09/agbiofews-nsf-graduate-training-grant-awarded/ |
| Gould quoted in C&EN: Building bioethics into the future of life sciences innovation | Patti Mulligan | Aug 27, 2018 | Scientists who refuse to engage with ethicists and the public will find themselves at a disadvantage. “Just because you are a scientist and have invented something doesn’t mean you have authority over it,” says Fred Gould, an entomologist and co-director of the Genetic Engineering & Society Center at North Carolina State University. He points to the National Academies report’s advocacy of participatory decision-making. Resistance from the science community based on ethicists and the public not fully understanding the science wears thin, he says. “You are a pretty poor scientist if you can’t explain what these things are about to an ethicist,” he says. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/08/gould-quoted-in-cen-building-bioethics-into-the-future-of-life-sciences-innovation/ |
| NBC News - Gould: Exposure levels determine toxicity of glyphosate | Patti Mulligan | Aug 17, 2018 | “With all things, it is the level of exposure that matters,” said Fred Gould, head of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “The poison is in the concentration.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/08/nbc-news-gould-exposure-levels-determine-toxicity-of-glyphosate/ |
| Washington Post: Kuzma calls for mandatory regulatory process for gene-edited foods | Patti Mulligan | Aug 13, 2018 | “We need a mandatory regulatory process: not just for scientific reasons, but for consumer and public confidence,” Kuzma said. “I think the vast majority of gene-edited foods are going to be as safe as their conventionally bred counterparts. But I don’t buy into the argument that’s true all the time for every crop.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/08/wapo-kuzma-calls-for-mandatory-regulatory-process-gene-edited-foods/ |
| Call for art for 2019 “genetic futures” exhibit | Patti Mulligan | Aug 9, 2018 | open call for art | 2019 Genetic Futures exhibit | Now accepting proposals from artists, scientists, designers, and makers. The NCSU Libraries, NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES), and the Gregg Museum of Art & Design have issued a public call for art for the upcoming exhibition Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping our Genetic Futures. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/08/call-for-art-for-2019-genetic-futures-exhibit/ |
| EU ruling on gene-edited plants and GMOs is more status quo than disruptive | Todd Kuiken | Aug 6, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/08/eu-ruling-on-gene-edited-plants-and-gmos-is-more-status-quo-than-disruptive/ | |
| Kuzma Urges a Broader Conversation on Underlying Ethics of Gene Editing Technology | Jennifer Kuzma | Jul 19, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/07/kuzma-urges-a-broader-conversation-on-underlying-ethics-of-gene-editing-technology/ | |
| Publication: How social science should complement scientific discovery: lessons from nanoscience | Patti Mulligan | Jul 12, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/07/publication-berube-social-science-lessons-from-nanoscience/ | |
| Genome Editing in Agriculture - CAST Issue Paper | Patti Mulligan | Jul 9, 2018 | PRESS RELEASE: July 9, 2018. Twentieth-century advances in plant and animal breeding did much to help meet the increasing food, fiber, feed, and fuel needs of an expanding world. But continued population growth, resource shortages, climate change, and pest prevalence make sustainability a daunting yet essential task. Genome editing is a powerful new method that enables unprecedented control over genetic material and offers the opportunity to make rapid advances that influence agricultural practices. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/07/genome-editing-in-agriculture-cast-issue-paper/ |
| Pesticide Resistance Arms Race | Fred Gould | Jun 29, 2018 | In this episode we talk with Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences, about the rising rates of herbicide and pesticide resistance, the current state of the resistance arms race and what we need to do in the future to protect our crops and human health from resistant pests. Length: 15 minutes | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/pesticide-resistance-arms-race/ |
| 10 of the Most Diabolical Crop Pests in North Carolina | newswire | Jun 26, 2018 | Ten of the most vexing pests that prey on agriculture in North Carolina. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/10-of-the-most-diabolical-crop-pests-in-north-carolina/ |
| Kuzma quoted on ecological impacts and regulation of GE products | Patti Mulligan | Jun 25, 2018 | To critics, the case laid bare glaring weaknesses in the country’s oversight of genetically engineered, or GE, crops. While biotechnology’s defenders say the process is already overly rigorous, others have long argued that regulations, which haven’t changed significantly since 1987, don’t do enough to protect agriculture and the environment. Neither the USDA nor any government agency must weigh the full social, economic and ecological impacts of GE products, says Jennifer Kuzma, co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. “There’s really no place that’s looking at this broadly from a risk-benefit perspective.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/kuzma-regulations-and-eco-impacts-of-ge/ |
| Kuzma in Scientific American article: Weeds Are Winning in the War against Herbicide Resistance | Patti Mulligan | Jun 18, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/06/kuzma-in-sciam-weeds-are-winning/ | |
| Barrangou Wins NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences | newswire | Jan 17, 2018 | Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou adds another award to his long list of accolades: the 2018 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for his discovery of the genetic mechanisms and proteins driving CRISPR-Cas systems. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/01/barrangou-wins-nas-prize-in-food-and-agriculture-sciences/ |
| NC State’s Rodolphe Barrangou Elected to National Academy of Sciences | newswire | May 2, 2018 | CRISPR pioneer Rodolphe Barrangou has been elected to one of the world’s most prestigious and influential scientific societies. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/nc-states-rodolphe-barrangou-elected-to-national-academy-of-sciences/ |
| What Happens If We Run Out? Pesticide Resistance Needs Attention, Large-Scale Study | newswire | May 17, 2018 | How can we slow pest resistance to herbicides and pesticides? NC State researchers say large-scale studies are needed to test new strategies. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/what-happens-if-we-run-out-pesticide-resistance-needs-attention-large-scale-study/ |
| Think Chimpanzee Beds Are Dirtier Than Human Ones? Think Again | newswire | May 15, 2018 | Study finds that chimpanzees appear to keep tidier sleeping arrangements than humans do. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/think-chimpanzee-beds-are-dirtier-than-human-ones-think-again/ |
| Sciences Faculty Recognized at Celebration of Faculty Excellence | newswire | May 2, 2018 | Eight Sciences faculty were honored at the annual ceremony for winning prestigious state, national and international awards. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/sciences-faculty-recognized-at-celebration-of-faculty-excellence/ |
| Publication: Comparative, collaborative, and integrative risk governance for emerging technologies | Patti Mulligan | May 7, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/publication-comparative_collaborative_integrative_risk_governance_emerging_tech/ | |
| SciLine Briefing: Jennifer Kuzma on Gene Drives | Patti Mulligan | May 7, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/05/sciline-briefing-jennifer-kuzma-on-gene-drives/ | |
| Publication: Voluntary Programs To Encourage Refuges for Pesticide Resistance Management | Patti Mulligan | Apr 17, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/04/publication-voluntary-programs-to-encourage-refuges-for-pesticide-resistance-management/ | |
| Jennifer Kuzma in the WSJ: Referring to gene-editing as "breeding" seems disingenuous | Patti Mulligan | Apr 16, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/04/is-this-tomato-engineered-gene-edited-food/ | |
| IGERT in Peru – The Role of Rhetoric in Transgenetics | Patti Mulligan | Jul 14, 2012 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2012/07/igert-in-peru/ | |
| Student spotlight: Sophia Webster wins 1st place at Graduate Student Research Symposium | Patti Mulligan | Mar 22, 2018 | Kudos to Sophia Webster, a GES PhD candidate in Entomology and Plant Pathology, for winning first place at Graduate Student Research Symposium! Sophia is part of the 2012 IGERT cohort whose focus is mosquitoes and human health. The first IGERT course took place in Lima and Iquitos, Peru where the cohort attended tropical medicine symposiums, visited health clinics and several farms to speak with farmers. The cohort also shadowed NAMRU workers door to door in in Iquitos as the workers completed their household mosquito checks and surveys. Additionally, the cohort conducted household experiments on the density dependent effects of mosquito larvae in household containers. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/03/student-spotlight-sophia-webster/ |
| Space for the Social Sciences in Engineering Biology | Jennifer Kuzma | Mar 14, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/03/space-for-the-social-sciences-in-engineering-biology/ | |
| WIRED: Process of Elimination | Patti Mulligan | Feb 21, 2018 | A deep dive into the inception of the Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents (GBIRd) program, this article in WIRED details how Karl Campbell of Island Conservation came across GES Co-Director Fred Gould's research suggesting that the genetic engineering techniques being used to manage insect populations could also be applied to other species, like rodents. And then, what happened when CRISPR came along. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/02/wired-process-elimination/ |
| Journal of Responsible Innovation publishes 'Roadmap to Gene Drives' special issue | Patti Mulligan | Jan 26, 2018 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/01/jri-publishes-roadmap-gene-drives-special-issue/ | |
| Barrangou Wins NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences | Patti Mulligan | Jan 18, 2018 | Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou adds another award to his long list of accolades: the 2018 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for his discovery of the genetic mechanisms and proteins driving CRISPR-Cas systems. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/01/barrangou-wins-nas-prize-food-agriculture-sciences/ |
| Gould quoted in Nature on synthetic organisms unable to breed with wild counterparts | Patti Mulligan | Jan 16, 2018 | Fred Gould is quoted in Nature, discussing a gene editing technique designed to make interbreeding between synthetic and wild organisms impossible. The technology, which targets gene expression, could be applied to mosquitoes to control infectious diseases, such as malaria, or to invasive species, like Asian carp. "This is an ingenious system." | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2018/01/gould-quoted-nature-synthetic-organisms-unable-breed-wild-counterparts/ |
| Scientist to the Senators: Ph.D. Student Johanna Elsensohn | Patti Mulligan | Nov 21, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/scientist-senators-ph-d-student-johanna-elsensohn/ | |
| Scott Lab Research Featured During Visit from Central American Officials | Patti Mulligan | Dec 19, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/12/scott-lab-research-featured-visit-central-american-officials/ | |
| Variation at a Central Metabolic Gene Influences Male Fruit Fly Lifespan | newswire | Jun 29, 2017 | Why do females outlive males? For fruit flies, the answer can be found in the expression of an important metabolism gene. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/06/variation-at-a-central-metabolic-gene-influences-male-fruit-fly-lifespan/ |
| Mackay Wins Prestigious Wolf Prize | newswire | Jan 13, 2016 | Trudy Mackay receives one of the world’s most prestigious awards for academic achievement, a Wolf Prize. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/01/mackay-wins-prestigious-wolf-prize/ |
| The Fly Whisperer | newswire | Jun 16, 2016 | Pioneering geneticist Trudy Mackay’s work with fruit flies is influencing scientists around the world and leading to important discoveries. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/06/the-fly-whisperer/ |
| CALS, Premex Build Synergistic Relationship | newswire | Jul 28, 2017 | An NC State partnership with international animal nutrition company extends beyond workforce development to research sponsorship and philanthropy. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/07/cals-premex-build-synergistic-relationship/ |
| Student Spotlight: Mike Jones and the Economics of Cutting-Edge Ag Technology | newswire | Nov 14, 2017 | The academic journey of Ph.D. student Mike Jones spans Peruvian potato fields and the irrigated deserts of Syria to NC State’s campus, where he investigates the impacts and public perception of cutting-edge agricultural technology. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/student-spotlight-mike-jones-and-the-economics-of-cutting-edge-ag-technology/ |
| NC State’s Barrangou Wins Canada Gairdner Award | newswire | Mar 23, 2016 | Rodolphe Barrangou wins prestigious Gairdner Award for pioneering the gene-editing system known as CRISPR. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/03/nc-states-barrangou-wins-canada-gairdner-award/ |
| Barrangou Wins Warren Alpert Foundation Prize | newswire | Mar 9, 2016 | Rodolphe Barrangou shares prestigious award for his pioneering work on the revolutionary gene-editing system known as CRISPR. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/03/barrangou-wins-warren-alpert-foundation-prize/ |
| NC State’s Barrangou Receives Canada Gairdner International Award | newswire | Nov 4, 2016 | Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou received the prestigious Canada Gairdner International Award in an Oct. 27 ceremony in Toronto. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/11/nc-states-barrangou-receives-canada-gairdner-international-award/ |
| Resistance Remedies | newswire | Jun 7, 2016 | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers John Cavanagh and Rodolphe Barrangou are among the NC State scientists working on different approaches to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/06/resistance-remedies/ |
| 2015-16 Faculty Scholars Named | newswire | Nov 16, 2015 | Chancellor Randy Woodson announces this year’s University Faculty Scholars, high-performing faculty members recognized for their significant achievements in scholarship, teaching and service. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/11/2015-16-faculty-scholars-named/ |
| U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brings Listening Tour to NC State | newswire | Oct 6, 2017 | A multi-state listening tour brought Sonny Perdue to NC State University, where he heard repeatedly about the importance of communicating with and educating the public about the importance of agricultural innovation to rural prosperity. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/10/u-s-secretary-of-agriculture-brings-listening-tour-to-nc-state/ |
| Honoring Outstanding Faculty | newswire | May 5, 2016 | NC State recognized 33 outstanding faculty members at the 2016 Celebration of Faculty Excellence on May 3. The annual event honors faculty who have won prestigious state, national and international awards and accolades throughout the academic year. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/05/honoring-outstanding-faculty/ |
| Spellings Wowed by NC State Visit | newswire | Apr 21, 2016 | New UNC President Margaret Spellings spent Wednesday touring NC State’s campus with Chancellor Randy Woodson. While here, she met with students, faculty, staff and industry leaders with ties to Centennial Campus. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/04/spellings-wowed-by-nc-state-visit/ |
| New Tools Allow Rapid ID of CRISPR-Cas System PAMs | newswire | Mar 31, 2016 | CRISPR-Cas systems are widely heralded as a new generation of genetic tools. But development of these tools requires researchers to identify the protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs) that unlock each system’s functionality. A new set of techniques expedites PAM identification — and early testing finds that many CRISPR-Cas systems actually have multiple PAMs of varying strength. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/03/new-tools-allow-rapid-id-of-crispr-cas-system-pams/ |
| Personality Changes Can Affect Fish Body Shape, Locomotion | newswire | Jun 3, 2016 | A new NC State study shows that personality can be linked to other seemingly unrelated traits in animals like fish. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/06/personality-changes-can-affect-fish-body-shape-locomotion/ |
| Leadership in Public Science: Meet Jean Goodwin | newswire | Jun 7, 2017 | Leadership in Public Science cluster member Jean Goodwin studies how scientists and the public communicate with each other. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/06/leadership-in-public-science-meet-jean-goodwin/ |
| Jennifer Kuzma on Institute for Emerging Issues First in Future podcast | Patti Mulligan | Dec 12, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/12/jennifer-kuzma-institute-emerging-issues-first-future-podcast/ | |
| NASEM Sackler SciComm: The promise and perils of gene drives | Patti Mulligan | Jan 15, 2019 | In November of 2017, an interdisciplinary panel discussed the complexities of gene drive applications as part of the third Sackler Colloquium on “The Science of Science Communication.” This paper builds on the ideas and conversations from the session to provide a more nuanced discussion about the context surrounding responsible communication and decision-making for cases of post-normal science. Deciding to use gene drives to control and suppress pests will involve more than a technical assessment of the risks involved, and responsible decision-making regarding their use will require concerted efforts from multiple actors. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2019/01/video-fred-gould-gene-drives-nasem-sackler-scicomm/ |
| Gene Drives and Responsible Innovation | Patti Mulligan | Dec 8, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/12/gene-drives-responsible-innovation/ | |
| Funders respond to NASEM Gene Drive study | Patti Mulligan | Dec 1, 2017 | Funders of the National Academy of Sciences consensus study Gene Drives on the Horizon (2016) have published a response to the report in the December 2017 issue of Science. The study summarized "current understanding of the scientific discoveries related to gene drives and their accompanying ethical, legal, and social implications," and was co-authored by Dr. Jason Delborne, associate professor of science, policy and society in the College of Natural Resources and executive committee member of the GES Center. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/12/funders-respond-nasem-gene-drive-study/ |
| Jason Delborne appointed to National Academies Forest Biotech Study Committee | Patti Mulligan | Nov 30, 2017 | Dr. Jason Delborne has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences provisional committee on The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health, or Forest Biotech Study. The study will be looking at the potential uses of biotechnology to mitigate threats to forest tree health, identify ecological, ethical, and societal implications of using this technology in forests, and develop an agenda to address knowledge gaps in its application. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/jason-delborne-appointed-national-academies-forest-biotech-study-committee/ |
| Genetic Engineering may not solve Africa's fall armyworm problems | Patti Mulligan | Nov 17, 2017 | The fall armyworm which is a major pest of corn in the western hemisphere has become an invasive pest in Africa in the past few years. Some groups are calling for use of Bt corn as a solution. In this video Dr. Gould describes why it would take great dedication and large resources in money and people to use this approach in an equitable and sustainable manner. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/genetic-engineering-may-not-solve-africas-fall-armyworm-problems/ |
| Jason Delborne addresses CRISPR gene drives controversy in NYTimes, Quanta, and Gizmodo | Patti Mulligan | Nov 17, 2017 | GES Faculty member Jason Delborne addresses two controversial new papers in several articles published this week on the safety of field testing CRISPR gene drives in the wild. With links to articles in New York Times, Quanta, Gizmodo and The Atlantic. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/jason-delborne-addresses-crispr-gene-drives-controversy-nytimes-quanta/ |
| IGERT Student Jennifer Baltzegar wins Entomology poster contest | Patti Mulligan | Nov 13, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/igert-jennifer-baltzegar-wins-entomology-poster-contest/ | |
| Politics "Trumps" Science in the Regulation of Genetically Engineered Crops | Jennifer Kuzma | Nov 7, 2017 | In recent years, the regulatory system for biotechnology products has not kept pace with newer ways of engineering organisms, such as through the use of gene editing like CRISPR-Cas9 systems. Under the Obama administration, progress had been made in clarifying U.S. biotechnology regulations. In January 2017, in the last few days of Obama’s term, several proposals were made for updating agency regulations and guidance documents. In particular, new US USDA regulations were proposed for GE crops. Fast forward ten months, and the Trump administration has pulled this proposed rule back to “start fresh” and reconsider the issue. This is no surprise, as it is not uncommon for new political administrations to recall regulatory policy for biotech. Many industry and academic scientists developing GE crops are pleased to hear about the Trump administration’s recall of USDA proposed regulations. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/politics-trumps-science-regulation-genetically-engineered-crops/ |
| Genetic Literacy Project: USDA scraps overhaul of GMO and gene edited crop regulations that biotech advocates viewed as 'unscientific' | Patti Mulligan | Nov 7, 2017 | “I think the real reason [for the withdrawal] is that the new proposed rule would have brought more gene-edited crops under its authority,” stated Kuzma. “And this new administration isn’t too fond of regulations in general.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/usda-scraps-overhaul-gmo-gene-edited-crop-regulations-biotech-advocates-viewed-unscientific/ |
| Scientific American: Could Genetic Engineering Save the Galápagos? | Patti Mulligan | Nov 7, 2017 | Campbell first became intrigued by the possibilities of gene drive in 2011, when he sat in on a conference call between biologists at NC State University and officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss a possible genetic approach to control a runaway mouse problem on Southeast Farallon Island, about 20 miles west of the California coast, near San Francisco. John Godwin, a North Carolina State neurobiologist who studies animal behavior, had learned of the Farallon issue while skimming the Internet in 2011. He happened to be at a university with an established infrastructure dedicated to experimenting with—and considering the ethical implications of—genetic manipulation. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/scientific-american-genetic-engineering-save-galapagos/ |
| Science: Trump's agriculture department reverses course on biotech rules | Patti Mulligan | Nov 7, 2017 | It’s a predictable move by President Donald Trump’s White House to take another look at the policies of the previous administration, says Jennifer Kuzma, a social scientist who co-directs the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. “I expected them to eventually catch wind that this was something that USDA was doing, and reverse it.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/science-trumps-agriculture-department-reverses-course-biotech-rules/ |
| Our (Possible) Genetic Futures | Patti Mulligan | Nov 3, 2017 | As crowds poured into Raleigh’s contemporary art museum during the April 2017 art walk, one white wall began to fill with hand-written messages scribbled on neon Post-It notes. Above was a sign: Write down one word describing how you feel about your genetic future. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/11/possible-genetic-futures/ |
| IGERT Student Jessica Barnes wins poster contest at 2017 American Chestnut Foundation meeting | Patti Mulligan | Oct 23, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/10/igert-jessica-barnes-wins-2017-acf-poster-contest/ | |
| Godwin and Delborne discuss CRISPR and ethics at NC Museum of Science | Patti Mulligan | Oct 2, 2017 | GES faculty John Godwin and Jason Delborne were at the NC Museum of History on 9.28.17 discussing genetic biocontrol of pest populations, such as CRISPR gene drives to eliminate invasive rodents from islands to protect endangered seabirds. See PowerPoint presentation & livestream video (including slides). | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/10/godwin-delborne-discuss-crispr-ethics-nc-museum-science/ |
| Scientific American article on public acceptance of CRISPR features Delborne and Kuzma | Patti Mulligan | Oct 2, 2017 | “Without transparency, we might see a kind of hyperpolarization,” says Jason Delborne, a professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University. Concerned groups will feel marginalized, and advocates won't receive critical feedback needed to improve design and safety. “This puts the technology at risk of a knee-jerk moratorium at the first sign of difficulty,” he notes. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/10/scientific-american-article-public-acceptance-crispr-features-delborne-kuzma/ |
| Upgrading Biosafety and Biosecurity: Open Philanthropy awards $700K for DIYbio | Patti Mulligan | Sep 22, 2017 | “For the last six years, Todd and I have been exploring the best ways to ensure the healthy growth of community labs as safe and secure resources for public education and biotech innovation,” says Grushkin. “This grant will help us codify best practices in these often unconventional spaces.” | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/09/upgrading-biosafety-biosecurity-at-diybio-labs/ |
| Kuzma examines benefits, regulation of gene edited crops in EMBO | Patti Mulligan | Sep 21, 2017 | In this article, published by EMBOpress, researchers look at how new genetic-engineering (GE) technologies based on gene editing can help to generate crop varieties to address critical challenges in agricultural development. However, governance systems for these crops are poorly defined and currently uncertain. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/09/kuzma-research-gene-edited-crops-benefits-regulation/ |
| Barrangou Wins 2017 NAS Award in Molecular Biology | newswire | Jan 23, 2017 | Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou of the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences adds a National Academy of Sciences award to his growing list of accolades. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/01/barrangou-wins-2017-nas-award-in-molecular-biology/ |
| Bacterial Genome Scalpel Can Identify Key Gene Regions | newswire | Jun 15, 2015 | Bacteria have a system for ridding genomes of unwanted DNA sequences. But how does the system work in bacteria? NC State researchers find out. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/06/bacterial-genome-scalpel-can-identify-key-gene-regions/ |
| NC State’s Sederoff Honored for Molecular Genetics Work With Forest Trees | Patti Mulligan | Mar 17, 2017 | An international prize goes to Ron Sederoff, a forestry professor whose research has given us a better understanding of forest trees’ biology and accelerated advances in plant breeding. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/03/nc-states-sederoff-honored-for-molecular-genetics-work-with-forest-trees/ |
| NC State Honors Outstanding Faculty | newswire | May 4, 2017 | NC State recognized 28 faculty members for their dedication to teaching, learning, research and service during the 2017 Celebration of Faculty Excellence on May 2. The annual event honors faculty who have won prestigious state, national and international awards and created new knowledge and advancements in their respective disciplines. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/05/nc-state-honors-outstanding-faculty/ |
| The Importance of Seeds: a Q&A with Rob Dunn | newswire | Mar 30, 2017 | There is little genetic diversity among the crops that are most important for feeding people around the world. Rob Dunn’s new book explores this issue and why it matters. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/03/the-importance-of-seeds-a-qa-with-rob-dunn/ |
| It’s a Boy: Modified Male Flies Could More Efficiently Control Screwworm Population | newswire | Sep 1, 2016 | Suppressing populations of devastating pests may be easier with the release of genetically modified males. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/09/its-a-boy-modified-male-flies-could-more-efficiently-control-screwworm-population/ |
| Study IDs Ways to Encourage ‘Refuge’ Planting, Slowing Resistance to Bt Crops | newswire | Apr 3, 2017 | A study finds a shortfall in the amount of “refuge” cropland being planted in NC – increasing the rate at which crop pests evolve the ability to devour genetically engineered Bt crops. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/04/study-ids-ways-to-encourage-refuge-planting-slowing-resistance-to-bt-crops/ |
| Biomedical Engineer Zhen Gu Named to Tech Review’s Top Innovators Under 35 | newswire | Aug 18, 2015 | Zhen Gu, an assistant professor in NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill’s joint biomedical engineering program, has been named one of MIT Technology Review’s “Innovators Under 35” for his work on developing novel drug-delivery systems for treating cancer and diabetes. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/08/biomedical-engineer-zhen-gu-named-to-tech-reviews-top-innovators-under-35/ |
| Public Response to New Technologies in Food Depends on the Type of Tech | newswire | Jul 14, 2015 | A recent study highlights the complexity of determining how the public will respond to incorporating nanotechnology or genetic modification into food products. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/07/public-response-to-new-technologies-in-food-depends-on-the-type-of-tech/ |
| New Tool Can Help Policymakers Prioritize Information Needs for Synthetic Biology Tech | newswire | Jan 17, 2017 | Researchers have developed a model that can be used to assess emerging synthetic biology products to determine what needs to be done to inform future policies. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/01/new-tool-can-help-policymakers-prioritize-information-needs-for-synthetic-biology-tech/ |
| Mosquitoes, Zika and Biotech Regulation | Patti Mulligan | Sep 16, 2016 | Biotech policy expert Jennifer Kuzma argues that authorities are missing an opportunity to revise outdated rules related to modern innovations in biotechnology. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/09/mosquitoes-zika-and-biotech-regulation/ |
| NAS Committee Responds to Critique of Gene Engineering Report | newswire | Apr 12, 2017 | NC State’s Fred Gould, who led a National Academies committee that issued a 2016 report on genetically engineered crops, pens a letter in Nature Biotechnology to respond to a report critique. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/04/nas-committee-responds-to-critique-of-gene-engineering-report/ |
| Gould discusses genetically engineered crops | newswire | May 17, 2016 | As the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine release the report “Genetically Engineered Crops: Experience and Prospects,” the chair of the authoring committee says that NC State University can become a model for conducting advanced, trusted research in GE crop development. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/05/gould-discusses-genetically-engineered-crops/ |
| Field Study Shows How a GM Crop Can Have Diminishing Success at Fighting Off Insect Pest | newswire | May 20, 2015 | Research finds the toxin in a widely used GM crop is having little impact on the crop pest called corn earworm – which is consistent with predictions made almost 20 years ago that were largely ignored. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/05/field-study-shows-how-a-gm-crop-can-have-diminishing-success-at-fighting-off-insect-pest/ |
| Sophia Webster | newswire | Jul 10, 2017 | Graduate student Sophia Webster is trying to fight Zika by engineering mosquitoes that won’t spread the disease. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/07/sophia-webster/ |
| Let’s Subtract Zika | newswire | Aug 18, 2016 | Math professor Alun Lloyd is combining math and biology to investigate the spread of infectious diseases like Zika and find ways to stamp them out. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/08/lets-subtract-zika/ |
| Assessing the Positive and Negative Claims About Genetically Engineered Crops | newswire | May 17, 2016 | Genetically engineered crops stir strong feelings from both critics and supporters. We talk to the researcher who chaired the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that just released a report, “Genetically Engineered Crops: Experience and Prospects,” which examines the evidence behind positive and negative claims about GE crops, and the research challenges that lie ahead. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/05/assessing-the-positive-and-negative-claims-about-genetically-engineered-crops/ |
| Keeping Up With the Fast-Moving Science of Gene Drives | Patti Mulligan | Jun 8, 2016 | NC State’s Jason Delborne, an expert in science and technology policy and public engagement, answers questions about the emerging science of gene drives. Delborne helped develop a National Academies report on gene drives and unveil it in Washington, D.C. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/06/keeping-up-with-the-fast-moving-science-of-gene-drives/ |
| NC State Receives DARPA Funding to Develop, Test Gene Drive System | newswire | Aug 3, 2017 | Developing and testing a gene drive system to reduce invasive mouse populations is the focus of a DARPA-funded research project. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/08/nc-state-receives-darpa-funding-to-develop-test-gene-drive-system/ |
| USDA Grants $6.7M to Curb Fruit Pest | newswire | Oct 15, 2015 | NC State entomologist Hannah Burrack will lead a four-year effort to manage the spotted wing drosophila, a tiny fruit fly that causes hundreds of millions of dollars in annual agricultural losses. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/10/usda-grants-6-7m-to-curb-fruit-pest/ |
| New Class Covers Regulatory Affairs for Biotech, Crop Protection | newswire | Dec 19, 2016 | To introduce students to the complex world of state, national and international regulations governing agricultural biotechnology, pesticides and biological products, NC State offered a one-of-a-kind course this fall. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/12/new-class-covers-regulatory-affairs-for-biotech-crop-protection/ |
| NC State Receives DARPA Funding to Develop, Test Gene Drive System | Patti Mulligan | Aug 4, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/08/nc-state-receives-darpa-funding-gene-drive-system/ | |
| GES IGERT Students Research Deployment of Gene Drive Insects | Patti Mulligan | Aug 4, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/08/ges-igert-students-research-deployment-gene-drive-insects/ | |
| GES Co-Directors Gould and Kuzma Quoted in Audubon Story on Using Gene Drives to Save Island Birds | Patti Mulligan | Jul 11, 2017 | A new story in Audubon Magazine, How Genetically Modified Mice Could One Day Save Island Birds, features quotes from GES Co-Directors Dr. Fred Gould and Dr. Jennifer Kuzma. The article tells the story of how Dr. John Godwin, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, and Ph.D. student Megan Serr became part of GBIRd (Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents), a global partnership working to save island birds from extinction by using the cutting-edge (and controversial) CRISPR and gene drive technologies to eradicate invasive species of mice. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/07/ges-directors-quoted-in-audubon-story-on-using-gene-drives-to-save-island-birds/ |
| Overcoming Challenges to Infusing Ethics into the Development of Engineers: Proceedings of a Workshop (2017) | Patti Mulligan | Jul 7, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/07/overcoming-challenges-to-infusing-ethics-into-the-development-of-engineers/ | |
| Synthetic Microorganisms for Agricultural Use | Patti Mulligan | Jul 6, 2017 | By 2050, the world’s population is estimated to exceed 9 billion people. A challenge to this rising food demand is that crops will have to be grown on the same or less land as today. Additionally, global climate change is causing considerable uncertainty in the ability of the current food production system to adapt to an unknown future. To address these issues sustainably, scientists from many disciplines have been investigating ways to increase crop yields and prepare for a changing climate. Considerable effort has focused on enhancing the traits of the crop plants themselves, to enhance their growth, make them resistant to disease, or tolerant to environmental stressors like drought or high salinity conditions. Conversely, a growing area of research is looking at how microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, influence these plant characteristics. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/07/synthetic-microorganisms-for-agricultural-use-2017-01/ |
| Todd Kuiken in BioCoder: Citizen Health Innovators | Patti Mulligan | May 5, 2017 | They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Many would argue that their greatest necessity is health. So what happens when treatments are ineffective or unavailable? Today, in the age of crowdfunding, some people are taking matters into their own hands and developing their own treatments, including surgical techniques, gene therapies and molecular therapies. GES Senior Research Scholar Dr. Todd Kuiken, together with international science policy expert Eleonore Pauwels, of The Wilson Center, explores the risks, regulatory issues, and implications of the emerging DIY, "patient-powered" health research movement in the Spring 2017 issue of BioCoder. | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/05/todd-kuiken-biocoder-article-on-citizen-health-innovators-now-available-in-print/ |
| Jennifer Kuzma quoted in Slate on biotech regulatory issues | Patti Mulligan | May 3, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/05/jennifer-kuzma-quoted-in-slate-on-biotech-regulatory-issues/ | |
| Zack Brown publishes article in Choices on the 'Economic, Regulatory and International Implications of Gene Drives in Agriculture" | Patti Mulligan | May 3, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/05/zack-brown-publishes-article-in-choices-on-the-economic-regulatory-and-international-implications-of-gene-drives-in-agriculture/ | |
| Todd Kuiken publishes Slate article discussing concerns with DARPA's SynBio Initiatives | Patti Mulligan | May 3, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/05/kuiken-in-slate-re-concerns-over-darpa-synbio-initiatives/ | |
| Todd Kuiken quoted in Atlantic article on failure of glowing plant kickstarter | Patti Mulligan | Apr 28, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/04/todd-kuiken-quoted-in-atlantic-article-on-failure-of-glowing-plant-kickstarter/ | |
| Jennifer Kuzma publishes Trails and Trials in Biotechnology Policy | Patti Mulligan | Apr 28, 2017 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2017/04/kuzma-publishes-trails-and-trials-in-biotechnology-policy/ | |
| GES faculty featured in Bay Nature Magazine | Patti Mulligan | Jul 1, 2016 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/07/ges-faculty-featured-in-bay-nature-magazine/ | |
| FDA approves genetically modified mosquitoes for release in Florida | Patti Mulligan | Aug 5, 2016 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/08/fda-approves-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-for-release-in-florida/ | |
| Jennifer Kuzma was appointed as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on The Future of Technology, Values, and Policy. | Patti Mulligan | Sep 1, 2016 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2016/09/jennifer-kuzma-was-appointed-as-a-member-of-the-world-economic-forums-global-council-on-the-future-of-technology-values-and-policy/ | |
| Sign up for our mailing list! | Patti Mulligan | Jan 1, 2015 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/2015/01/testing-email/ |
See all Faculty Publications
| Article (Click +/- beside the title to show/hide full citation and additional details) | Full Citation | Affiliate(s) | Abstract | Significance | Keywords | Altmetric | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning nanotechnology to address climate change | Jones, J.L., Berube, D., Cuchiara, M., Grieger, K. et al. (2024) Positioning nanotechnology to address climate change. Environment Systems and Decisions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-024-09991-w. PDF. Graphic. | Khara Grieger, David Berube | 2024 | One of society’s most pressing challenges in the twenty-first century is that of climate change. In fact, climate change is seen as the most defining issue of our time as we are witness to an anthropogenic perturbation in geology and earth sciences of global scale. To move forward in this new era, solutions will be sought to both mitigate the effects of climate change (e.g., reduce greenhouse gasses) as well as adapt and build resilience (e.g., improve infrastructure and agriculture to resist damage from extreme weather or floods). The immediacy of the needed solutions dictates that the response must use the full force of society’s current knowledge base, science, technology, and innovation. Nanotechnology, an enabling technology that has matured over the past few decades and now considered for general-purpose and mass use, is ideal for addressing climate change and its impacts. To position nanotechnology to address such complex challenges, this Perspective integrates collective insights from a broad range of viewpoints and presents recommendations for how research can be motivated and scoped, organized, and implemented to achieve beneficial outcomes and innovations in the most efficient ways. While this Perspective was created with a focus on the research landscape within the United States, the findings are also relevant in other international contexts. Research that can effectively advance nanotechnology solutions will be use-inspired basic research, incorporate systems-level thinking, apply a convergence research approach, engage stakeholders, and require advanced nanotechnology infrastructure. By illuminating this compelling and complex research topic, this Perspective aims to direct, inform, and accelerate needed actions in the research community to advance nanotechnology solutions for addressing climate change. | This article examines how the advancement of nanotechnology can be harnessed to address the urgent challenge of climate change. It outlines strategies for integrating use-inspired basic research, systems-level thinking, and convergence research approaches to accelerate innovations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening infrastructure resilience, and adapting agriculture to extreme weather events. By offering a comprehensive roadmap, the authors aim to guide research efforts and highlight the global potential of nanotechnology in developing impactful climate solutions. | Nanotechnology, Convergence research, Climate change, Infrastructure | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-024-09991-w | 10.1007/s10669-024-09991-w | 10/9/2024 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Jones_Nano-for-climate-change-Grieger-2024-s10669-024-09991-w.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Grieger-et-al_Nano-for-climate_Env-Sys-Des_2024_1920x1080.jpg | Environmental Systems and Decisions | |||
| Best Practices for Communicating Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in Food | Lawson M., Gakpo J., and Sanders K. (2024). Best Practices for Communicating Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in Food. NC State Extension. Retrieved from https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/best-practices-for-communicating-genetic-engineering-biotechnology-in-food". PDF. | Joseph Gakpo, Katie Sanders | 2024 | Genetic engineering in agriculture has been a controversial topic in the U.S. food system since the 1990s. By using biotechnology to modify organisms’ genetic material, scientists have developed genetically engineered crops with desirable traits such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, and enhanced nutrition. Despite scientific consensus from institutions like the FDA and WHO affirming the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), public skepticism remains. The rise of gene editing technologies, like CRISPR, which modify DNA without introducing foreign genes, may offer a more acceptable alternative to GMOs. This article explores strategies for extension agents to engage the public on these complex agricultural advancements. | A guide to effectively communicating about ag biotech in food | Biotechnology, Genetically modified, Genetic engineering, CRISPR-Cas | https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/best-practices-for-communicating-genetic-engineering-biotechnology-in-food? | 9/6/2024 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CES-Gakpo-Best-Practices-for-Communicating-GE-and-Biotech-in-Food_2024.pdf | NC State Extension | |||||
| Let’s Talk about Genetic Engineering: A Guide to Understanding Genetic Engineering and Its Applications in Food, Agriculture, and the Environment | Grieger, K.D., Loschin, N., Barnhill, K., Gould, F. (2024). Let’s Talk about Genetic Engineering: A Guide to Understanding Genetic Engineering and Its Applications in Food, Agriculture, and the Environment. NC State Extension. Retrieved from https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/lets-talk-about-genetic-engineering. PDF. Graphic | Khara Grieger, Nick Loschin, Katie Barnhill, Fred Gould | 2024 | Biotechnology refers to the field of science where genetic material, living organisms, cells, and biological systems can be studied or used to create products and technologies. For instance, genetic engineering refers to a powerful set of tools within the field of biotechnology. By using genetic engineering in food, agricultural, and environmental contexts, scientists have been able to develop new food products, crop varieties, and approaches to potentially restore ecosystems, among other examples. Many of these applications aim to improve or enhance food production, quality, and environmental conditions. At the same time, there have been significant discussions and public debates over the past few decades about the role of genetic engineering and its use in different fields. Today, scientists and regulatory officials continue to work together with other stakeholders from industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and members of the public to understand and address these concerns. This work also aims to refine approaches to evaluate safety and ensure sufficient regulatory oversight of genetic engineering and its use in various products and within different contexts. This publication outlines and describes core concepts related to genetic engineering and its use in food, agriculture, and the environment. This information may be particularly helpful for Extension agents, researchers, community members, government officials, and others who wish to better understand genetic engineering and the role it plays in our society. | This publication outlines and describes core concepts related to genetic engineering and its use in food, agriculture, and the environment. This information may be particularly helpful for Extension agents, researchers, community members, government officials, and others who wish to better understand genetic engineering and the role it plays in our society. | Genetic Engineering, Food, Agriculture, Environment | https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/lets-talk-about-genetic-engineering | 8/6/2024 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Grieger-et-al-About-GE-2024.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Grieger-et-al-About-GE_2024_full.jpg | NC State Extension | ||||
| Biotechnology executive order opens door for regulatory reform and social acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture | Ahmad J., Grunden A., Kuzma J.. (2024) Biotechnology executive order opens door for regulatory reform and social acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture. GM Crops & Food. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294. PDF. Graphic | Jabeen Ahmad, Amy Grunde, Jennifer Kuzma | 2024 | In the United States, regulatory review of genetically engineered microbes for agriculture falls under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (CFRB). However, the lack of a centralized regulatory pathway and multiple oversight authorities can lead to uncertainty in regulatory review. Using three microbial-based technologies for agriculture as illustrative examples, this commentary identifies the weaknesses and challenges associated with the CFRB by assessing the current system and proposed changes to the system under a multi criteria decision analysis framework. In addition, it discusses opportunities for regulatory reform to improve clarity, efficiency, and public acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture under the CHIPS and Science Act and the 2022 Executive Order on the Bioeconomy. | This article emphasizes the extensive benefits and safety record of genetically modified (GM) foods over the past 28 years, highlighting their significant improvements in crop efficiency, pest and disease resistance, and nutritional value, while underscoring the need for broader acceptance and rational regulatory approaches to enhance global food security | Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), Crop efficiency, Food safety, Regulatory challenges | 10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294 | 7/27/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294?needAccess=true | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Ahmad-et-al_GE-Microbes-in-Ag_2024_full.jpg | GM Crops & Food | |||
| Researchers must address regulatory regimes to scale up adoption of urine diversion systems in the U.S. | Merck, A., Grieger, K., Crane, L., Boyer, T. 2024. Researchers must address regulatory regimes to scale up adoption of urine diversion systems in the U.S. Environ. Res.: Infrastruct. Sustain. 4 023001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad59c3. PDF | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck | 2024 | Urine diversion (UD) is a system-of-systems that involves source separation of waste to maximize recovery of valuable nutrients, including phosphorus. Recent research shows how UD systems offer valuable ecological benefits and can aid in water conservation efforts, and public perception studies suggest that UD systems are generally viewed positively by end-users and the general public. Nevertheless, adoption and implementation of this promising sustainability solution remains limited in many countries, including the United States (U.S.). In this perspective, we argue that in order to scale up adoption in the U.S., UD researchers and innovators must do more to address regulatory barriers. We draw on insights from political science research on 'regulatory regimes' to introduce the array of regulations that apply to UD systems, with a focus on commercial and institutional buildings. We examine regulatory regimes all along the UD system-of-systems, beginning at the point of collection and ending at the point of beneficial reuse. We then propose next steps to address current regulatory challenges that impact adoption, with an emphasis on the importance of stakeholder coordination. Throughout, we argue that law and regulation plays a critical role in shaping adoption of UD technologies because: (1) different regulatory regimes will be important at different points in the system-of-systems, (2) there may be multiple regulatory regimes that apply to a single subsystem, and (3) it is important to consider that legal and regulatory definitions of a technology may not match scientific understanding. | Urine diversion (UD) is a system-of-systems that involves source separation of waste to maximize recovery of valuable nutrients, including phosphorus. Recent research shows how UD systems offer valuable ecological benefits and can aid in water conservation efforts, and public perception studies suggest that UD systems are generally viewed positively by end-users and the general public. Nevertheless, adoption and implementation of this promising sustainability solution remains limited in many countries, including the United States (U.S.). In this perspective, we argue that in order to scale up adoption in the U.S., UD researchers and innovators must do more to address regulatory barriers. | Urine diversion, Phosphorus, Regulation | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2634-4505/ad59c3 | 10.1088/2634-4505/ad59c3 | 7/1/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad59c3 | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2634-4505/ad59c3/pdf | Environ. Res.: Infrastruct. Sustain. | |||
| The evolution of media reportage on GMOs in Ghana following approval of first GM crop | Gakpo, J. O., & Baffour - Awuah, D. (2024). The evolution of media reportage on GMOs in Ghana following approval of first GM crop. GM Crops & Food, 15(1), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2365481. PDF | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | 2024 | Ghana’s parliament in 2011 passed the Biosafety Act to allow for the application of genetically modified organism (GMO) technology in the country’s agriculture. In a vibrant democracy, there have been extensive media discussions on whether GM crops will benefit or harm citizens. In June 2022, the state GMO regulator, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), approved the country’s first GM crop (Bt cowpea) for environmental release, declaring the crop does not present an altered environmental risk or a food/feed safety concern. This study identified 3 of the country’s most vibrant digital news outlets and did a content analysis of all GMO stories reported 18 months pre- and post-approval to assess whether the approval changed the focus of GMO issues the media reports on. 91 articles were identified. The results show media reports on the likely impact of GMOs on the country’s food security shot up after the approval. However, media reports on the possible health, sociocultural, and environmental impact of GMOs declined. We observe the media and the public appear interested in deliberations on how the technology could address or worsen food insecurity and urge agricultural biotechnology actors in Ghana to focus on that in their sensitization activities. | The media's influence in shaping consumer decisions and government policies on food is far-reaching. By disseminating information, framing issues, and advocating for specific causes, the media plays a central role in influencing the food choices consumers make. The media remains a primary communication channel providing information to the public on GMOs and CRISPR gene editing tools as consumers turn to it for clarity on the complex scientific details of the technology. It is thus necessary that agricultural biotechnology actos pay attention to what the media reports about the technology. This study assessed the evolution of media reportage on GMOs in Ghana over a three-year period. | Food security, GM crops, GMOs, journalists, media coverage, science communication | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2024.2365481?src=exp-la | 10.1080/21645698.2024.2365481 | 6/10/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2365481 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21645698.2024.2365481?needAccess=true | GM Crops & Food | |||
| Towards realizing nano-enabled precision delivery in plants | Lowry, G.V., Giraldo, J.P., Steinmetz, N.F.,... Grieger, K., et al. Towards realizing nano-enabled precision delivery in plants. Nat. Nanotechnol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01667-5. PDF. Graphic | Khara Grieger | 2024 | Nanocarriers (NCs) that can precisely deliver active agents, nutrients and genetic materials into plants will make crop agriculture more resilient to climate change and sustainable. As a research field, nano-agriculture is still developing, with significant scientific and societal barriers to overcome. In this Review, we argue that lessons can be learned from mammalian nanomedicine. In particular, it may be possible to enhance efficiency and efficacy by improving our understanding of how NC properties affect their interactions with plant surfaces and biomolecules, and their ability to carry and deliver cargo to specific locations. New tools are required to rapidly assess NC–plant interactions and to explore and verify the range of viable targeting approaches in plants. Elucidating these interactions can lead to the creation of computer-generated in silico models (digital twins) to predict the impact of different NC and plant properties, biological responses, and environmental conditions on the efficiency and efficacy of nanotechnology approaches. Finally, we highlight the need for nano-agriculture researchers and social scientists to converge in order to develop sustainable, safe and socially acceptable NCs. | This Review discussed the development of digital plants from the scale of molecules to organisms. A digital plant model at this level of organization could potentially be incorporated into already existing crop or ecosystem models205 to simulate NC and environmental interactions at a larger scale. Overcoming these scientific challenges to develop globally sustainable nano-enabled precision delivery approaches will require convergence across both scientific and societal boundaries. | Nanotechnology, Nano-carriers, Sustainability | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41565-024-01667-5 | 10.1038/s41565-024-01667-5 | 6/6/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01667-5 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lowry-et-al.-NN-2024_In-print.pdf | Nat. Nanotechnol. | |||
| Improving risk governance strategies via learning: a comparative analysis of solar radiation modification and gene drives | Grieger, K. , Wiener, J., Kuzma, J. Improving risk governance strategies via learning: a comparative analysis of solar radiation modification and gene drives. Environment Systems and Decisions. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-024-09979-6. PDF. Graphic. | Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma | 2024 | Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and gene drive organisms (GDOs) have been proposed as technological responses to complex entrenched environmental challenges. They also share several characteristics of emerging risks, including extensive uncertainties, systemic interdependencies, and risk profiles intertwined with societal contexts. This Perspective conducts a comparative analysis of the two technologies, and identifies ways in which their research and policy communities may learn from each other to inform future risk governance strategies. We find that SAI and GDOs share common features of aiming to improve or restore a public good, are characterized by numerous potential ecological, societal, and ethical risks associated with deep uncertainty, and are challenged by how best to coordinate behavior of different actors. Meanwhile, SAI and GDOs differ in their temporal and spatial mode of deployment, spread, degree and type of reversibility, and potential for environmental monitoring. Based on this analysis, we find the field of SAI may learn from GDOs by enhancing its international collaborations for governance and oversight, while the field of GDOs may learn from SAI by investing in research focused on economics and decision-modeling. Additionally, given the relatively early development stages of SAI and GDOs, there may be ample opportunities to learn from risk governance efforts of other emerging technologies, including the need for improved monitoring and incorporating aspects of responsible innovation in research and any deployment. | By comparing and contrasting the technical and risk governance features of SAI and GDOs, this Perspective identifies ways in which research and policy communities may learn from each other to inform future risk governance strategies. Key findings include similarities and differences between the two emerging technologies, as well as opportunities for learning across these two domains and from other emerging technologies. We further suggest challenges and opportunities for SAI and GDOs on issues including international cooperative governance, economics and decision research, reversibility, adaptive learning, and monitoring. Overall, these suggestions may be useful for researchers, scholars, and decision-makers involved in the risk governance of SAI, GDOs, and other emerging technologies that are being investigated or considered as technological responses to complex environmental challenges. | Gene drives, Risk governance, Stratospheric aerosol injection | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-024-09979-6 | 10.1007/s10669-024-09979-6 | 6/4/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-024-09979-6 | https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10669-024-09979-6.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Grieger-SGI-and-GDOs-RRI_2024_1500x844.jpg | Environment Systems and Decisions. | ||
| Developing transmissible vaccines for animal infections | Streicker D.G.,... Kuzma J., et al. (2024) Developing transmissible vaccines for animal infections. Science 384, 275-277. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn3231. PDF (requires Unity ID login). Graphic | Jennifer Kuzma | 2024 | Intrinsically safe designs and a staged transparent development process will be essential Many emerging and reemerging pathogens originate from wildlife, but nearly all wild species are unreachable using conventional vaccination, which requires capture of and vaccine administration to individual animals. By enabling immunization at scales sufficient to interrupt pathogen transmission, transmissible vaccines (TVs) that spread themselves through wildlife populations by infectious processes could potentially transform the management of otherwise intractable challenges to public health, wildlife conservation, and animal welfare. However, generating TVs likely requires modifying viruses that would be intended to spread in nature, which raises concerns ranging from technical feasibility, to safety and security risks, to regulatory uncertainties (1, 2). We propose a series of commitments and strategies for vaccine development—beginning with a priori decisions on vaccine design and continuing through to stakeholder codevelopment [see supplementary materials (SM)]—that we believe increase the likelihood that the potential risks of vaccine transmission are outweighed by benefits to conservation, animal welfare, and zoonosis prevention. | This article discusses the potential of transmissible vaccines (TVs) to combat wildlife-origin pathogens, offering a scalable solution to public health, wildlife conservation, and animal welfare challenges. The authors emphasize the importance of safety, transparency, and stakeholder engagement in developing TVs, highlighting their promise to mitigate zoonotic risks. The strategies proposed aim to navigate technical, regulatory, and ethical complexities, advocating for responsible decision-making based on evidence. | Transmissible vaccines (TVs), Animal infections, Societal and ethical implications (SEI), Public health, Wildlife conservation, Vaccine development, Risk assessment, Regulation, Governance | https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn3231 | 10.1126/science.adn3231 | 4/18/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adn3231 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/_protected/2024/04/Kuzma-Developing-transmissible-vaccines-for-animal-infections-science.adn3231_2024.pdf | Science | |||
| Bionovelty and ecological restoration | Volpe, J. P., Higgs, E. S., Jeschke, J. M., Barnhill, K., et al. (2024) Bionovelty and ecological restoration. Restoration Ecology, e14152. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14152. PDF. Graphic | Katie Barnhill | 2024 | Anthropogenic activity has irreparably altered the ecological fabric of Earth. The emergence of ecological novelty from diverse drivers of change is an increasingly challenging dimension of ecosystem restoration. At the same time, the restorationist's tool kit continues to grow, including a variety of powerful and increasingly prevalent technologies. Thus, ecosystem restoration finds itself at the center of intersecting challenges. How should we respond to increasingly common emergence of environmental system states with little or no historical precedent, whilst considering the appropriate deployment of potentially consequential and largely untested interventions that may give rise to organisms, system states, and/or processes that are likewise without historical precedent? We use the term bionovelty to encapsulate these intersecting themes and examine the implications of bionovelty for ecological restoration. | Existing conservation/restoration efforts may not be particularly well-suited to contemporary wicked problems characteristic of the Anthropocene. This article situates emerging environmental biotechnologies and other novel interventions in the context of restoration ecology literatures. Until recently, emerging technologies have not been a common issue discussed in this literature. | Ecological Restoration, Emerging Biotechnologies | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14152 | 10.1111/rec.14152 | 4/16/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14152 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Restoration-Ecology-2024-Volpe-Bionovelty-and-ecological-restoration.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Barnhill_Bionovelty-and-ecological-restoration_EcoRestoration_2024_graphic_1500x844.jpg | Restoration Ecology | ||
| Competencies and training needs of extension agents for educating farmers on genetically engineered crops in Uganda | Mugwanya, N., Jayaratne, K. S. U., Bloom, J. D., Donaldson, J. L., & Delborne, J. (2024). Competencies and training needs of extension agents for educating farmers on genetically engineered crops in Uganda. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i1.395. PDF. | Nassib Mugwanya, Jason Delborne | 2024 | The purpose of this study was to determine the training needs of extension agents in Uganda to lead successful education programs on genetically engineered (GE) crops. This was a descriptive survey research study conducted online with public agricultural extension agents in the eastern agro-ecological zone of Uganda. This study used Borich’s method to identify training needs. A survey instrument was designed to determine extension agents’ perceived importance and proficiency of 60 competencies organized under the eight Public Issues Education (PIE) framework competency constructs. The survey received 58 usable responses comprising an 83% response rate. All eight PIE competency constructs were perceived by the extension agents to be important. This study identified additional four competencies important for PIE in addition to the eight competencies in the model. Agents’ greatest training needs were creating partnerships and designing GE education programs. The lowest training needs were creating an environment of professionalism and managing conflicts. The findings indicate the importance of training extension agents on how to engage with farmers in new ways to educate them on GE technology. This study provides implications for determining the training needs of extension agents in PIE such as educating farmers on GE technology. | This study identifies critical training needs for Ugandan agricultural extension agents to effectively educate farmers about genetically engineered (GE) crops, emphasizing the importance of creating partnerships and designing education programs. Using the Public Issues Education (PIE) framework, it highlights the need to shift from traditional top-down methods to participatory approaches to address the controversies surrounding GE technology. | Public issues education, Controversial issues, Extension education, In-service training, Technology transfer | https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/395 | 10.37433/aad.v5i1.395 | 3/29/2024 | https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i1.395 | https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/395/315 | Advancements in Agricultural Development | |||
| Cross-pollination in seed-blended refuge and selection for Vip3A resistance in a lepidopteran pest as detected by genomic monitoring | Pezzini D., Taylor K.L., Reisig D.D., and Fritz M.L. (2024). Cross-pollination in seed-blended refuge and selection for Vip3A resistance in a lepidopteran pest as detected by genomic monitoring. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(13), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2319838121. PDF. Graphic | Daniela Pezzini, Dominic Reisig | 2024 | The evolution of pest resistance to management tools reduces productivity and results in economic losses in agricultural systems. To slow its emergence and spread, monitoring and prevention practices are implemented in resistance management programs. Recent work suggests that genomic approaches can identify signs of emerging resistance to aid in resistance management. Here, we empirically examined the sensitivity of genomic monitoring for resistance management in transgenic Bt crops, a globally important agricultural innovation. Whole genome resequencing of wild North American Helicoverpa zea collected from non-expressing refuge and plants expressing Cry1Ab confirmed that resistance-associated signatures of selection were detectable after a single generation of exposure. Upon demonstrating its sensitivity, we applied genomic monitoring to wild H. zea that survived Vip3A exposure resulting from cross-pollination of refuge plants in seed-blended plots. Refuge seed interplanted with transgenic seed exposed H. zea to sublethal doses of Vip3A protein in corn ears and was associated with allele frequency divergence across the genome. Some of the greatest allele frequency divergence occurred in genomic regions adjacent to a previously described candidate gene for Vip3A resistance. Our work highlights the power of genomic monitoring to sensitively detect heritable changes associated with field exposure to Bt toxins and suggests that seed-blended refuge will likely hasten the evolution of resistance to Vip3A in lepidopteran pests. | Pesticide resistance evolution is common in agricultural systems and results in reduced productivity and economic losses. Delaying the emergence of resistance and sensitively detecting it when it arises provides opportunities to prevent these losses and improve the durability of pest management innovations. Genomic approaches have the power to detect molecular signals of emerging resistance prior to crop failure, but there is a need to determine their sensitivity and develop best practices for their use in resistance management. Our work demonstrated that genomic monitoring could detect resistance-associated allele frequency divergence in a pest population after a single generation of exposure, and we detected signals of emerging resistance to Vip3A toxin. | Pesticide Resistance, Corn Earworm, Genomic Monitoring, Agriculture, Helicoverpa zea, Bacillus thuringiensis, Polygenic Adaptation | https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319838121 | 10.1073/pnas.2319838121 | 3/21/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2319838121 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pezzini-et-al-2024-cross-pollination-in-seed-blended-refuge-resistance-lepidopteran-pest-pnas.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pezzini-PNAS-2024_graphic_1500x844.jpg | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 | ||
| Estimating relative per capita predation rates from molecular gut content analysis | Andow, D. A., & Paula, D. P. (2024). Estimating relative per capita predation rates from molecular gut content analysis. Biological Control, 105499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105499. PDF | David Andow | 2024 | The problem of estimating predation rates from molecular gut content data has been challenging. Previous work showed how per capita predation rates could be estimated from quantitative molecular gut content data using the average prey quantity in the predator, the decay rate of the prey in the predator and a conversion constant to convert measured prey quantity into prey numbers or biomass. Based on this previous work, we developed and illustrated a method to estimate relative per capita predation rates for a single prey species consumed by one predator species. This method does not require estimation of either the decay rate of the prey in the predator or the conversion constant. We describe how gut content data from qPCR, quantitative ELISA, metabarcoding and unassembled shotgun reads (Lazaro) can be used to estimate relative per capita predation rates. The method was used to estimate the relative per capita predation rate in a laboratory feeding trial to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the method using Lazaro data. Ten independent estimates were statistically similar, but precision was related to the number of observed prey reads. We estimated the relative per capita predation rate by the ant Pheidole flavens on another ant Pheidole tristis in a field experiment and by the ladybeetle Hippodamia convergens on the aphid Lipaphis pseudobrassicae on organic production farms. We found that higher P. flavens activity-density was associated with lower relative per capita predation rates, therefore indicating lower predation rates on P. tristis. The absence of variation among farms in relative per capita predation by H. convergens suggested that the farms were biological replicates. Using relative per capita predation rates can provide a rapid way to assess how a predator–prey interaction changes over space and time and may help identify factors that limit or enhance biological control of pests. | Estimating predation rates is important for evaluating the effects of predators on their prey. We develop a broadly applicable method to estimate relative predation rates using quantitative molecular gut content data. This is illustrated with two examples to show how relative predation rates can be used. | Food webs, Generalist predators, Molecular diet analysis, Natural enemies, Predation rate | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424000641 | 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105499 | 3/20/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105499 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Andow-Per-capita-predation-rates-from-molecular-gut-content-analysis-Bio-Control.pdf | Biological Control | |||
| Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Genome Edited Crops | Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). 2024. Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Genome Edited Crops. Issue Paper 74. CAST, Ames, Iowa. Retrieved from https://www.cast-science.org/publication/applications-benefits-and-challenges-of-genome-edited-crops/. PDF. Graphic | Zack Brown | 2024 | The tools of genome editing were described more than a decade ago as promising ways to accelerate crop improvement in addition to applications for human and animal health. Now, a decade later, we are seeing applications of genome editing across a range of different crops and trait combinations that will bring benefits to producers and consumers. Countries around the world are actively engaged in updating regulatory frameworks to govern this new technology adequately. In this paper, we describe recent advances in genome editing tools, review select applications underway, consider the benefits of the technology, and offer a perspective on significant challenges to the success of the use of genome editing. Given an enabling policy environment, genome editing will be an important tool in creating a competitive bioeconomy while addressing major challenges to agriculture and consumers. We offer five recommendations to ensure genome editing in agriculture benefits society. | Genome editing tools have been around for over a decade, but they are now being used to accelerate crop improvement and address challenges in agriculture. The use of genome editing in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the industry, but it also brings with it unique benefits and challenges. This paper provides an overview of the current status and future prospects of genome editing in agriculture. It reviews recent advances in genome editing tools, discusses select applications in various crops, and considers the benefits and challenges of the technology. The paper also offers recommendations to ensure that genome editing in agriculture benefits society. It highlights the potential of genome editing as an important tool in creating a competitive bioeconomy, addressing major challenges in agriculture, and benefiting consumers. | Genome Editing, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Regulation, Governance, Incentives | https://www.cast-science.org/publication/applications-benefits-and-challenges-of-genome-edited-crops/ | 0 | 3/20/2024 | https://www.cast-science.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CAST_IP74-Gene-Edited-Crops.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Brown_CAST-GES-Crops_2024_graphic_1500x844.jpg | Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Genome Edited Crops | |||
| Economic optimization of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti release to prevent dengue | Hollingsworth, B. D., Cho, C., Vella, M., Roh, H., Sass, J., Lloyd, A. L., Brown, Z. S. (2024) Economic optimization of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti release to prevent dengue. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8086. PDF. Graphic | Brandon D. Hollingsworth, Michael Vella, Alun L. Lloyd, Zack Brown | 2024 | BACKGROUND: Dengue virus, primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a major public health concern affecting ≈3.83 billion people worldwide. Recent releases of Wolbachia-transinfected Ae. aegypti in several cities worldwide have shown that it can reduce dengue transmission. However, these releases are costly, and, to date, no framework has been proposed for determining economically optimal release strategies that account for both costs associated with disease risk and releases. RESULTS: We present a flexible stochastic dynamic programming framework for determining optimal release schedules for Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes that balances the cost of dengue infection with the costs of rearing and releasing transinfected mosquitoes. Using an ordinary differential equation model of Wolbachia and dengue in a hypothetical city loosely describing areas at risk of new dengue epidemics, we determined that an all-or-nothing release strategy that quickly brings Wolbachia to fixation is often the optimal solution. Based on this, we examined the optimal facility size, finding that it was inelastic with respect to the mosquito population size, with a 100% increase in population size resulting in a 50–67% increase in optimal facility size. Furthermore, we found that these results are robust to mosquito life-history parameters and are mostly determined by the mosquito population size and the fitness costs associated with Wolbachia. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce that Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes can reduce the cost of dengue epidemics. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of determining the size of the target population and fitness costs associated with Wolbachia before releases occur. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.dengue transmission. However, these releases are costly, and, to date, no framework has been proposed for determining economically optimal release strategies that account for both costs associated with disease risk and releases. | Wolbachia is bacteria that has been discovered to infect mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus and to halt those mosquitoes from transmitting the virus to humans. Dengue virus causes dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a public health threat to over 3 billion people globally, and currently there are not many effective tools for prevention and treatment. Because Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can block dengue, largescale rearing and release of these mosquitoes has become a promising new approach that is now being deployed around the globe. However, this approach involves unique economic considerations and questions for program design, as compared to other public health interventions. In particular, What is the economically optimal pattern of releases? And how large should rearing facilities be built? This paper addresses these questions, and shows how to improve the economic performance of these interventions in order to maximize the impact of available budgets. | Wolbachia, Aedes aegypti, Optimal control | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ps.8086?casa_token=BKhF3Y3KeP4AAAAA%3A8JESh-0a_-qb0n1Kq5eiGfBXE34xXM__CAeAb7r9qpx4bkEjfWdhkhi9k4QUsD56F4oMl01h7MJCuA | 10.1002/ps.8086 | 3/20/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8086 | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hollingsworth-Brown-Economic-optimization-of-Wolbachia‐infected-Aedes-aegypti-release-to-prevent-dengue-2024.pdf | https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Brown-Economics-of-WolbachiaAedes-aegypt-to-prevent-dengue-2024.jpg | Pest Management Science | ||
| What Do Bitter Greens Mean to the Public? | Gillespie, Christopher J. “What Do Bitter Greens Mean to the Public?” Issues in Science and Technology 40, no. 2 (Winter 2024): 73–75. https://doi.org/10.58875/EYEX8550. PDF. Graphic | Christopher J. Gillespie | 2024 | A growing bioeconomy must prioritize new forms of public engagement and transparency. | This article emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive public engagement in biotechnology to foster trust and ensure sustainable development. It proposes a framework centered on creating diverse stakeholder forums, translating public feedback into regulatory recommendations, and integrating social data into policies. This approach aims to bridge the gap between experts and public sentiments, promoting transparency and innovation crucial for a trusted bioeconomy. | Bioeconomy, Engagement, Transpearency | https://issues.org/bioeconomy-public-engagement-gillespie/ | 0 | 3/12/2024 | https://doi.org/10.58875/EYEX8550 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/03/Gillespie-Bitter-Greens-Winter-Issues-2024.pdf | Issues in Science and Technology | |||
| The need for more inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in food biotechnology | Kendig C, Selfa T, Thompson P, ..., Kuzma J, et al. (2024). The need for more inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in food biotechnology. Journal of Responsible Innovation. https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2024.2304383. PDF. Graphic | Jennifer Kuzma | 2024 | An inclusive and socially legitimate governance structure is absent to address concerns over new agricultural biotechnologies. Establishing an agricultural bioethics commission devoted to inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in agricultural and food biotechnology is urgent. Highlighting the social and ethical dimensions of current agricultural bioengineering disputes in the food system, we discuss how a nationally recognized policy forum could improve decision-making and increase public understanding of the issues. We clarify ways the concepts that are used to categorize food and frame governance of food affect consumer choices, and how dissemination of information and the mode of dissemination can contribute to social inequities. We cite the record of medically-oriented bioethic commissions and the history of international bioethic commissions in support of our argument, and end by discussing what such a commission dedicated to agriculture and food issues could reasonably be expected to achieve. | The article underscores the pressing need for an inclusive governance structure to address ethical concerns arising from advancements in agricultural and food biotechnology. It highlights the absence of a dedicated agricultural bioethics commission comparable to those in biomedicine, emphasizing the importance of such a forum for informed decision-making and public understanding. Drawing on the experiences of medical bioethics commissions, the article advocates for a similar approach to foster open dialogue and consensus-building around the social and ethical dimensions of agricultural biotechnology. Additionally, it critiques current regulatory frameworks, such as the NBFDL and SECURE rule, and calls for greater transparency and accountability in labeling and oversight of biotechnological products. | Bioethics commissions, Agricultural governance, Food bioengineering disputes, Agricultural bioethics, Agricultural biotechnology regulation, Agricultural epistemologies | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2024.2304383 | 10.1080/23299460.2024.2304383 | 3/6/2024 | 10.1080/23299460.2024.2304383 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/03/Kuzma_Inclusive-deliberation-ethics-governance-in-ag-food-biotech_JRI_2024.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/03/Kuzma_Bioethics-in-agbiotech_JRI_2024_graphic.jpg | Journal of Responsible Innovation | ||
| Developing practical measures of the price of pesticide resistance: A flexible computational framework with global sensitivity analysis | Cho, C., Brown, Z., Gross, K., & Tregeagle, D. Developing practical measures of the price of pesticide resistance: A flexible computational framework with global sensitivity analysis. (2024) JAAEA. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.107. PDF. Graphic | Zack Brown, Kevin Gross | 2024 | Pesticide resistance poses an increasing challenge for agricultural sustainability. Pesticide susceptibility is a depletable biological resource, but resistance management rarely quantifies marginal, forward-looking economic costs to users of depletion. To facilitate the development of such costs, we use a generic stochastic bioeconomic model of resistance evolution in a crop pest population, stochastic dynamic programming, and global sensitivity analysis to analyze the “marginal user costs” of resistance. The most impactful parameters are population density dependence and pesticide prices. The least impactful is the fitness cost of resistance, which is noteworthy because of prior emphasis on this parameter in the resistance management literature. | Pesticide resistance poses major challenges for maintaining agricultural production and the costs of food faced by consumers, as well as for public health in the control of insect-vectored diseases. If left unmanaged, pesticide resistance increases the costs of controlling pests and disease vectors. But actual numbers for these costs have rarely been calculated, making it difficult for pesticide users and policymakers to weigh future resistance problems in their economic decisions about pesticide use. The research we conducted aimed to establish a more practical and scientifically credible way to calculate these costs, and to understand how different economic and biological factors affect the calculation. We then applied this method to a historically important pest of corn in the US (the European corn borer), which has been effectively eliminated using transgenic pesticidal corn: At low levels of resistance, where effective management action can still effectively delay resistance, an example calculation estimates that corn farmers should include a 60% markup to the transgenic trait when making their corn seed choices, in order to account for the expected costs of future resistance. | Economics, Pesticide Resistance, Transgenic Crops, Bioeconomics | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaa2.107 | 10.1002/jaa2.107 | 2/27/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.107 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/03/Brown_Measuring-the-price-of-pesticide-resistance_JAAEA_2024.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/03/Brown_Measuring-the-price-of-pesticide-resistance_JAAEA_2024_graphic.jpg | JAAEA | ||
| Can societal and ethical implications of precision microbiome engineering be applied to the built environment? A systematic review of the literature | Hardwick, A., Cummings, C., Graves, J. and Kuzma, J. Can societal and ethical implications of precision microbiome engineering be applied to the built environment? A systematic review of the literature. Environ Syst Decis (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-024-09965-y. SharedIt Open-Access link https://rdcu.be/dzxqa. PDF. Graphic | Andrew Hardwick, Christopher Cummings, Jennifer Kuzma, Joseph L. Graves Jr. | 2024 | The goal of engineering the microbiome of the built environment is to create places and spaces that are better for human health. Like other emerging technologies, engineering the microbiome of the built environment may bring considerable benefits but there has been a lack of exploration on its societal implication and how to engineer in an ethical way. To date, this topic area has also not been pulled together into a singular study for any systematic review or analysis. This study fills this gap by providing the first a systematic review of societal and ethical implications of engineering microbiomes and the application of this knowledge to engineering the microbiome of the built environment. To organize and guide our analysis, we invoked four major ethical principles (individual good/non-maleficence, collective good/beneficence, autonomy, and justice) as a framework for characterizing and categorizing 15 distinct themes that emerged from the literature. We argue that these different themes can be used to explain and predict the social and ethical implications of engineering the microbiome of the built environment that if addressed adequately can help to improve public health as this field further develops at global scales. | This article, written by the Societal and Ethical Implications (SEI) team of the NSF Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) Engineering Research Center, is the first systematic review of the SEI literature on the microbiome. As research about the microbiome of the built environment (MoBE) grows, it will be needed to adapt the lessons taken from studying microbiomes in general and apply them to the built environment. These lessons will enable more ethical research of the built environment and the development of applications that better consider different societal views about MoBE engineering. | Microbiome, Built environment, Societal and ethical implications, Systematic review, PreMiEr | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-024-09965-y | 10.1007/s10669-024-09965-y | 2/26/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-024-09965-y | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/02/Hardwick_et_al-2024-Environment_Systems_and_Decisions_PreMiEr.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/02/SEI-lit-review-pub-graphic.jpg | Environ Syst Decis | ||
| IPD3, a master regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, affects genes for immunity and metabolism of non-host Arabidopsis when restored long after its evolutionary loss. | Hornstein, E.D., Charles, M., Franklin, M. et al. IPD3, a master regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, affects genes for immunity and metabolism of non-host Arabidopsis when restored long after its evolutionary loss. Plant Mol Biol 114, 21 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-024-01422-3. PDF | Eli Hornstein, Heike Sederoff | 2024 | Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AM) is a beneficial trait originating with the first land plants, which has subsequently been lost by species scattered throughout the radiation of plant diversity to the present day, including the model Arabidopsis thaliana. To explore if elements of this apparently beneficial trait are still present and could be reactivated we generated Arabidopsis plants expressing a constitutively active form of Interacting Protein of DMI3, a key transcription factor that enables AM within the Common Symbiosis Pathway, which was lost from Arabidopsis along with the AM host trait. We characterize the transcriptomic effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis with and without exposure to the AM fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis, and compare these results to the AM model Lotus japonicus and its ipd3 knockout mutant cyclops-4. Despite its long history as a non-AM species, restoring IPD3 in the form of its constitutively active DNA-binding domain to Arabidopsis altered expression of specific gene networks. Surprisingly, the effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis and knocking it out in Lotus was strongest in plants not exposed to AMF, which is revealed to be due to changes in IPD3 genotype causing a transcriptional state, which partially mimics AMF exposure in non-inoculated plants. Our results indicate that molecular connections to symbiosis machinery remain in place in this nonAM species, with implications for both basic science and the prospect of engineering this trait for agriculture. | Arabidopsis lost its ability to host mycorrhizal symbiosis over 65 million years ago. Restoring expression of an important mycorrhizae-related gene from a legume into Arabidopsis regulated genes for defense and stress. | Mycorrhizae, Symbiosis, Non-mycorrhizal, Genetic engineering, Systems biology, Plant transcriptomics | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11103-024-01422-3 | 10.1007/s11103-024-01422-3 | 2/18/2024 | 10.1007/s11103-024-01422-3 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/02/Hornstein-IDP3-Arabidopsis-PMB-2024.pdf | IPD3 | |||
| Long- and short-read sequencing methods discover distinct circular RNA pools in Lotus japonicus | Budnick, A., Franklin, M.J., Utley, D., Edwards, B., Charles, M., Hornstein, E.D., Sederoff, H. (2024) Long- and short-read sequencing methods discover distinct circular RNA pools in Lotus japonicus. The Plant Genome. e20429. doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20429. PDF. Graphic | Asa Budnick, Delecia Utley, Eli Hornstein, Heike Sederoff | 2024 | Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed single-stranded RNAs, generated through a back-splicing process that links a downstream 5′ site to an upstream 3′ end. The only distinction in the sequence between circRNA and their linear cognate RNA is the back splice junction. Their low abundance and sequence similarity with their linear origin RNA have made the discovery and identification of circRNA challenging. We have identified almost 6000 novel circRNAs from Lotus japonicus leaf tissue using different enrichment, amplification, and sequencing methods as well as alternative bioinformatics pipelines. The different methodologies identified different pools of circRNA with little overlap. We validated circRNA identified by the different methods using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and characterized sequence variations using nanopore sequencing. We compared validated circRNA identified in L. japonicus to other plant species and showed conservation of high-confidence circRNA-expressing genes. This is the first identification of L. japonicus circRNA and provides a resource for further characterization of their function in gene regulation. CircRNAs identified in this study originated from genes involved in all biological functions of eukaryotic cells. The comparison of methodologies and technologies to sequence, identify, analyze, and validate circRNA from plant tissues will enable further research to characterize the function and biogenesis of circRNA in L. japonicus. | This is the first identification of circular RNAs in a model plant that is commonly used for researching the genetics of symbiosis. This makes it an early step in understanding how circular RNAs may be involved in plant microbe symbiosis. We used long read and short read sequencing strategies and obtained different circRNA populations from each, this is the first time that this was done in plants and mirrors results from animals. This indicates that circular RNA populations may be more diverse than either sequencing technique is able to capture on it's own. | Lotus japonicus, Genomics, RNA Sequencing, Circular RNA, Long Read Sequencing | https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/tpg2.20429 | 10.1002/tpg2.20429 | 1/20/2024 | 10.1002/tpg2.20429 | The Plant Genome | ||||
| A bumpy road ahead for genetic biocontainment | George, D. R., Danciu, M., Davenport, P. W., Lakin, M. R., Chappell, J., & Frow, E. K. (2024). A bumpy road ahead for genetic biocontainment. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-5. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-44531-1. PDF. Graphic | Dalton George | 2024 | Commentary: While the research community continues to develop novel proposals for intrinsic biocontainment of genetically engineered organisms, translation to real-world deployment faces several challenges. | This article, co-authored by AgBioFEWS alum Dalton George, highlights the challenges facing the real-world deployment of genetically engineered organisms with intrinsic biocontainment mechanisms. Despite the growing interest in using bioengineered organisms for applications such as bioremediation and biosensing, the translation of intrinsic biocontainment from laboratory settings to open environments is hindered by limited testing data, regulatory uncertainty, and the absence of standardized metrics for evaluating biocontainment success. The article discusses challenges in laboratory research, testing, and regulatory approval, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach that considers ecological, legal, economic, and social dimensions. The authors propose recommendations, including increased funding for biocontainment research, mandatory training for biosafety committees, and active engagement with stakeholders to build trust and address broader societal concerns. | Biotechnology, Policy, Synthetic biology, Biosafety, Biocontainment | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44531-1 | 10.1038/s41467-023-44531-1 | 1/30/2024 | 10.1038/s41467-023-44531-110.1038/s41467-023-44531-1 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/01/George_Bumpy-road-for-gen-biocontainment_Nature_2024.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/01/George_Bumpy-Road_Nature_2024_fig-1.png | Nature Communications | ||
| Building Equity in the NC Food System Through Community Practice | Gillespie, C.J. (2024) Building Equity in the NC Food System Through Community Practice. Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State University. Retrieved from https://cefs.ncsu.edu/resources/core-policy-memorandum/?portfolioCats=110. PDF | Christopher J. Gillespie | 2024 | The document addresses the challenges and opportunities within the North Carolina (NC) food system, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives. | Racial equity, Food system | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coO7qP4zVgqgrQHf4j3lviepYe25BTgZ/view | 0 | 1/24/2024 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/01/Gillespie_CORE-Policy-Memorandum_CEFS_2024.pdf | Center for Environmental Farming System | |||||
| Unsettled Ethical Issues in Gene Drive Research | Furgurson, J.M. and Delborne, J.A. (2024). Unsettled Ethical Issues in Gene Drive Research. GeneConvene Global Collaborative, McMaster University Institute on Ethics and Policy for Innovation (IEPI). Retrieved from https://fnih.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GDRF-Ethics-Panel.pdf. Graphic | Jill Furgurson, Jason Delborne | 2024 | McMaster University Institute on Ethics and Policy for Innovation and GeneConvene Global Collaborative co-hosted a series of virtual panel discussions focused on unsettled ethical issues important to gene drive research. The series brought together stakeholders from research, government, private sector, and not-for-profit organizations, as well as other parties with an interest in safe and ethical conduct of gene drive research for applications in public health, conservation, and agriculture. Over the course of four sessions, the panelists considered a variety of topics related to ethical issues and emerging technologies, including the moral differences of the natural and synthetic; considerations of justice and equity; the nature and scope of obligations of various actors in the gene drive space; and the role of principles in the ethical governance of emerging technologies such as gene drive. These summaries identify key themes and provide overviews of each panel discussion. | According to the Gene Drive Research Forum, "The Gene Drive Research Forum provides a unique environment for interaction among a broad spectrum of stakeholders for engineered gene drive technologies to respectfully, yet openly, consider, discuss, and debate important challenging, controversial, or overlooked gene drive technology-related issues that will help build a sense of community among stakeholders and result in actionable considerations." The authors provide accessible summaries of four such virtual panels exploring a diversity of ethical issues related to the development, deployment, and governance of gene drive technologies. | Gene Drive, Ethics, Responsible Innovation | https://fnih.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GDRF-Ethics-Panel.pdf | 0 | 1/22/2024 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/01/FNIH-gene-drive-paper_graphic_Furgurson-2024.jpg | GeneConvene Global Collaborative | ||||
| The need for communication between researchers and policymakers for the deployment of bioengineered carbon capture and sequestration crops | Gakpo, J. O., Hardwick, A., Ahmad, J., Choi, J., Matus, S. C., Mugisa, J. D., Ethridge, S., Utley, D., & Zarate, S. (2024). The need for communication between researchers and policymakers for the deployment of bioengineered carbon capture and sequestration crops. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, 1329123. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1329123. PDF. Graphic | Joseph Opoku Gakpo, Andrew Hardwick, Jabeen Ahmad, Jaimie Choi, Salvador Cruz Matus, Jill Dana Mugisa, Sandra Ethridge, Delecia Utley, Sebastian Zarate | 2024 | Bioengineered/genome-edited carbon capture and sequestration (BE/GEd-CCS) crops are being developed to mitigate climate change. This paper explores how technology, regulation, funding, and social implications, could shape the development and deployment of these crops. We conclude that some of the technological efforts to create BE/GEd-CCS crops may work. Still, stakeholders must agree on generally accepted methods of measuring how much carbon is captured in the soil and its value. The regulatory space for BE/GEd-CCS crops remains fluid until the first crops are reviewed. BE/GEd-CCS crops have received considerable initial funding and may benefit financially more from other federal programs and voluntary carbon markets. BE/GEd-CCS crops may continue perpetuating social equity concerns about agricultural biotechnology due to a lack of oversight. We argue that stakeholders need to pursue a multidisciplinary view of BE/GEd-CCS crops that draw in varying perspectives for effective development and deployment. Communication is needed between researchers and policymakers involved in either developing BE/GEd-CCS crops or developing voluntary carbon markets. We argue for the start of a conversation both across disciplines and between researchers and policymakers about the development and deployment of BE/GEd-CCS crops. | AgBioFEWS Cohort 2 interdisciplinary group project publication | Genetic Engineering, Genome Editing, Bioengineered Crops, Climate Change, Carbon Capture Sequestration, AgBioFEWS | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1329123/full | 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1329123 | 1/19/2024 | 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1329123 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2024/01/AgBioFEWS-Policy-communication-on-BCCS-crops-fsufs-2024.pdf | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems | |||
| Guide to Understanding and Addressing PFAS in our Communities | Grieger, K. & May, K. (2024). Guide to Understanding and Addressing PFAS in our Communities. NC State Extension. Retrieved from https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/Guide-to-Understanding-and-Addressing-PFAS-in-our-communities. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2024 | This publication addresses the following questions:
| While this does not relate to genetic engineering, PFAS continues to be a major risk to the state of North Carolina and our inhabitants. Stakeholders, citizens, and the public are increasingly requesting more information about PFAS and ways to reduce potential risks. This is the first NC State Extension publication (peer-reviewed) published on PFAS. | PFAS, Water, Agriculture, Risk | https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/Guide-to-Understanding-and-Addressing-PFAS-in-our-communities | 0 | 1/18/2024 | NC State Extension | |||||
| Participation, anticipation effects and impact perceptions of two collective incentive-based conservation interventions in Ucayali, Peru | Naime, J., Angelsen, A., Rodriguez-Ward, D., & Sills, E. O. (2024). Participation, anticipation effects and impact perceptions of two collective incentive-based conservation interventions in Ucayali, Peru. Ecological Economics, 217, 108052. 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108052. PDF | Dawn Rodriguez-Ward | 2023 | This study contributes to the relatively scarce literature evaluating household-level outcomes of collective agreements. We examine participation in and anticipation effects of two collective, incentive-based initiatives in Ucayali, Peru. The first initiative is a local REDD+ project, the second is Peru's National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP). Both initiatives were evaluated at an early stage of implementation, thus any effects are characterized as anticipation effects. We first examine the determinants of participation in the initiatives and find that household participation is negatively associated with agricultural income and positively associated with market access and previous experiences with external initiatives. Next, we use quasi-experimental methods and self-reflexive evaluations to examine impacts on land use and livelihoods. The results show no evidence of anticipation effects on income or land use. Self-reflexive evaluations indicate, however, that a total of 82% of the NFCP participating households perceive a positive effect on wellbeing, while only 39% of participants in REDD+ perceive a positive effect. The differences in perceptions of the two initiatives is attributed to design and implementation factors, including delayed payments, lack of transparency, and limited local input. The study demonstrates the value of self-reflexive evaluations for identifying intangible effects on wellbeing of conservation initiatives. | REDD+, land use and livelihood impacts, quasi-experimental methods | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108052 | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108052 | 3/30/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108052 | Ecological Economics | |||||
| Framing Challenges and Opportunities for Canada: Expert Panel on Regulating Gene-Edited Organisms for Pest Control | CCA (Council of Canadian Academies) (2023). Framing Challenges and Opportunities for Canada. Retrieved November 2023, from https://cca-reports.ca/reports/gene-edited-organisms-for-pest-control/. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | Gene-editing technologies are poised to revolutionize pest management, offering innovative solutions to address challenges in public health, conservation, and agriculture. However, the rapid evolution of these tools introduces uncertainties and risks, necessitating a careful examination of their efficacy, safety, and appropriateness in natural environments. This report underscores the urgency for Canada to harness its research and development capabilities, adapt regulatory frameworks, and establish a tailored governance regime to effectively navigate the complex landscape of gene-editing applications in pest control. By addressing knowns and unknowns, Canada has the opportunity to lead in developing regulatory structures that not only meet national interests but also serve as a global model for jurisdictions grappling with similar challenges in the realm of genetic pest control. | This report highlights the pervasive impact of environmental pests and the transformative potential of gene-editing technologies in pest management. Emphasizing the urgent need for consideration due to climate change and resistance issues, it calls for comprehensive policy discussions on applications, risk assessment, and public engagement. The report explores implications for research, assesses regulatory limitations, and envisions a holistic approach to pest management regulation. | Gene-editing, pest management, risk, governance, environment | https://cca-reports.ca/reports/gene-edited-organisms-for-pest-control/ | 0 | 11/8/2023 | CCA (Council of Canadian Academies) | |||||
| Ensuring Sustainable Novel Plant Biotechnologies Requires Formalized Research and Assessment Programs | Grieger, K. and Kuzma, J. (2023) Ensuring Sustainable Novel Plant Biotechnologies Requires Formalized Research and Assessment Programs. ACS Agric. Sci. Technol. Article ASAP. doi: 10.1021/acsagscitech.3c00380. PDF. Graphical abstract. Supplementary cover art | Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | To ensure sustainable food systems that rely on novel plant biotechnologies, sustainability must be assessed through formalized research programs with fit-for-purpose tools and approaches. This Viewpoint puts forward one approach for establishing such research programs for evaluating the sustainability of novel plant biotechnologies befitting the 21st century. | Published as part of the ACS Agricultural Science & Technology virtual special issue “Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Breeding, and Food Security," this article highlights the pressing need for formalized research and assessment tools to evaluate the sustainability of new plant biotechnologies. Current oversight processes fall short by primarily focusing on safety and environmental concerns. To address this gap, the authors propose a federal office that coordinates research and standardizes assessment parameters. This approach ensures that emerging biotechnologies align with sustainability goals, provide broader benefits, and gain public trust, ultimately promoting sustainable food systems. | Plant biotechnologies, Sustainability assessment, Genetic engineering, Federal oversight, Sustainable food systems | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsagscitech.3c00380# | 10.1021/acsagscitech.3c00380 | 10/19/2023 | 10.1021/acsagscitech.3c00380 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/10/grieger-kuzma-2023-ensuring-sustainable-novel-plant-biotechnologies-requires-formalized-research-and-assessment-programs.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/10/grieger-and-kuzma-sustainbility-assess.-of-novel-plant-biotech_acsagscitech_2023.jpeg | ACS Agric. Sci. Technol. | ||
| Food for thought: Assessing the consumer welfare impacts of deploying irreversible, landscape-scale biotechnologies | Jones, M. S., & Brown, Z. S. (2023). Food for thought: Assessing the consumer welfare impacts of deploying irreversible, landscape-scale biotechnologies. Food Policy, 121, 102529. doi: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102529. PDF. Graphical abstract. | Michael S. Jones, Zack Brown | 2023 | Genetically engineered insects have gained attention as regionally deployed pest control technologies, with substantial applications in agriculture for combatting intractable crop pests and diseases. One potential tool is a ‘gene drive’, using CRISPR-based gene editing. In gene drive, preferentially inherited, engineered traits are spread throughout a geographic area to reduce pest populations or inhibit disease transmission, while also potentially reducing pesticide use and crop prices. But the self-perpetuating nature of gene drives presents a consequence, in that consumers could eventually be limited to only host crops grown in the presence of these genetically engineered insects. In this study, we analyze potential consumer welfare impacts of these technologies using discrete choice experiment data from a representative sample of U.S. adults, examining preferences regarding gene drive use to control spotted wing drosophila in blueberries and Asian citrus psyllid in orange juice (OJ) production. We find smaller average discounts for gene drives versus increased conventional pesticide use or genetically modified crops. Only 27% and 25% of blueberry and OJ consumers, respectively, are estimated to derive disutility from gene drives. However, gene drive disutility for these consumers is so large that elimination of non-drive options from their choice sets results in negative (blueberries) or neutral (OJ) effects to aggregate consumer welfare when weighed against gains to other consumers from reduced prices. Positive welfare effects are recovered by retaining availability of non-gene-drive products. We argue that this type of analysis will be increasingly important as landscape-level biotechnologies are deployed to address challenges to agricultural sustainability. | Gene drives are a biotechnology under development for agricultural pest control. If used in agriculture, gene drives could eliminate products not using them. We surveyed US consumers about their preferences regarding gene drives. US consumers prefer gene drive insects over genetically engineered crops. For studied products, gene drive insect control would not improve consumer surplus. | Plant biotechnologies, Sustainability assessment, Genetic engineering, Federal oversight, Sustainable food systems | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102529 | 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102529 | 10/12/2023 | 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102529 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/10/Food-for-thought_Jones-Brown_Food-Policy_2023-1.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/10/Brown-Food-for-thought_graphabs.jpg | Food Policy | ||
| Parameters, practices, and preferences for regulatory review of emerging biotechnology products in food and agriculture | Kuzma, J., Grieger, K., Cimadori, I., Cummings, C. L., Loschin, N., & Wei, W. (2023). Parameters, practices, and preferences for regulatory review of emerging biotechnology products in food and agriculture. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1256388. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1256388. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger, Ilaria Cimadori, Christopher L. Cummings, Nick Loschin, Wei Wei | 2023 | This paper evaluates the U.S. regulatory review of three emerging biotechnology products according to parameters, practices, and endpoints of assessments that are important to stakeholders and publics. First, we present a summary of the literature on variables that are important to non-expert publics in governing biotech products, including ethical, social, policy process, and risk and benefit parameters. Second, we draw from our USDA-funded project results that surveyed stakeholders with subject matter expertise about their attitudes towards important risk, benefit, sustainability, and societal impact parameters for assessing novel agrifood technologies, including biotech. Third, we evaluate the regulatory assessments of three food and agricultural biotechnology case studies that have been reviewed under U.S. regulatory agencies and laws of the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology, including gene-edited soybeans, beef cattle, and mustard greens. Evaluation of the regulatory review process was based on parameters identified in steps 1 and 2 which were deemed important to both publics and stakeholders. Based on this review, we then propose several policy options for U.S. federal agencies to strengthen their oversight processes to better align with a broader range of parameters to support sustainable agrifood products that rely on novel technologies. These policy options include 1) those that would not require new institutions or legal foundations (such as conducting Environmental Impact Statements and/or requiring a minimal level of safety data), 2) those that would require a novel institutional or cross-institutional framework (such as developing a publicly-available website and/or performing holistic sustainability assessments), and 3) those that would require the agencies to have additional legal authorities (such as requiring agencies to review biotech products according to a minimal set of health, environmental, and socio-economic parameters). Overall, the results of this analysis will be important for guiding policy practice and formulation in the regulatory assessment of emerging biotechnology products that challenge existing legal and institutional frameworks. | This article reviews the U.S. regulatory process for gene-edited foods and finds that it does not adequately consider public concerns about transparency, trust, choice, equity, animal welfare, and longer-term ecosystem consequences. The authors propose policy changes to make the review process more holistic and transparent, and to give consumers more choice. These findings highlight the need for a more robust regulatory framework for gene-edited foods that reflects the concerns of the public. | Regulation, Risk assessment, Governance, Biotechnology, Gene editing | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1256388 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1256388 | 9/28/2023 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1256388 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/09/Kuzma-et-al_PPP-reg-review-of-emerging-biotech-in-food-and-ag_2023_fbioe-11-1256388.pdf | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | |||
| Engineered and natural gene drives: mechanistically the same, yet not same in kind | Medin, R. & J. Kuzma (2023). Engineered and natural gene drives: mechanistically the same, yet not same in kind. Nature Communications 14: 5994. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41727-3.PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | We propose the use of the terms natural gene drive (NGD) and engineered gene drive (EGD) arguing against James et al., who think both should be included within the term “gene drive”, based on their mechanistic similarities.Thanks to CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing, engineered gene drive has suddenly become feasible as a potential cost-effective pest control tool that could help us resolve wicked challenges. In nature, several organisms harbor genes that “selfishly” drive themselves into populations. This natural gene drive uses similar mechanisms to the ones use today to drive engineered genes into laboratory populations. In this article we disagree with James et al. who have recently proposed that because natural and engineered gene drives are mechanistically indistinguishable from a molecular standpoint, they should both be referred as “gene drives” because “a gene drive is a gene drive.” We instead propose that two terms be used to distinguish between natural and engineered gene drives, we second Wells and Steinbrecher arguments, and propose to use the terms natural gene drive (NGD) and engineered gene drive (EGD). | This article argues that natural and engineered gene drives (NGDs and EGDs) should be distinguished in two ways. First, EGDs are a new technology with unknown ecological and societal risks, while NGDs are familiar and have had time to adapt to their ecosystems. Second, EGDs are likely to be used to drive genes that benefit humans, while NGDs are driven by natural selection. The authors argue that lumping NGDs and EGDs under the same term, "gene drive," is disingenuous and could erode public trust. They also argue that it is too early to safely define NGDs and EGDs as the same just because their molecular mechanisms are similar. The authors propose that the terms "natural gene drive" (NGD) and "engineered gene drive" (EGD) be used to distinguish between these two types of gene drives. They argue that this distinction is important for public understanding and for the governance of these technologies. | Evolutionary ecology, Policy, Synthetic biology | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41727-3 | 10.1038/s41467-023-41727-3 | 9/26/2023 | 10.1038/s41467-023-41727-3 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/09/Engineered-and-natural-gene-drives_Medina-Kuzma_Nature_2023.pdf | Nature Communications | |||
| Exercise Caution: Tidal Floods May Contain Pollutants | Nelson, N., Harris, A., Anarde, K., Hino, M., Grieger, K. 2023. Exercise Caution: Tidal Floods May Contain Pollutants. North Carolina Sea Grant. Available: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/quick-links/tidalfloods/ | Khara Grieger | 2023 | Coastal communities in North Carolina and other states are increasingly dealing with tidal floods. “Tidal floods” refers to the overflowing of saltwater from the ocean and other marine water bodies (sounds, estuaries) onto land. During these events, tidal floodwaters can become contaminated with various biological and chemical substances. For these reasons, it is recommended to minimize or avoid contact with floodwater to protect our health and the health of our communities.A multidisciplinary team is trying to better understand the water quality of tidal floodwaters, and ways in which we can protect our health. While the research is ongoing, this fact sheet may be helpful for government officials, researchers, advisory boards, local extension agents, and community outreach teams to better understand the potential health impacts of tidal floodwaters on coastal communities. Specific topics covered in this fact sheet include:● What is tidal flooding?● What do we know about the water quality of tidal floods?● What should I do if I encounter tidal floodwaters?● Can we predict when tidal flooding may occur?● How can I learn more about tidal flooding? | Currently, we know very little about the water quality of tidal floods. Water quality refers to a range of chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water (USGS 2019). Floodwaters may have poor water quality, as various biological and chemical contaminants may be introduced into the floodwaters from different sources, including yards, urban areas, or wastewater systems (e.g., sewage or septic). Biological contaminants can include bacterial, viral, or protozoan pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Vibrio), and chemical contaminants may include heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury), pesticides, and industrial chemicals.While there have been very few published studies that have measured the water quality of tidal floods, it is important to consider the potential impact of water quality on public health in flooded areas. This is because people may walk or bicycle through tidal floodwaters and therefore come into contact with the floodwaters. If the water has poor quality, it may pose a health risk. Even after tidal floodwaters recede, contaminants can remain in the soil of yards, green areas (e.g., playgrounds), or in surrounding wetlands for months (CDC 2021a). More research is needed to better understand the water quality and public health impacts of tidal floods. | Tidal floods, safety, risk, public health | https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tidal-Floods-Fact-Sheet-NC-Sea-Grant-1-1.pdf | 0 | 8/25/2023 | https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tidal-Floods-Fact-Sheet-NC-Sea-Grant-1-1.pdf | North Carolina Sea Grant | ||||
| Seizing the policy moment in crop biotech regulation: an interdisciplinary response to the Executive Order on biotechnology | Furgurson, J., Loschin, N., Butoto, E., Abugu, M., Gillespie, C. J., Brown, R., Ferraro, G., Speicher, N., Stokes, R., Budnick, A., Geist, K., Alirigia, R., Andrews, A., & Mainello, A. (2023). Seizing the policy moment in crop biotech regulation: An interdisciplinary response to the Executive Order on biotechnology. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1241537. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1241537. PDF. | Furgurson, Loschin, Butoto, Abugu, Gillespie, Brown, Ferraro, Speicher, Stokes, Budnick, Geist, Alirigia, Andrews and Mainello | 2023 | The Biden Administration's Executive Order on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing has opened a policy window for revising the regulatory framework for agricultural biotechnology products. While genetically engineered crops can be controversial, the Executive Order provides limited guidance on their development. The US regulatory system for crop biotechnology has been complex and controversial since its inception. Current regulations lack the transparency and public deliberation necessary to reflect wider societal views. Various policy actors have different narratives about biotechnology governance, emphasizing either the product or the process. The article, written by interdisciplinary scholars from the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, highlights the historical challenges of the US regulatory system in adapting to new genetic engineering technologies. | This article critically examines the Biden Administration's Executive Order on Biotechnology and its implications for the regulatory landscape of agricultural biotechnology products. By highlighting historical challenges and the current gaps in the US regulatory system, the authors underscore the urgent need for enhanced transparency and public engagement. Their proposed solutions, including the creation of a shared database ecosystem and reforming public engagement practices, offer a roadmap for building public trust and ensuring responsible biotechnology research and development. | Genetic engineering, Coordinated framework, GMO, Public engagement, Policy | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1241537 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1241537 | 8/7/2023 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1241537 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/08/Biotech-EO-Interdisp-regulation_AgBioFEWS_fbioe-11-1241537.pdf | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | |||
| Regulations for the Bioeconomy | Gillespie, C. J. (2023). Regulations for the Bioeconomy. Issues in Science and Technology 39, no 4 (Summer 2023) Forum. Retrieved from https://issues.org/maxon-regulating-bioeconomy-forum/#christopher-j-gillespie | Christopher Gillespie | 2023 | In this opinion letter, Christopher J. Gillespie responds to Mary E. Maxon's call to action regarding the need for updated biotechnology governance. Gillespie emphasizes the importance of aligning regulations with the evolving context of the bioeconomy. He concurs with Maxon's proposal for the establishment of the Initiative Coordination Office within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. However, he stresses that coordination should be central to the regulatory framework rather than a mere accessory. Gillespie highlights the challenges faced by individual regulatory bodies, such as the EPA, USDA, and FDA, in sharing regulatory space. He underscores the necessity of incorporating public input into the regulatory process, emphasizing the diverse perceptions of risk and safety among communities. Gillespie also references a 2012 report by the Administrative Conference of the United States, which discusses the challenges of shared regulatory space. He concludes by emphasizing the need for deliberate policy action to foster a regulatory ecosystem that promotes the bioeconomy while ensuring public trust. | AgBioFEWS Fellow Christopher Gillespie's response to Mary E. Maxon's article underscores the pressing need for a revamped regulatory framework in the U.S. bioeconomy. His emphasis on the central role of coordination, the importance of public input in defining risk and safety, and the challenges of shared regulatory space highlight the complexities of governing emerging biotechnologies and their broader implications for the nation's future. | Biotechnology Governance, Regulatory Structure, Bioeconomy, Coordination | https://issues.org/maxon-regulating-bioeconomy-forum/#christopher-j-gillespie | 0 | 7/26/2023 | Issues in Science and Technology | |||||
| Using a Phosphorus Flow Diagram as a Boundary Object to Inform Stakeholder Engagement | Merck, A.W., Grieger, K.D., Deviney, A., Marshall, A.-M. Using a Phosphorus Flow Diagram as a Boundary Object to Inform Stakeholder Engagement. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11496. doi: 10.3390/su151511496 | Ashton Merck, Khara Grieger | 2023 | Phosphorus (P) is essential for life on Earth, yet its current management is unsustainable. Stakeholder engagement is urgently needed to help ensure that scientific and technical solutions to improve P sustainability meet the needs of diverse groups, yet there are comparatively few studies that provide insights into stakeholder views, perceptions, or concerns. In this opinion, we use a mass flow diagram of P as a boundary object to understand the complex challenges of sustainable P management. In particular, we map US stakeholder groups onto the mass flow diagram to incorporate human factors into mass flows at a national scale. Our approach is grounded in well-established social–scientific methodologies, such as stakeholder mapping and social network analysis, but is applied in a novel way that can be generalized to other mass flows and geographic areas. We then suggest ways that researchers can use the annotated flow diagram to identify both knowledge gaps and research gaps in stakeholder engagement, especially in interdisciplinary or convergence research contexts. | In this opinion, we used the P flow diagram as a boundary object to identify and organize potential US stakeholders in P sustainability, grounded in existing knowledge from literature on stakeholder engagement in P sustainability. The process outlined here reflects existing best practices in stakeholder research to define stakeholders as those who can influence, as well as those who are influenced by, decisions about the environment, subject to pragmatic constraints on participation. Furthermore, the approach proposed here responds to calls by other researchers to employ inclusive practices to involve previously overlooked stakeholders rather than relying on the “usual suspects” already known to decision makers and researchers. | Stakeholder engagement, Phosphorus, Sustainability,Bboundary object | https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511496 | 10.3390/su151511496 | 7/25/2023 | 10.3390/su151511496 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/07/Greiger_P-flow-as-boundry-object-rt-engagement_Sustainability-15-11496-with-cover.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/07/Greiger_P-as-boundary-object-Sustainability-graphic.jpg | Sustainability | ||
| Identifying sustainability assessment parameters for genetically engineered agrifoods | Wei, W., Grieger, K., Cummings, C. L., Loschin, N., & Kuzma, J. (2023) Identifying sustainability assessment parameters for genetically engineered agrifoods. Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10411PDF | Wei Wei, Khara Grieger, Christopher L. Cummings, Nick Loschin, Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | To achieve international sustainable development goals, food and agricultural production need to rely on sustainable and resilient practices. Traditional breeding as well as the use of new agricultural technologies, including genetic engineering and gene editing, have the potential to help achieve sustainable agrifood production. Although numerous oversight mechanisms exist to guarantee the secure and sustainable advancement and utilization of genetically engineered agrifoods, the majority of these mechanisms heavily depend on a narrow set of parameters to assess risks and safety concerning human health and nontarget organisms. However, a more comprehensive range of parameters should be considered to promote environmental and social sustainability in a more holistic manner. This Opinion article argues that to achieve a more sustainable agrifood production that relies on genetic engineering, governance systems related to new agrifood biotechnologies should incorporate a broader array of environmental, health, ethical, and societal factors to ensure their sustainability in the long-term. To facilitate this process, we propose a set of parameters to help evaluate the sustainability of agrifoods that rely on genetic engineering. We then discuss major challenges and opportunities for formalizing sustainability parameters in US governance policy and decision-making systems. Overall, this work contributes to further developing a more comprehensive assessment framework that aims to minimize potential risks and maximize potential benefits of agrifood biotechnology while also fostering sustainability. | This Opinion article argues that to achieve a more sustainable agrifood production that relies on genetic engineering, governance systems related to new agrifood biotechnologies should incorporate a broader array of environmental, health, ethical, and societal factors to ensure their sustainability in the long-term. To facilitate this process, we propose a set of parameters to help evaluate the sustainability of agrifoods that rely on genetic engineering. We then discuss major challenges and opportunities for formalizing sustainability parameters in US governance policy and decision-making systems. Overall, this work contributes to further developing a more comprehensive assessment framework that aims to minimize potential risks and maximize potential benefits of agrifood biotechnology while also fostering sustainability. | Agriculture, Benefits, Genetic engineering, Risks, Sustainability | https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10411 | 10.1002/ppp3.10411 | 7/22/2023 | 10.1002/ppp3.10411 | Plants, People, Planet | ||||
| Synthetic biology and governance research in China: a 40-year evolution | Tang L, Kuzma J, Zhang X, Song X, Li Y, Liu H, and Hu G. Synthetic biology and governance research in China: a 40-year evolution. Scientometrics (2023): 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s11192-023-04789-0 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | The governance of emerging technologies has become a topic of global concern, not only for national competitiveness, but also for national security. Among other technologies, synthetic biology (SynBio) has been prioritized in the policy agenda of many countries; China is no exception. Unfortunately, despite the interconnectedness of governance practices and research development, few studies have investigated the current situation and development trajectory of this emerging dual use technology. To fill in this gap, this study focuses on China and investigates the pattern and evolution of its SynBio and related biosafety and biosecurity research published in both domestic and international databases. We find that despite its late entrance to the field, national government funding plays a critical role in China’s SynBio research. However, the funding ratio of SynBio as well as SynBio safety research is lower than China’s average when considering all fields. The structural topic model analysis reveals that the biological sciences dominate China’s SynBio research and slowly diffuse to other disciplines such as materials science, physics, and medicine, while perspectives from Chinese social scientists are barely recorded on the international academic stage. We also find little overlap of topics between China’s domestic and international output on SynBio and its safety research. Speculations and policy implications are discussed in the end. | This article study delves into China's 40-year trajectory in synthetic biology (SynBio) research and governance. Despite a late start, China has become a global leader in SynBio, largely driven by national funding. However, the paper highlights a disparity in thematic focus between domestic and international outputs and a notable lack of social science perspectives in domestic research, underscoring the need for comprehensive governance that integrates diverse interdisciplinary insights for this emerging dual-use technology. | Synthetic biology, Biosafety, Biosecurity, Structural topic model, Governance of emerging technologies | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04789-0 | 10.1007/s11192-023-04789-0 | 7/18/2023 | 10.1007/s11192-023-04789-0 | Scientometrics | ||||
| Multiplex CRISPR editing of wood for sustainable fiber production | Sulis, D. B., Jiang, X., Yang, C., ... Wang, J. P. (2023). Multiplex CRISPR editing of wood for sustainable fiber production. Science. https://doi.org/add4514 | Rodolphe Barangou, Jack Wang | 2023 | The domestication of forest trees for a more sustainable fiber bioeconomy has long been hindered by the complexity and plasticity of lignin, a biopolymer in wood that is recalcitrant to chemical and enzymatic degradation. Here, we show that multiplex CRISPR editing enables precise woody feedstock design for combinatorial improvement of lignin composition and wood properties. By assessing every possible combination of 69,123 multigenic editing strategies for 21 lignin biosynthesis genes, we deduced seven different genome editing strategies targeting the concurrent alteration of up to six genes and produced 174 edited poplar variants. CRISPR editing increased the wood carbohydrate-to-lignin ratio up to 228% that of wild type, leading to more-efficient fiber pulping. The edited wood alleviates a major fiber-production bottleneck regardless of changes in tree growth rate and could bring unprecedented operational efficiencies, bioeconomic opportunities, and environmental benefits. | {Editor's Summary] Trees provide an important natural resource, but breeding for optimal wood properties is time consuming and hindered by the complexity of tree genetics and diversity. Sulis et al. show that CRISPR technologies can be readily deployed to enhance wood properties and augment the sustainability of forest trees (see the Perspective by Zuin Zeidler). The authors generated multiplexed genetic alterations modifying wood composition in poplar with more desirable traits for fiber pulping and lower carbon emissions. This work demonstrates that genome editing can be harnessed for breeding more efficient trees, which will provide timely opportunities for sustainable forestry and a more efficient bioeconomy. —DJ | CRISPR, Forestry, Multigenic gene-editing, Sustainability, Bioeconomy | https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add4514 | 10.1126/science.add4514 | 7/13/2023 | 10.1126/science.add4514 | Science | ||||
| Views of RNAi approaches for weed management in turfgrass systems | Ethridge, S., Grieger, K., Locke, A., Everman, W., Jordan, D., & Leon, R. (2023). Views of RNAi approaches for weed management in turfgrass systems. Weed Science, 1-33. doi: 10.1017/wsc.2023.37 | Sandy Ethridge, Khara Grieger, Ramon Leon | 2023 | Public concern regarding the use of herbicides in urban areas (e.g., golf courses, parks, lawns) is increasing. Thus, there is a need for alternative methods for weed control that are safe for the public, effective against weeds, and yet selective to turfgrass and other desirable species. New molecular tools such as RNAi have a potential to meet all those requirements, but before these technologies can be implemented, it is critical to understand the perceptions of key stakeholders to facilitate adoption as well as regulatory processes. With this in mind, turfgrass system managers, such as golf course superintendents and lawn care providers, were surveyed to gain insight to the perception and potential adoption of RNAi technology for weed management. Based on survey results, turfgrass managers believe that cost of weed management and time spent managing weeds are the main challenges faced in their fields. When considering new weed management tools, survey respondents were most concerned about cost, efficacy, and efficiency of a new product. Survey respondents were also optimistic toward RNAi for weed management and would either use this technology in their own fields or be willing to conduct research to develop RNAi herbicides. Although respondents believed that the general public would have some concerns about this technology, they did not believe this to be the most important factor for them when choosing new weed management tools. The need for new herbicides to balance weed control challenges and public demands is a central factor for turfgrass managers’ willingness to use RNAi-based weed control in turfgrass systems. They believe their clientele will be accepting of RNAi tools, although further research is needed to investigate how a wider range of stakeholders perceive RNAi tools for turfgrass management more broadly. | The need for new herbicides to balance weed control challenges and public demands is a central factor for turfgrass managers’ willingness to use RNAi-based weed control in turfgrass systems. They believe their clientele will be accepting of RNAi tools, although further research is needed to investigate how a wider range of stakeholders perceive RNAi tools for turfgrass management more broadly. | Biotechnology, Perceptions, Acceptance, Turfgrass | https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2023.37 | 10.1017/wsc.2023.37 | 7/10/2023 | 10.1017/wsc.2023.37 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/07/Ethridge-et-al.-RNAi-turfgrass-2023.pdf | Weed Science | |||
| Assessing agricultural gene editing regulation in Latin America: an analysis of how policy windows and policy entrepreneurs shape agricultural gene editing regulatory regimes | Zarate, S., Cimadori, I., Jones, M. S., Roca, M. M., & Barnhill, S.K. (2023). Assessing agricultural gene editing regulation in Latin America: An analysis of how policy windows and policy entrepreneurs shape agricultural gene editing regulatory regimes. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1209308. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1209308. PDF. Graphic | Sebastian Zarate, Ilaria Cimadori, Michael S. Jones, Maria Mercedes Roca, S. Kathleen Barnhill | 2023 | This article explores the new developments and challenges of agricultural Gene Editing (GED) regulation in primarily nine countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. As Gene Editing technology develops, Latin America and the Caribbean regulatory regimes struggle to keep pace. Developers and regulators face challenges such as consumer perceptions, intellectual property, R&D funding (private and public), training, environmental and social impact, and access to domestic and international markets. Some Latin America and the Caribbean countries (e.g., Argentina) interpret existing legislation to promulgate regulations for biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), while others (e.g., Brazil and Honduras) have specific legislation for Genetically Modified Organisms. In both those cases, often a case-by-case approach is chosen to determine whether a Gene Editing organism is subject to Genetically Modified Organisms regulations or not. Other countries such as Peru have opted to ban the technology due to its perceived resemblance to transgenic Genetically Modified Organisms. After presenting the regulatory landscape for agricultural Gene Editing in Latin America and the Caribbean, this article addresses some of the differences and similarities across the region. Some countries have had more foresight and have dedicated resources to increase capacity and develop regulations (e.g., Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico before 2018) while others struggle with bureaucratic limitations and partisanship of policymaking (e.g., Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico after 2018). We propose that the differences and similarities between these regulatory regimes have emerged in part as a result of policy entrepreneurs (influential individuals actively involved in policy making) taking advantage of policy windows (opportunities for shaping policy and regulation). The third and remaining sections of this study discuss our main findings. Based on 41 semi structured interviews with regulators, scientists, product developers, NGOs and activists, we arrived at three main findings. First, there seems to be a consensus among most regulators interviewed that having harmonized regimes is a positive step to facilitate product development and deployment, leading to commercialization. Second, reducing bureaucracy (e.g., paper work) and increasing flexibility in regulation go hand in hand to expedite the acquisition of key lab materials required by developers in countries with less robust regimes such as Peru and Bolivia. Finally, developing public and private partnerships, fostering transparency, and increasing the involvement of marginalized groups may increase the legitimacy of Gene Editing regulation. | This is perhaps the first comparative analysis of gene editing regulation and policy in Latin America. | Gene-editing, Latin America, Policy,Rregulation, Agricultural biotechnology | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1209308/full | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1209308/full | 6/9/2023 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1209308/full | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/07/Assessing-Ag-GE-in-LAC_Barnhill_fbioe_2023-1.pdf | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/07/Barnhill_Ag-GE-in-LAC-graphic_fbioe-11-1209308-g001.jpg | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | ||
| Boundary-Pushing Citizen Engagement | George D. and Delborne J. “Boundary-Pushing Citizen Engagement.” Issues in Science and Technology 39, no. 3 (Spring 2023). Retrieved from https://issues.org/citizen-engagement-pta-farooque-kessler-forum/. PDF | Dalton George, Jason Delborne | 2023 | A discussion of “How Would You Defend the Planet from Asteroids?” (Issues, Winter 2023), by Mahmud Farooque and Jason L. Kessler, where they reflect on the Asteroid Grand Challenge (AGC), a series of public deliberation exercises organized by members of the Expert & Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology (ECAST) network and NASA in 2014. | Should we continue to pursue experimental engagement from the outside or work to concentrate capacity for engagement within federal agencies? While this “outside” vs. “inside” debate remains perennial for pursuing political change, we suggest that the two strategies must work hand-in-hand. | Stakeholder engagement, NASA, Citizen deliberations | https://issues.org/citizen-engagement-pta-farooque-kessler-forum/ | 0 | 5/31/2023 | Issues in Science and Technology | |||||
| What are Stakeholder Views and Needs for Achieving Phosphorus Sustainability? | Grieger, K., Merck, A., Deviney, A. et al. What are stakeholder views and needs for achieving phosphorus sustainability?. Environ Syst Decis (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10669-023-09917-y. PDF | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck | 2023 | Our society depends on the effective management of phosphorus (P). Phosphorus is a key component of agricultural fertilizers to improve crop yields, and also plays a critical role in many industrial processes and consumer products. In the past decade, there have been numerous calls for innovative approaches to manage P more sustainably, as it is a nonrenewable resource that can adversely impact aquatic ecosystems from runoff and inefficiencies in P use. To develop more sustainable solutions that will ultimately be adopted, diverse stakeholder perspectives must be recognized, including those in industry, government, academia, non-governmental organizations, and other civil groups. This study responds to this need by identifying stakeholder views, needs, concerns, and challenges regarding P sustainability. An online survey was developed and deployed to individuals identified as P sustainability experts and professionals in the U.S. and abroad. Based on responses from 96 stakeholder participants from a range of sectors, areas of expertise, and geographies, we found that the vast majority of stakeholders considered current P use to be unsustainable and were very concerned about the ability to manage P sustainably. Stakeholder participants did not distinguish between urgent and long-term challenges, and perceived financial and regulatory issues to be of greatest importance. Stakeholder participants expressed a range of needs to improve P management systems, including improved management practices, new technologies, enhanced regulations, and better approaches for engagement. Outcomes from this work can help inform future research, engagement, and policy priorities to ensure sustainable P management solutions based on stakeholder-identified perspectives and needs. | Overall, results from this study may help inform future research, engagement, and policy priorities to ensure sustainable P management solutions based on stakeholder-identified perspectives and needs. | Sustainability, Stakeholders, Phosphorus | https://rdcu.be/ddlwg | 10.1007/s10669-023-09917-y | 5/23/2023 | 10.1007/s10669-023-09917-y | Environ Syst Decis | ||||
| Identifying public trust building priorities of gene editing in agriculture and food | Cummings, C., Selfa, T., Lindberg, S. et al. Identifying public trust building priorities of gene editing in agriculture and food. Agric Hum Values (2023). doi: 10.1007/s10460-023-10465-z. PDF* (requires Unity ID login) | Christopher L. Cummings | 2023 | Gene editing in agriculture and food (GEAF) is a nascent development with few products and is unfamiliar among the wider US public. GEAF has garnered significant praise for its potential to solve for a variety of agronomic problems but has also evoked controversy regarding safety and ethical standards of development and application. Given the wake of other agribiotechnology debates including GMOs (genetically modified organisms), this study made use of 36 in-depth key interviews to build the first U.S. based typology of proponent and critic priorities for shaping public trust in GEAF actors and objects. Key organizational actors provide early and foundational messaging, which is likely to contribute heavily to public salience, comprehension, and decision-making as potential consumers reflect upon their experiences, envision future outcomes, and consider the reputation of those trying to influence them. As is documented in our results, the trust-building priorities of these groups often stand in opposition to one another and are influenced by distinct motivations for how the public will come to trust or distrust GEAF actors and objects as more products are developed and enter the market. | Key organizational actors provide early and foundational messaging, which is likely to contribute heavily to public salience, comprehension, and decision-making as potential consumers reflect upon their experiences, envision future outcomes, and consider the reputation of those trying to influence them. As is documented in our results, the trust-building priorities of these groups often stand in opposition to one another and are influenced by distinct motivations for how the public will come to trust or distrust GEAF actors and objects as more products are developed and enter the market. | Gene-edited Foods, Trust, Trust building, CRISPR | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-023-10465-z | 10.1007/s10460-023-10465-z | 5/17/2023 | 10.1007/s10460-023-10465-z | Agric Hum Values | ||||
| Ensuring the environmental sustainability of emerging technologies -3. Guidance to distinct actors | Sachs, R; Kuzma, J.; Trier, X.; International Risk Governance Center (IRGC) (2022) Ensuring the environmental sustainability of emerging technologies. Florin, Marie-Valentine (Ed). DOI: 10.5075/epfl-irgc-302431. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | To support economic development, governments and industries in major countries are committing to massive new technological investments before, or perhaps without, undertaking a comprehensive assessment of their environmental impacts. Existing policy frameworks concerning some emerging technology applications do not provide sufficient clarity for how these technologies will be regulated, especially if the risk of environmental harm is not proven and impacts are indirect or manifest in the longer term. For example, this is the case of the transition to a digital economy that requires building massive data centres; innovation in advanced materials such as semiconductors or smart materials 1 expected to offer major improvements in a wide variety of domains; or the transition to all-electric vehicles. Do we know the full extent of consequences on the environment? | Guidance to distinct stakeholder groups who can contribute to either creating or mitigating threats that the development and deployment of emerging technologies could pose to long-term environmental sustainability. | Risk Governance, Environmental Sustainability, Sustainability Compass, Guidance, IRGC | https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/302431 | 10.5075/epfl-irgc-302431 | 5/10/2023 | 10.5075/epfl-irgc-302431 | International Risk Governance Center (IRGC) | ||||
| Pandemics and resilience: Lessons we should have learned from zika | Berube, D. M. (2023). Pandemics and resilience: Lessons we should have learned from zika (Ser. Risk, Systems and Decisions). Springer Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-25370-6 | David Berube | 2023 | The aim of the book was to produce the most comprehensive examination of a pandemic that has ever been attempted. By cataloging the full extent of the Zika pandemic, this book will be the most complete history and epistemic contextualization ever attempted to date. The work should function as the primary source for students, researchers, and scholars who need information about the Zika pandemic.This book examines the technical literature, digital and popular literature, and online materials to fully contextualize this event and provide a bona fide record of this event and its implications for the future. It is somewhat serendipitous that while this work was underway, we are going through another pandemic. One of the primary lessons we did not learn by Zika was pandemic events will return repeatedly, and we need to learn from each one of them to prepare the planet for the next one. Just because Zika seemed to have died out does not make it less important. We were lucky that the virus evolved into what seemed to be a less virulent version of itself, and the vector mosquitoes were concentrated elsewhere. Finally, this book represents a tour de force in scholarship involving nearly 4,000 sources of information and does not shy from a detailed examination of the controversies, conspiracies, and long-term consequences when we avoid learning from outbreaks, such as Zika. | Builds guidance for pandemic management to upgrade responses to infectious diseasesPresents the most complete history and epistemic contextualization ever attempted to dateRepresents a tour de force in scholarship involving nearly 4,000 sources of information | Public Health, Environmental Health, Pandemics, Zika, Zoonotic Diseases | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25370-6 | 10.1007/978-3-031-25370-6 | 5/1/2023 | 10.1007/978-3-031-25370-6 | |||||
| Public Inclusion and Responsiveness in Governance of Genetically Engineered Animals | Kuzma, J., Williams, T.T. (2023). Public Inclusion and Responsiveness in Governance of Genetically Engineered Animals. In: Gattinger, M. (eds) Democratizing Risk Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_8. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma, Teshanee Williams | 2023 | Genetically engineered (GE) animal-based foods have entered the Canadian market in recent years, yet a significant proportion of the public is reticent to consume them. Responsible innovation has been suggested as a paradigm for bolstering democratic processes and aligning societal values with technology research and development. In this chapter, we examine regulatory decision-making for the first GE animal approved for food consumption in Canada, the AquAdvantage Salmon (AAS), according to two principles of responsible innovation (RI)—inclusion and responsiveness. First, we look at the regulatory approval process for AAS to examine when there were opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in decision-making (inclusion). Second, we report on our studies using textual analysis of one public participation window—a series of Parliamentary hearings associated with GE animal oversight in Canada in 2016. Here, we examine whether decision-makers incorporated the diverse stakeholder perspectives and concerns voiced at the hearings into their final reports (responsiveness). Finally, we identify barriers to putting inclusion and responsiveness into practice in risk governance of GEOs and discuss ways to overcome these barriers to facilitate responsible innovation practices in oversight systems for emerging technologies. | Genetically engineered animals have entered the Canadian market, yet a significant proportion of the public is reticent to consume them. This chapter examines regulatory decision-making for the first GE animal approved for food consumption in Canada according to two principles of responsible innovation - inclusion and responsiveness. | Risk Management, Genetically Engineered Foods, Genetically Modified Foods, AquAdvantage Salmon, Responsible Innovation, Genetically Engineered Salmon, Genetically Modified Salmon, Regulation, Public Participation, Inclusion, Responsiveness, Governance, Oversight, Risk Analysis, Public Policy, Transparency, Decision-Making, Public Engagement, Cultural Theory | https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_8 | 10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_8 | 4/29/2023 | 10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_8 | In: Gattinger, M. (eds) Democratizing Risk Governance | ||||
| Motivated Reasoning and Risk Governance: What Risk Scholars and Practitioners Need to Know | Beck, M., ...Kuzma, J. et al. (2023). Motivated Reasoning and Risk Governance: What Risk Scholars and Practitioners Need to Know. In: Gattinger, M. (eds) Democratizing Risk Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. 10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_2. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | Empirical research in psychology and political science shows that individuals collect, process, and interpret information in a goal-driven fashion. Several theorists have argued that rather than striving for accuracy in their conclusions, individuals are motivated to arrive at conclusions that align with their previous beliefs, values, or identity commitments. The literature refers to this phenomenon broadly as ‘motivated reasoning’. In the context of risk governance, motivated reasoning can help to explain why people vary in their risk perceptions, evaluations, and preferences about risk management. But our current understanding of the phenomenon is incomplete, including the degree to which motivated reasoning should be considered rational and reasonable. Further, the research on motivated reasoning is largely unknown among risk practitioners. This chapter identifies key theoretical models of motivated reasoning, discusses the conceptual differences between them, and explores the implications of motivated reasoning for risk governance. Motivated reasoning is often labeled as ‘irrational’ and thus seen to prevent effective decision-making about risk, but this chapter challenges this assessment. The chapter concludes by identifying theoretical and empirical implications for researchers studying motivated reasoning and risk, as well as practical implications for policymakers and regulators involved in risk governance. | Research shows that individuals collect, process, and interpret information in a goal-driven fashion. This chapter discusses key theoretical models of motivated reasoning, explores the implications of motivated reasoning for risk governance, and identifies practical implications for policymakers and regulators involved in risk governance. | Motivated Reasoning, Bias, Risk Governance, Risk Perception, Cultural Cognition, Motivated Skepticism, Identity Protection, Bayesian Updating, Rationality, Evidence-Based Decision-Making, Framing, Information Processing, Strong Objectivity, Polarization, Conflict, Information Processing, Affect, System 1 Vs. System 2 Thinking, Accuracy, Biased Assimilation, John Q. Public Model Of Motivated Reasoning, Democratization, Values, Motivated Skepticism | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_2 | 10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_2 | 4/29/2023 | 10.1007/978-3-031-24271-7_2 | In: Gattinger, M. (eds) Democratizing Risk Governance | ||||
| Phytoextraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by weeds: Effect of PFAS physicochemical properties and plant physiological traits. | He, Q.,... Grieger, K. et al. (2023). Phytoextraction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Weeds: Effect of Pfas Physicochemical Properties and Plant Physiological Traits. Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 454, 28 Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131492. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2023 | Phytoextraction is a promising technology that uses plants to remediate contaminated soil. However, its feasibility for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the impact of PFAS properties and plant traits on phytoextraction efficacy remains unknown. In this study, we conducted greenhouse experiment and evaluated the potential of weeds for phytoextraction of PFAS from soil and assessed the effects of PFAS properties and plant traits on PFAS uptake via systematic correlation analyses and electron probe microanalyzer with energy dispersive spectroscopy (FE-EPMA-EDS) imaging. The results showed that 1) phytoextraction can remove 0.04%− 41.4%wt of PFAS from soil, with extracted PFAS primarily stored in plant shoots; 2) Weeds preferentially extracted short-chain PFAS over long-chain homologues from soil. 3) PFAS molecular size and hydrophilicity determined plant uptake behavior, while plant morphological traits, particularly root protein and lipid content, influenced PFAS accumulation and translocation. Although plants with thin roots and small leaf areas exhibited greater PFAS uptake and storage ability, the impact of PFAS physicochemical properties was more significant. 4) Finally, short-chain PFAS were transported quickly upwards in the plant, while uptake of long-chain PFOS was restricted. | Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an emerging issue of concern. PFAS are a large group of chemicals that have been manufactured by people for several decades, and are now considered among the most important contaminants to address in our society. This study investigates the role of plants, specifically weeds, to uptake PFAS as a way to remove PFAS in contaminated soils. Our study explored the rates of PFAS uptake by weeds and also investigated the rate of uptake based on different types of PFAS. It sheds light on the use of phytoremediation to remove PFAS in contaminated soils. | PFAS, Phytoextraction, Environmental Remediation, Emerging Contaminants | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131492 | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131492 | 4/28/2023 | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131492 | Journal of Hazardous Materials | ||||
| Population genetic structure of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, in southern Mexico | Baltzegar, J., Jones, M. S., Willcox, M., Ramsey, J. M., & Gould, F. (2023). Population genetic structure of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, in southern Mexico. PLOS ONE, 18(4), e0264469. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264469. PDF | Jennifer Baltzegar, Michael S. Jones, Fred Gould | 2023 | The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is a ubiquitous pest of maize and other cereal crops worldwide and remains a threat to food security in subsistence communities. Few population genetic studies have been conducted on the maize weevil, but those that exist have shown that there is very little genetic differentiation between geographically dispersed populations and that it is likely the species has experienced a recent range expansion within the last few hundred years. While the previous studies found little genetic structure, they relied primarily on mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite markers for their analyses. It is possible that more fine-scaled population genetic structure exists due to local adaptation, the biological limits of natural species dispersal, and the isolated nature of subsistence farming communities. In contrast to previous studies, here, we utilized genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data to evaluate the genetic population structure of the maize weevil from the southern and coastal Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. We employed strict SNP filtering to manage large next generation sequencing lane effects and this study is the first to find fine-scale genetic population structure in the maize weevil. Here, we show that although there continues to be gene flow between populations of maize weevil, that fine-scale genetic structure exists. It is possible that this structure is shaped by local adaptation of the insects, the movement and trade of maize by humans in the region, geographic barriers to gene flow, or a combination of these factors. | This work was supported by the National Science Foundation – IGERT 1068676 (https://www.nsf.gov/)(FG) and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. (https://research.ncsu.edu/ges) (JB & MJ) | Weevils, Maize, Population genetics, Cereal crops, Single nucleotide polymorphisms, Mexico, Genetics, Gene flow | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264469 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0264469 | 4/12/2023 | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.02644699 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/08/Population-genetic-structure-of-the-maize-weevil_Baltzegar_2023.pdf | PLOS ONE | |||
| Assessing the Impacts of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystem Functioning: Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Uptake in Forest and Hyper-Eutrophic Stream | Assessing the Impacts of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystem Functioning: Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Uptake in Forest and Hyper-Eutrophic StreamGao, J., …, Grieger, K. 2022. Assessing the Impacts of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystem Functioning: Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Uptake in Forest and Hyper-Eutrophic Stream. Ecological Indicators, 138: 108859. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108859. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2023 | Rapid urbanization significantly affects freshwater systems by interfering with important ecological functions. The responses of different ecosystem functions in urban streams and their potential ecological effects remain largely unknown, impeding their management and restoration in many cases. In this study, we simultaneously assessed two important ecosystem functions, litter decomposition and nutrient uptake, and investigated the associated microbial and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in two subtropical streams (i.e., a forest headwater stream as a reference and an urban stream that was hyper-eutrophic). Litter decomposition was estimated using litter bags with two mesh sizes (i.e., 50 μm and 2 mm) and two leaf species with different qualities (i.e., Alangium chinense and Machilus leptophylla), with a total of 96 litter bags. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake rates were measured in situ based on the spiraling model. We found that the decomposition rate of A.chinense was approximately seven times that of M. leptophylla in both streams. Moreover, in the urban stream, the litter decomposition rate (0.004 day−1) was one-third that of the forest stream (0.013 day−1), regardless of the litter species. Macroinvertebrates strongly contributed to litter decomposition in the forest stream, where decomposition rates were 1.8-fold higher in the coarse mesh compared to the fine mesh bags, while they had a negligible role in the urban stream (no significant difference between the two mesh bags). P uptake was higher (85-fold) and N uptake was lower (0.13-fold) in the urban compared to forest stream. Litter decomposition and nutrient uptake exhibit decoupled response. These findings show that litter decomposition by kcoarse/kfine metrics and the uptake of N and P are complementary and should be considered in the management and restoration of urban stream ecosystems. | This study examines the effects of urbanization on the functioning of stream ecosystems, specifically focusing on litter decomposition and nutrient uptake. The researchers find that urbanization significantly reduces litter decomposition rates, macroinvertebrate diversity, and nitrogen uptake, while increasing phosphorus uptake in streams. These findings provide valuable insights for the management and restoration of urban streams, highlighting the need to consider both litter decomposition and nutrient uptake in these efforts. | Urbanization, Ecosystem function, Litter decomposition, Nutrient uptake, Macroinvertebrates, Microbes | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X22003302?via%3Dihub | 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108859 | 4/12/2023 | 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108859 | Ecological Indicators | ||||
| Final Report: Assessment of the Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks for Agricultural Gene Editing via CRISPR-Based Technologies in Latin America and The Caribbean | Barnhill, K. S., Jones, M. S., Kuzma, J., Brown, Z. S., Ambrozevicius, L., Bagley, M., & Roca, M. M. (2023). Assessment of the Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks for Agricultural Gene Editing via CRISPR-Based Technologies in Latin America and The Caribbean. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. Retrieved from https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-Crispr_FINAL-REPORT_EN_2023.pdf | Katie Barnhill, Michael S. Jones, Jennifer Kuzma, Patti Mulligan, Sharon Stauffer, Sebastian Zarate, Ilaria Cimadori | 2023 | This final report consolidates the following individual policy briefs and discussion documents:
| This comprehensive report evaluates the regulatory frameworks and institutional competencies for CRISPR-based gene editing in Latin America and the Caribbean. It explores diverse aspects such as policy and regulatory regimes, intellectual property, and case studies on gene-edited crops in specific countries. It also summarizes stakeholder interviews and concludes with investment recommendations for IDB, providing significant insights for future gene-editing endeavors in the region. | Gene-editing, CRISPR, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Latin America, LAC Region, Regulation, Intellectual Property, Stakeholder Engagement, Governance, Case Study, Sugarcane, Bananas | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-Crispr_FINAL-REPORT_EN_2023.pdf | 0 | 3/31/2023 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-big-report-cover-EN.jpg | Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University | ||||
| Reporte final; español: Evaluación del Marco Regulatorio e Institucional para la Edición Génica Agrícola mediante Tecnologías Basadas en CRISPR en América Latina y el Caribe | Barnhill, K. S., Jones, M. S., Kuzma, J., Brown, Z. S., Ambrozevicius, L., Bagley, M., & Roca, M. M. (2023). Evaluación del Marco Regulatorio e Institucional para la Edición Génica Agrícola mediante Tecnologías Basadas en CRISPR en América Latina y el Caribe. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. Retrieved from https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-Crispr_FINAL-REPORT_ES_2023.pdf | Katie Barnhill, Michael S. Jones, Jennifer Kuzma, Patti Mulligan, Sharon Stauffer, Sebastian Zarate, Ilaria Cimadori | 2023 | Este reporte final consolida los siguientes informes de políticas individuales y documentos de discusión:
| Este completo informe evalúa los marcos regulatorios y las competencias institucionales para la edición de genes basada en CRISPR en América Latina y el Caribe. Explora diversos aspectos, como políticas y regímenes regulatorios, propiedad intelectual y estudios de casos sobre cultivos modificados genéticamente en países específicos. También resume las entrevistas con las partes interesadas y concluye con recomendaciones de inversión para el BID, lo que brinda información importante para futuros esfuerzos de edición de genes en la región. | Gene-editing, CRISPR, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Latin America, LAC Region, Regulation, Intellectual Property, Stakeholder Engagement, Governance, Case Study, Sugarcane, Bananas | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-Crispr_FINAL-REPORT_ES_2023.pdf | 0 | 3/31/2023 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/05/IDB-big-report-cover-ES.jpg | Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University | ||||
| Relatório final; portugués: Avaliação do Marco Regulatório e Institucional das Tecnologias de Edição Gênica Usando CRISPR no Setor Agrícola na América Latina e no Caribe | Barnhill, K. S., Jones, M. S., Kuzma, J., Brown, Z. S., Ambrozevicius, L., Bagley, M., & Roca, M. M. (2023). Relatório final; portugués: Avaliação do Marco Regulatório e Institucional das Tecnologias de Edição Gênica Usando CRISPR no Setor Agrícola na América Latina e no Caribe. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. Retrieved from https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/08/IDB-Crispr_PT_FINAL-REPORT.pdf | Katie Barnhill, Michael S. Jones, Jennifer Kuzma, Patti Mulligan, Sharon Stauffer, Sebastian Zarate, Ilaria Cimadori | 2023 | Este relatório final consolida os seguintes relatórios de política individuais e documentos de discussão:
| Este relatório abrangente avalia as estruturas regulatórias e as competências institucionais para a edição genética baseada em CRISPR na América Latina e no Caribe. Ele explora diversos aspectos, como regimes políticos e regulatórios, propriedade intelectual e estudos de caso sobre cultivos geneticamente modificados em países específicos. Ele também resume as entrevistas com as partes interessadas e conclui com recomendações de investimento para o BID, fornecendo informações importantes para futuros empreendimentos de edição de genes na região. | Gene-editing, CRISPR, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Latin America, LAC Region, Regulation, Intellectual Property, Stakeholder Engagement, Governance, Case Study, Sugarcane, Bananas | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/08/IDB-Crispr_PT_FINAL-REPORT.pdf | 0 | 3/31/2023 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2023/08/IDB-big-report-cover-PT.jpg | Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University | ||||
| Population dynamics and genome-wide selection scan for dogs in Chernobyl | Dillon, M. N., Thomas, R., Mousseau, T. A., Betz, J. A., Kleiman, N. J., Reiskind, M. O. B., & Breen, M. (2023). Population dynamics and genome-wide selection scan for dogs in Chernobyl. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 10(1), 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s40575-023-00124-1. PDF | Martha Burford Reiskind | 2023 | Wildlife populations can be greatly affected by disasters, whether they are natural or man-made. Disasters that result in contamination or habitat destruction can result in population declines or influence wildlife adaptation to these adverse environmental changes. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster released an enormous quantity of ionizing radiation into the surrounding environment. Abandonment of military and industrial facilities, as well as subsequent cleanup and remediation efforts, resulted in further environmental contamination by a variety of non-radioactive toxic metals, chemicals, and compounds. Earlier studies investigated local wildlife responses to some of these exposures. In this study, we address the impact of this disaster on the population structure of free-breeding dogs that live around the power plant and in the nearby city of Chernobyl. In particular, we use genetic approaches to understand how these two populations of dogs interact and their breed composition, so that we may begin to understand how these populations have adapted to over 30 years of exposure to this harsh environment. In this foundational study we determined that while the two local populations of dogs are separated by only 16 km, they have very low rates of interpopulation migration. We also detected genetic evidence that suggests that these population may have adapted to exposures faced over many generations. In future studies, we aim to determine if the genetic variation detected is indeed a biological response to enable survival after multi-generational exposures to radiation, heavy metals, organic toxins, or other environmental contaminants. In this way, we then understand how the impact of environmental catastrophes such as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster can influence animal populations. | The study explores the genetics of two separate dog populations living in areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Despite living close together, the dogs show significant genetic differences, suggesting they've adapted separately to the challenging environment over many generations. This research provides new insights into how animals can adapt to extreme conditions. | Outlier analysis, Population structure, Environmental contamination, Chernobyl dogs | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40575-023-00124-1 | 10.1186/s40575-023-00124-1 | 3/8/2023 | 10.1186/s40575-023-00124-1 | Canine Medicine and Genetics | ||||
| Gene-Edited Food Adoption Intentions and Institutional Trust in the United States: Benefits, Acceptance, and Labeling | Lindberg S., Peters D., and Cummings C. (2023) Gene-Edited Food Adoption Intentions and Institutional Trust in the United States: Benefits, Acceptance, and Labeling. Rural Sociology. doi: 10.1111/ruso.12480. PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2023 | New gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9, have created the potential for rapid development of new gene-edited food (GEF) products. Unlike genetically modified organism foods, there is limited research and literature on U.S. public opinions about GEFs. We address this knowledge gap by examining how crop-based GEF adoption is linked to public trust in institutions and values using the Theory of Planned Behavior. We employ ordinal regression models to predict adoption intentions (direct benefits, acceptability, willingness to eat, and labeling) using a unique and nationally representative survey of n = 2,000 adults in the United States. We find that adoption hinges on public trust in institutions overseeing GEF development, especially trust in university scientists. The 29 percent of Americans likely to adopt GEFs highly trust government food regulators and the biotech industry. A nearly equal number of likely non-adopters distrust current regulatory systems in favor of consumer and environmental advocacy groups. However, most Americans (41 percent) are uncertain about GEF adoption and whom to trust. Although 75 percent of Americans want GEFs labeled, few trust government agencies who have authority to issue labels. Our findings suggest public trust in GEFs and labels can only be obtained by tripartite oversight by universities, advocacy groups, and government food regulators. | This study found that public acceptance of gene-edited food (GEF) in the U.S. is strongly tied to trust in institutions overseeing its development, with particular emphasis on trust in university scientists. While 29% of Americans trust government food regulators and the biotech industry and are likely to adopt GEFs, an equal number distrust these entities, and most Americans (41%) are uncertain, indicating a need for oversight by a combination of universities, advocacy groups, and government food regulators to increase public trust and GEF adoption. | Gene-Edited Food, Trust, Labelling, CRISPR | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ruso.12480 | 10.1111/ruso.12480 | 2/23/2023 | 10.1111/ruso.12480 | Rural Sociology | ||||
| Phosphorus sustainability through coordinated stakeholder engagement: a perspective | Deviney A., Grieger K., Merck A., Classen J., Marshall A.M. (2023), Phosphorus sustainability through coordinated stakeholder engagement: a perspective. Environment Systems and Decisions. doi: 10.1007/s10669-023-09896-0. PDF | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck, John Classen | 2023 | In this Perspective we take an in-depth look at what coordinated stakeholder engagement could entail for phosphorus sustainability. The element phosphorus is critical to life on Earth and to the continued functioning of society as we know it. Yet, how society uses phosphorus is currently unsustainable, both as a resource in support of global food production where inequitable distribution creates food security challenges, but also from an environmental aspect, where mismanagement has led to negative impacts on the quality of agricultural soils, human health, and freshwater and marine ecosystems. A number of initiatives and cross-sector consortia have come together to address sustainable phosphorus management at either global or regional scales. However, these efforts could benefit from a more coordinated approach to stakeholder engagement to identify the diversity of needs and perspectives involved in this complex challenge. Herein we examine some examples of different approaches to developing such coordinated stakeholder engagement in other areas of environmental sustainability. We consider how to apply the lessons learned from those efforts toward stakeholder coordination in the realm of phosphorus sustainability. Particularly, we discuss the value of a coordinating body to manage the communications and knowledge sharing necessary to develop trust and cooperation among diverse stakeholder groups and to transition society to more sustainable phosphorus use. | Stakeholder, Phosphorus, Sustainability | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-023-09896-0 | 10.1007/s10669-023-09896-0 | 2/13/2023 | 10.1007/s10669-023-09896-0 | Environment Systems and Decisions | |||||
| Moving beyond narrow definitions of gene drive: Diverse perspectives and frames enable substantive dialogue among science and humanities teachers in the United States and United Kingdom | Hartley, S., Stelmach, A., Delborne, J.A., Barnhill, S.K. (2023), Moving beyond narrow definitions of gene drive: Diverse perspectives and frames enable substantive dialogue among science and humanities teachers in the United States and United Kingdom. Public Understanding of Science. doi: 10.1177/09636625221148697. PDF | Jason Delborne, Katie Barnhill | 2023 | Gene drive is an emerging biotechnology with applications in global health, conservation and agriculture. Scientists are preparing for field trials, triggering debate about when and how to release gene-drive organisms. These decisions depend on public understandings of gene drive, which are shaped by language. While some studies on gene drive communication assume the need to persuade publics of expert definitions of gene drive, we highlight the importance of meaning-making in communication and engagement. We conducted focus groups with humanities and science teachers in the United Kingdom and United States to explore how different media framings stimulated discussions of gene drive. We found diversity in the value of these framings for public debate. Interestingly, the definition favoured by gene drive scientists was the least popular among participants. Rather than carefully curating language, we need opportunities for publics to make sense and negotiate the meanings of a technology on their own terms. | Gene Drive, Communication, Engagement | https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625221148697 | 10.1177/09636625221148697 | 2/6/2023 | 10.1177/09636625221148697 | Public Understanding of Science | |||||
| How can policymakers and researchers develop effective insect resistance management guidelines? A quantitative and qualitative study of Brazilian farmers' perspectives and attitudes | Pezzini D., Delborne J.A., and Reisig D. (2023), How can policymakers and researchers develop effective insect resistance management guidelines? A quantitative and qualitative study of Brazilian farmers' perspectives and attitudes. Plants People Planet. doi: 10.1002/ppp3.10352. PDF | Daniela Pezzini, Jason Delborne, Dominic Reisig | 2023 | Genetically engineered crops expressing insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have brought numerous benefits; however, pest resistance evolution poses a threat to the sustainability of this technology. Insect resistance management (IRM) for Bt crops has been defined as a wicked problem as it involves sociobiological complexities. A main challenge in IRM is the adoption of non-Bt refuge, which is one out of the few strategies amenable to human intervention. This study investigated farmers' perspectives on information sources and IRM practices in Brazil using quantitative and qualitative data collection. A total of 145 farmers responded to online Qualtrics surveys, and 13 farmers participated in person to open-ended interviews. This study demonstrates that farmers rely on strong social networks for information exchange and that sources with expertise based on local field experience are the most reliable channels of communication. We identified new challenges for refuge adoption such as the need to spray insecticides for pests not targeted by Bt and the intangible aspect of resistance evolution. Based on results of sources of information and perspectives on IRM practices, we discuss strategies that may be successful in delaying insecticide resistance evolution based on local contexts. This is the first study to investigate Brazilian farmers' perceptions on information sources and IRM strategies using qualitative data. Our results provide important elements to orient research development and decision-making in biotechnology policies for the agricultural sector in Brazil and other similar contexts. | B. Thuringiensis, Farmers' Decision-Making, Refuge Adoption, Sources Of Information, Technologyadoption, Transgenic Crops | https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10352 | 10.1002/ppp3.10352 | 1/17/2023 | 10.1002/ppp3.10352 | Plants People Planet | |||||
| Governing biotechnology to provide safety and security and address ethical, legal, and social implications | Trump B, Cummings C, Klasa K, Galaitsi S, and Linkov I (2023), Governing biotechnology to provide safety and security and address ethical, legal, and social implications. Front. Genet. 13:1052371. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1052371. PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2023 | The field of biotechnology has produced a wide variety of materials and products which are rapidly entering the commercial marketplace. While many developments promise revolutionary benefits, some of them pose uncertain or largely untested risks and may spur debate, consternation, and outrage from individuals and groups who may be affected by their development and use. In this paper we show that the success of any advanced genetic development and usage requires that the creators establish technical soundness, ensure safety and security, and transparently represent the product’s ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI). We further identify how failures to address ELSI can manifest as significant roadblocks to product acceptance and adoption and advocate for use of the “safety-by-design� governance philosophy. This approach requires addressing risk and ELSI needs early and often in the technology development process to support innovation while providing security and safety for workers, the public, and the broader environment. This paper identifies and evaluates major ELSI challenges and perspectives to suggest a methodology for implementing safety-by-design in a manner consistent with local institutions and politics. We anticipate the need for safety-by-design approach to grow and permeate biotechnology governance structures as the field expands in scientific and technological complexity, increases in public attention and prominence, and further impacts human health and the environment. | Biotechnology, ELSI, Policy, Governance, Safety-By-Design, Synthetic Biology | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.1052371/full | 10.3389/fgene.2022.1052371/full | 1/11/2023 | 10.3389/fgene.2022.1052371/full | Front. Genet. | |||||
| Social Concerns and Regulation of Cisgenic Crops in North America | Kuzma, J. (2023). Social Concerns and Regulation of Cisgenic Crops in North America. In: Chaurasia, A., Kole, C. (eds) Cisgenic Crops: Safety, Legal and Social Issues. Concepts and Strategies in Plant Sciences. Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-10721-4_8 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2023 | Cisgenic crops may be more acceptable to some consumer groups and can provide benefits to health, the environment, consumers, and agricultural producers. However careful attention to the societal dimensions of cisgenic and gene-edited crops will be required to ensure their success in the marketplace and safe and sustainable use. This chapter overviews several of the social concerns associated with cisgenic crops, including from the perspectives of developers and consumers and with particular attention to oversight systems in the United States and Canada. An appropriate balance between allowing innovation systems to flourish and respecting the desire of consumers for autonomy and choice is a challenge for cisgenic crop oversight. Models for responsible governance are reviewed in closing that might help to achieve such a balance and should be explored and tested in the future. | Responsible Research And Innovation, Genome Editing, Gene Editing, Oversight, Policy | https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-10721-4_8 | 10.1007/978-3-031-10721-4_8 | 1/4/2023 | 10.1007/978-3-031-10721-4_8 | Cisgenic Crops: Safety, Legal and Social Issues | |||||
| A critical assessment of the detailed Aedes aegypti simulation model Skeeter Buster 2 using field experiments of indoor insecticidal control in Iquitos, Peru | Gunning CE,... Gould F, Lloyd AL, et al. (2022) A critical assessment of the detailed Aedes aegypti simulation model Skeeter Buster 2 using field experiments of indoor insecticidal control in Iquitos, Peru. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 16(12): e0010863. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010863. PDF | Fred Gould, Alun Lloyd | 2023 | The importance of mosquitoes in human pathogen transmission has motivated major research efforts into mosquito biology in pursuit of more effective vector control measures. Aedes aegypti is a particular concern in tropical urban areas, where it is the primary vector of numerous flaviviruses, including the yellow fever, Zika, and dengue viruses. With an anthropophilic habit, Ae. aegypti prefers houses, human blood meals, and ovipositioning in water-filled containers. We hypothesized that this relatively simple ecological niche should allow us to predict the impacts of insecticidal control measures on mosquito populations. To do this, we use Skeeter Buster 2 (SB2), a stochastic, spatially explicit, mechanistic model of Ae. aegypti population biology. SB2 builds on Skeeter Buster, which reproduced equilibrium dynamics of Ae. aegypti in Iquitos, Peru. Our goal was to validate SB2 by predicting the response of mosquito populations to perturbations by indoor insecticidal spraying and widespread destructive insect surveys.To evaluate SB2, we conducted two field experiments in Iquitos, Peru: a smaller pilot study in 2013 (S-2013) followed by a larger experiment in 2014 (L-2014). Here, we compare model predictions with (previously reported) empirical results from these experiments. In both simulated and empirical populations, repeated spraying yielded substantial yet temporary reductions in adult densities. The proportional effects of spraying were broadly comparable between simulated and empirical results, but we found noteworthy differences. In particular, SB2 consistently over-estimated the proportion of nulliparous females and the proportion of containers holding immature mosquitoes. We also observed less temporal variation in simulated surveys of adult abundance relative to corresponding empirical observations. Our results indicate the presence of ecological heterogeneities or sampling processes not effectively represented by SB2. Although additional empirical research could further improve the accuracy and precision of SB2, our results underscore the importance of non-linear dynamics in the response of Ae. aegypti populations to perturbations, and suggest general limits to the fine-grained predictability of its population dynamics over space and time. | We are using archived samples of Ae. aegypti collected in Iquitos, Peru since 2000 to assess patterns of spatial and temporal change in genes associated with pyrethroid resistance and in genomic differentiation. We are using this information to develop predictions about future dynamics of insecticide resistance and gene drives by use of a spatially explicit, stochastic model of Ae. aegypti population dynamics and genetics that is specifically calibrated to Iquitos conditions. The outcomes of this work will provide research, regulatory, and management communities with information needed to more accurately predict the dynamics of a variety of gene drive strategies as well as the spread of resistance to insecticides in this arbovirus vector.Overall, we found that the effects of spraying were broadly comparable between simulated and empirical results, including rapid post-control recovery. Notably, we observed less temporal variation in simulated adult abundance than in empirical observations. Our results indicate the presence of ecological heterogeneities and/or sampling processes not captured by SB2, and suggest limits to the fine-grained predictability of Ae. aegypti population dynamics over space and time. | Larvae, Aedes Aegypti, Population Dynamics, Mosquitoes, Peru, Insects, Simulation And Modeling | https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010863 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010863 | 12/22/2023 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010863 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases | ||||
| Gene drive organisms and slippery slopes | Resnik, D.B., Medina, R.F., Gould, F., Church, G. & Kuzma, J. (2022): Gene drive organisms and slippery slopes. Pathogens and Global Health, DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2160895. PDF (requires login with Unity ID) | Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | The bioethical debate about using gene drives to alter or eradicate wild populations has focused mostly on issues concerning short-term risk assessment and management, governance and oversight, and public and community engagement, but has not examined big-picture— ‘where is this going?’—questions in great depth. In other areas of bioethical controversy, big-picture questions often enter the public forum via slippery slope arguments. Given the incredible potential of gene drive organisms to alter the Earth’s biota, it is somewhat surprising that slippery slope arguments have not played a more prominent role in ethical and policy debates about these emerging technologies. In this article, we examine a type of slippery slope argument against using gene drives to alter or suppress wild pest populations and consider whether it has a role to play in ethical and policy debates. Although we conclude that this argument does not provide compelling reasons for banning the use of gene drives in wild pest populations, we believe that it still has value as a morally instructive cautionary narrative that can motivate scientists, ethicists, and members of the public to think more clearly about appropriate vs. inappropriate uses of gene drive technologies, the long-term and cumulative and emergent risks of using gene drives in wild populations, and steps that can be taken to manage these risks, such as protecting wilderness areas where people can enjoy life forms that have not been genetically engineered. | Gene Drive, CRISPR, Slippery Slope Argument, Ethics, Regulation | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/20477724.2022.2160895 | 10.1080/20477724.2022.2160895 | 12/22/2022 | 10.1080/20477724.2022.2160895 | Pathogens and Global Health | |||||
| Gene drives: Environmental impacts, sustainability, and governance | Kuzma, J. (2022). Gene drives: Environmental impacts, sustainability, and governance. EPFL International Risk Governance Center (IRGC). All workshop papers available at epfl.ch/research/domains/irgc/eset/. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | This paper, produced in the context of EPFL International Risk Governance Center’s (IRGC) project on ensuring the environmental sustainability of emerging technology outcome, overviews gene drive organisms (GDOs), their potential impacts on sustainability and the environment, and special considerations for risk governance. GDOs are designed to spread their genes throughout a population in an ecosystem. Newer GDOs utilize gene editing technologies like CRISPR to bias inheritance of genes with each generation towards 100%. Gene drives can be designed to cause the population to decline (e.g., via female killing) or be beneficial to the population (e.g., via genes that immunize against a disease). Theoretically, the release of just a few organisms could change populations in ecosystems permanently. However,gene drive systems are also being developed and designed to be limited in geography or spread, or to be reversible. GDOs hold promise for controllingagricultural pests with fewer pesticides, protecting endangered and threatened species against pests and ecological hazards, and reducing thetransmission of human and animal diseases. However, their open release presents characteristics of emerging risks that are accompanied by significant complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity. It is difficult to predict the risks of ecological release of GDOs prior to open release, and open release could cause widespread ecological impacts through complicated and sensitive ecosystems. This situation presents significant challenges for risk assessment, mitigation, management and international governance of GDOs. Given the near impossibility of amassing risk-relevant data prior to release, GDOs make the procedural validity of risk analysis and decision-making even more important in comparison to many other technologies and risks. More robust risk analysis methods and global governance systems are needed to ensure their safe, sustainable and equitable use. | Gene Drive, Risk Governance, Ecosystems, Sustainability, Equitable Use | https://www.epfl.ch/research/domains/irgc/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IRGC-2022-Gene-drives_Environmental-impacts-sustainability-and-governance.pdf | 0 | 12/23/2022 | Gene drives: Environmental impacts, sustainability, and governance | ||||||
| Gene editing and agrifood systems | United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. 2022. Coauthors: Gao C., Kilkulwe E., Kuzma J., et al., Gene editing and agrifood systems. Rome. doi: 10.4060/cc3579enPDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | Gene-editing technologies represent a promising new tool for plant and animal breeding in low- and middle-income countries. They enhance precision and efficiency over current breeding methods and could lead to rapid development of improved plant varieties and animal breeds. However, as for any new technology, they have their merits and demerits. There is, as yet, no international consensus regarding if and how gene-edited organisms should be regulated, and whether their release would fall under the regulatory framework of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. This science- and evidence-based Issue Paper on gene editing and agrifood systems presents a balanced discussion of the most pertinent aspects of gene editing, including the consequences for human hunger, human health, food safety, effects on the environment, animal welfare, socioeconomic impact and distribution of benefits. Intrinsic ethical concerns and issues of governance and regulation are addressed, and the roles of the public and private sectors, alone and in partnership, are summarized. Various scenarios are also presented for how gene editing might be used in the future to help transform agrifood systems. | The UNFAO's paper explores gene-editing technologies for plant and animal breeding, focusing on potential benefits for low- and middle-income countries. The paper underlines the need for global consensus on regulation, given the Cartagena Protocol's potential implications. It covers impacts on hunger, health, food safety, environment, and socioeconomic issues while addressing ethical and governance aspects. | Genes, Agrifood Systems, Breeding Methods, Plant Breeding, Animal Breeding, Gene Editing, Partnerships | https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc3579en"_blank">Gene editing and agrifood systems | 10.4060/cc3579en | 12/19/2022 | 10.4060/cc3579en | Gene editing and agrifood systems | ||||
| Gene Drives in Agriculture: Risk Assessment and Research Prioritization | Ahmad J, Baltzegar J, Brown ZS, Delborne JA, Dhole S, Elsensohn J, Gould F, Grieger K, Hardwick A, Kuzma J, Lorenzen M, Loschin N, Medina R, Mostert B, Mulligan P, Pepin K, Spangle D, Stauffer S, Stokes R, Wei W, and Barnhill SK. (2022) Gene Drives in Agriculture: Risk Assessment and Research Prioritization. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University Online at: go.ncsu.edu/ges-gene-drive-workshop-white-paper | Jabeen Ahmad, Jennifer Baltzegar, Zack Brown, Jason Delborne, Sumit Dhole, Fred Gould, Khara Grieger, Andrew Hardwick, Jennifer Kuzma, Marce Lorenzen, Nick Loschin, Bethany Mosert, Patti Mulligan, Sharon Stauffer, Dylan Spangle, Willy Wei, Katie Barnhill | 2022 | The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center at North Carolina State University (NC State) hosted an online workshop entitled “Gene Drives in Agriculture: Workshop on Risk Assessment and Research Prioritization” on June 2, 3, and 17, 2022. The workshop was funded by the USDA-NIFA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant program (grant number 2020-33522-32269; PI = Barnhill), with additional support from and partnership with the NC State Center for Excellence in Regulatory Science for Agriculture (CERSA). The workshop included an interdisciplinary lineup of speakers brought together in an effort to review and develop risk assessment methodology associated with gene drives for agriculture pest control. This report was generated to inform and summarize foreseen risks associated with gene drive technology for agriculture pest control to identify data needs for gene drive technology. The workshop featured panelist experts in multiple disciplines specializing in gene drives, risk assessment, policy, and agricultural pests. By use of presentations and breakout sessions, many ideas were presented regarding the risk assessment and risk governance of gene drives in agriculture. This workshop report does not represent the opinion of all the participants in the workshop but serves as a bridge to cover multiple perspectives from interdisciplinary efforts. | A comprehensive examination of the application, risks, and regulatory aspects of gene drives for agricultural pest control. Written by attendees of our June 2022 workshop, it underscores the potential of gene drives while acknowledging significant gaps in governance systems and risk assessment data. Key concerns include effectiveness, ecological impacts, and human health effects, and calls for ongoing stakeholder dialogues and integration of social science data into gene drive models. | Gene Drive, Agricultural Biotechnology, Risk Assessment, USDA, NIFA, Workshop Report | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2022/11/Gene-Drives-in-Agriculture-Workshop-on-Risk-Assessment-and-Research-Prioritization-2022.pdf | 0 | 12/16/2022 | Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University | |||||
| Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry | Taitingfong, R.I.,... Gould, F., Delborne, J., Kuzma, J., Kuiken, T.,... et al. (2022) Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry. Nat Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w. PDF | Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma, Jason Delborne, Todd Kuiken | 2022 | Recent calls to establish a global project registry before releasing any gene-drive-modified organisms (GDOs) have suggested a registry could be valuable to coordinate research, collect data to monitor and evaluate potential ecological impacts, and facilitate transparent communication with community stakeholders and the general public. Here, we report the results of a multidisciplinary expert workshop on GDO registries convened on 8–9 December 2020 involving 70 participants from 14 countries. Participants had expertise in gene drive design, conservation and population modeling, social science, stakeholder engagement, governance and regulation, international policy, and vector control; they represented 45 organizations, spanning national and local governmental agencies, international organizations, nonprofit organizations, universities, and district offices overseeing local vector control. The workshop aimed to gather perspectives on a central question: “In what ways could a gene-drive project registry both contribute to and detract from the fair development, testing and use of GDOs?� We specifically queried the perceived purpose of a registry, the information that would need to be included, and the perceived value of a registry. Three primary findings emerged from the discussion: first, many participants agreed a registry could serve a coordinating function for multidisciplinary and multisector work activities; second, doing so may require different design elements, depending on the target end-user group and intended purpose for that group; and third, these different information requirements lead to concerns about information sharing via a registry, suggesting potential obstacles to achieving transparency through such a mechanism. We conclude that any development of a gene-drive project registry requires careful and inclusive deliberation, including with potential end-users, to ensure that registry design is optimal. | Gene Drive, Conservation, Population Modeling, Stakeholder Engagement, Governance , International Policy, Vector Control | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w | 10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w | 12/15/2022 | 10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w | Nat Biotechnol | |||||
| Development and application of screening-level risk analysis for emerging materials | Horgan, M.D., Hsain, H.A., Jones, J.L. Grieger, K.D. (2023) Development and application of screening-level risk analysis for emerging materials, Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 35. Graphical abstract (Figure 4) | Khara Grieger | 2022 | Analysis of a material's impact on society is increasingly recognized as a necessary step in materials development, especially in the area of lead-free piezoelectrics. Evaluations of the environmental, health, and societal impacts that occur throughout the material's life cycle are critical for determining the viability of lead-free alternatives. Risk screening approaches, such as the screening-level Emerging Materials Risk Analysis (EMRA) proposed in this work, may help researchers compare materials or material production routes to determine more sustainable solutions. As a first demonstration of its utility in the development of lead-free piezoelectrics, the approach introduced in this paper is applied to piezoelectric HfO2 (hafnia) to compare mining and processing routes and to elucidate the more sustainable route for HfO2 production. This paper aims to exemplify how the EMRA risk screening approach incorporates perspectives on environmental, health, and societal impacts into the materials research process by providing a relative risk screening evaluation of different material processing routes and/or different materials. Results from applying EMRA to hafnia show that the major known environmental impacts of hafnia mining and processing involve ecosystem destruction and heavy use of fossil fuels and electricity; health impacts related to potentially unsafe working conditions and potential exposure to radioactive elements; and societal impacts including land disputes and supply concerns. Results also demonstrate that the more sustainable production route currently available includes commercial wet mining with land rehabilitation followed by beneficiation via wet processes with consistent personal protective equipment use and water recycling. Almost all of the previously-mentioned impacts are avoided in this life cycle route. Outcomes from this analysis identify hafnia as a potentially sustainable replacement for certain applications of PZT and therefore encourage continued development of the material. Future efforts will test EMRA on a wide variety of other materials and revise the approach accordingly. | Risk Screening, Life Cycle, Material Development, Hafnia, Piezoelectrics | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214993722001385 | 10.1016/j.susmat.2022.e00524 | 11/25/2022 | 10.1016/j.susmat.2022.e00524 | Sustainable Materials and Technologies | |||||
| Leveraging a natural murine meiotic drive to suppress invasive populations | Gierus, L... Godwin, J. et al. Leveraging a natural murine meiotic drive to suppress invasive populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Nov. 15 2022, 119 (46); DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213308119. PDF | John Godwin | 2022 | SignificanceInvasive rodents pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, contributing to countless extinctions, particularly on islands. Genetic biocontrol has considerable potential to control invasive populations but has not been developed in mice. Here, we develop a suppression gene drive strategy for mice that leverages a modified naturally occurring element with biased transmission to spread faulty copies of a haplosufficient female fertility gene (tCRISPR). In silico modeling of island populations using a range of realistic parameters predicts robust eradication. We also demonstrate proof of concept for this strategy in laboratory mice. This work marks a significant step toward the development of a gene drive for the suppression of invasive mice.AbstractInvasive rodents are a major cause of environmental damage and biodiversity loss, particularly on islands. Unlike insects, genetic biocontrol strategies including population-suppressing gene drives with biased inheritance have not been developed in mice. Here, we demonstrate a gene drive strategy (tCRISPR) that leverages super-Mendelian transmission of the t haplotype to spread inactivating mutations in a haplosufficient female fertility gene (Prl). Using spatially explicit individual-based in silico modeling, we show that tCRISPR can eradicate island populations under a range of realistic field-based parameter values. We also engineer transgenic tCRISPR mice that, crucially, exhibit biased transmission of the modified t haplotype and Prl mutations at levels our modeling predicts would be sufficient for eradication. This is an example of a feasible gene drive system for invasive alien rodent population control. | Genetic Biocontrol, Gene Drive, Invasive Rodents, Conservation, Modeling | https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2213308119 | 10.1073/pnas.2213308119 | 11/15/2022 | 10.1073/pnas.2213308119 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | |||||
| Direct and indirect impacts of synthetic biology on biodiversity conservation | Macfarlane, N. B. W., Adams, J., Bennett, E. L., Brooks, T. M., Delborne, J. A., Eggermont, H., Endy, D., Esvelt, K. M., Kolodziejczyk, B., Kuiken, T. et al. (2022). Direct and indirect impacts of synthetic biology on biodiversity conservation. iScience, 25(11). doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105423. PDF. Graphical abstract | Jason Delborne | 2022 | The world’s biodiversity is in crisis. Synthetic biology has the potential to transform biodiversity conservation, both directly and indirectly, in ways that are negative and positive. However, applying these biotechnology tools to environmental questions is fraught with uncertainty and could harm cultures, rights, livelihoods, and nature. Decisions about whether or not to use synthetic biology for conservation should be understood alongside the reality of ongoing biodiversity loss. In 2022, the 196 Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity are negotiating the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will guide action by governments and other stakeholders for the next decade to conserve the worlds’ biodiversity. To date, synthetic biologists, conservationists, and policy makers have operated in isolation. At this critical time, this review brings these diverse perspectives together and emerges out of the need for a balanced and inclusive examination of the potential application of these technologies to biodiversity conservation. | Global Change, Environmental Management, Nature Conservation, Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105423 | 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105423 | 11/18/2022 | 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105423 | iScience | |||||
| Public Acceptability and Stakeholder Engagement for Genetic Control Technologies | Thizy, D., Carter, L., Coche, I., Delborne, J. A., et al. (2022). Public Acceptability and Stakeholder Engagement for Genetic Control Technologies. Transgenic Insects, 474–492. doi: 10.1079/9781800621176.0024 | Jason Delborne | 2022 | Genetic Control, Invasive Species, Public Engagement, Stakeholders, Transgenic Insects | https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/9781800621176.0024 | 10.1079/9781800621176.0024 | 11/3/2022 | 10.1079/9781800621176.0024 | Transgenic Insects | ||||||
| Life‐history stage and the population genetics of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus at a fine spatial scale. | Reed, E. M., Reiskind, M. H., & Burford Reiskind, M. O. (2023). Life‐history stage and the population genetics of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus at a fine spatial scale. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 37(1), 132-142. doi: 10.1111/mve.12618. PDF | Martha Burford Reiskind | 2022 | As a widespread vector of disease with an expanding range, the mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) is a high priority for research and management. A. albopictus has a complex life history with aquatic egg, larval and pupal stages, and a terrestrial adult stage. This requires targeted management strategies for each life stage, coordinated across time and space. Population genetics can aid in A. albopictus control by evaluating patterns of genetic diversity and dispersal. However, how life stage impacts population genetic characteristics is unknown. We examined whether patterns of A. albopictus genetic diversity and differentiation changed with life stage at a spatial scale relevant to management efforts. We first conducted a literature review of field-caught A. albopictus population genetic papers and identified 101 peer-reviewed publications, none of which compared results between life stages. Our study uniquely examines population genomic patterns of egg and adult A. albopictus at five sites in Wake County, North Carolina, USA, using 8425 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We found that the level of genetic diversity and connectivity between sites varied between adults and eggs. This warrants further study and is critical for research aimed at informing local management. | This study investigates how the genetic diversity and connectivity of the Aedes albopictus mosquito, a widespread disease vector, vary between its egg and adult life stages at a local scale in Wake County, North Carolina. The findings reveal significant differences between these stages, highlighting the need for more tailored and stage-specific strategies in managing mosquito populations. This unique research contributes to a better understanding of mosquito population dynamics, which is crucial for effective local disease control efforts. | Aedes albopictus, invasive species, life stage, mosquito population genetics | https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mve.12618 | 10.1111/mve.12618. | 10/27/2022 | 10.1111/mve.12618. | Medical and Veterinary Entomology | ||||
| Eradication of Commelina benghalensis in a long-term experiment using a multistakeholder governance model: A case of regulatory concerns defeating ecological management success | Leon, R., Creamer, N., Reberg-Horton, S., & Franzluebbers, A. (2022). Eradication of Commelina benghalensis in a long-term experiment using a multistakeholder governance model: A case of regulatory concerns defeating ecological management success. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 15(3), 152-159. doi: 10.1017/inp.2022.23. PDF | Ramon Leon | 2022 | Tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis L.) is a noxious invasive species and was detected in a long-term experiment in a research farm in Goldsboro, NC. A multistakeholder governance model was used to address the invasion of this species. Regulators insisted on the use of fumigation in all fields, but after intense negotiations, a multi-tier eradication plan was designed and implemented, allowing fumigation outside the long-term experiment and a combination of integrated approaches (including physical removal) and intense monitoring and mapping for long-term experimental fields. In the long-term experiment, C. benghalensis populations decreased logarithmically from more than 50,000 plants in approximately 80 ha in 2005 to 19 plants in less than 1 ha in 2019, with a projection of full eradication by 2024. Despite these results, which were considered to be proof of successful ecological management by university researchers, regulators decided to fumigate the fields containing the remaining 19 plants. This decision was made because regulators considered factors such as professional liability and control efficacy. This created serious disagreements between the different stakeholders who participated in the design of the original plan. Despite the goodwill all parties exhibited at the beginning of the governance process, there were important shortcomings that likely contributed to the disagreements at the end. For example, the plan did not include specific milestones, and there was no clarity about what acceptable progress was based on (i.e., plant numbers or the rate of population decline). Also, no financial limits were established, which made administrators concerned about the financial burden the eradication program had become over time. Multistakeholder governance can effectively address plant invasions, but proper definition of progress and the point at which the program must be modified are critical for success, and all this must be done within a governance model that balances power in the decision-making process. | Decision, Fumigation, Invasion, Mapping, Monitoring, Negotiation, Scouting | https://doi.org/10.1017/inp.2022.23 | 10.1017/inp.2022.23 | 9/22/2022 | 10.1017/inp.2022.23 | Commelina benghalensis | |||||
| How can we promote the responsible innovation of nano-agrifood research? | Merck, A. W., Grieger, K. D., and Kuzma, J.. How can we promote the responsible innovation of nano-agrifood research? Environmental Science & Policy 137, 2022. 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.08.027 PDF. Graphical Abstract | Ashton Merck, Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | The use of nanotechnology and engineered nanomaterials in food and agriculture (nano-agrifoods) may provide numerous benefits to society. At the same time, there is also a chance that nano-agrifood innovations may pose new or unknown risks to human or environmental health and safety. To understand these issues and be more responsive to public concerns, researchers are beginning to discuss and adopt an emerging best practice in science and technology communities known as “responsible innovation� (RI). Originally developed by researchers over ten years ago, RI is now a well-established framework that is already a part of science policymaking in the European Union (as “responsible research and innovation�). In the United States, however, there are numerous structural and institutional barriers for scientists to align their research with RI principles and goals. This perspective briefly reviews RI, why it is needed for nano-agrifoods, and how it could be institutionalized more effectively in the U.S. to ensure that future nano-agrifood research is better aligned with societal needs, expectations, and concerns. This work also identifies several pathways to institutionalize RI in nano-agrifoods, ranging from a public legal mandate to privately enforced organizational norms. Further, a set of strategies and/or best practices for implementing RI in the U.S. context is presented that are applicable to both public and private organizations. While key findings from this work are focused on the need for RI of nano-agrifoods in the U.S., implementation of these best practices could have positive benefits for other emerging technologies and in other national contexts as well. | Nanotechnology, Nano-Agrifoods, Responsible Innovation, Policy | https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1fknS5Ce0rj~zN | 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.08.027 | 9/12/2022 | 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.08.027 | Environmental Science & Policy | |||||
| Implementing responsible research and innovation: a case study of U.S. biotechnology oversight | Kuzma, J. Implementing responsible research and innovation: a case study of U.S. biotechnology oversight. Global Public Policy and Governance: 1-19. (2022). doi: 10.1007/s43508-022-00046-x ( | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | This article explores two research questions through a case study of U.S. biotechnology oversight: why visions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) are difficult to implement in governance systems for emerging technologies, and how to get policies and programs to overcome barriers to RRI implementation on the national policy agenda. Recent research on barriers to RRI is first reviewed to categorize the types of barriers. Key barriers center around meso- and macro-level institutional and societal forces that disincentivize RRI in innovation systems, as well as micro-level attitudinal and capacity barriers. These barriers point to policy changes that are likely needed to implement RRI in governance systems, in particular incentives for RRI from national funding organizations. However, getting RRI on the policy agenda for biotechnology may be difficult given macro-level socioeconomic and political forces. Therefore, the article uses insights from policy process theory to identify possible ways to get RRI on the national policy agenda. It identifies several ways to promote RRI in national policy-making, such as shifting the policy image of RRI, changing policy venues to encourage RRI, expanding the scope of RRI as a policy issue, and catalyzing focusing events to raise national awareness about RRI. | Responsible Research And Innovation (RRI), Governance Systems, Emerging Technologies | https://rdcu.be/cVFxA | 10.1007/s43508-022-00046-x | 9/1/2022 | 10.1007/s43508-022-00046-x | Global Public Policy and Governance | |||||
| Toward product-based regulation of crops | Fred Gould, et al. "Toward product-based regulation of crops." Science 377, 1051 (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo3034 | Fred Gould | 2022 | Much effort has been expended globally over the past four decades to craft and update country-specific and multinational safety regulations that can be applied to crops developed by genetic engineering processes, while exempting conventionally bred crops. This differentiation made some sense in the 1980s, but in light of technological advances, it is no longer scientifically defensible. In the coming decades, innovations in genetic engineering and modern “conventional” processes of crop development will enable use of these approaches to alter more crops and more traits. Future governance of new plant varieties and foods, regardless of the processes and techniques used to develop them, will require new, scientifically sound assessment methodologies, developed in a manner acceptable to society. Here, we provide a rationale for one governance approach that moves away from current process-based regulation and uses newly developed molecular techniques that enable detailed characterization of the new crops and foods themselves. | Differentiations between crops developed conventionally vs via genetic engineering in safety regulations are outdated, as lines blur with emerging technologies like CRISPR. Current regulations focus on the size of the genetic change and its source, leading to inconsistent global rules. A shift should be made towards "omics-based" regulations, focusing on crop characteristics rather than the process used. Proposes an international, collaborative approach to governance of new crops and foods. | Product-Based Regulation, CRISPR, Bioengineered Crops | https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-704/full | 10.1126/science.abo3034 | 9/1/2022 | 10.1126/science.abo3034 | Science | ||||
| Considering the Case of Gene Drive Technologies through Social Science Theories on Stakeholder Engagement | Fugurson, J., & Delborne, J. A. (2022). Considering the Case of Gene Drive Technologies through Social Science Theories on Stakeholder Engagement (Gene Drive Research Forum). GeneConvene Global Collaborative. PDF | Jason Delborne, Jill Furgurson | 2022 | The Gene Drive Research Forum hosted a series of virtual panel discussions designed to provide an opportunity for social scientists, researchers and developers, funders, and other stakeholders interested in gene drive technologies to explore social science questions on stakeholder engagement. Over the course of five sessions, the panelists considered a variety of topics related to stakeholder engagement, including controversy and challenges; risk assessment; field trial site selection; the roleof consensus; and independence in funding and practices. | Gene Drive, Stakeholder Engagement, Social Science, Risk Assessment | https://fnih.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/GDRF Stakeholders Panel.pdf | 0 | 8/29/2022 | GeneConvene Global Collaborative | ||||||
| Making Space for Technology Governance | Kuzma, J.Making Space for Technology Governance.Issues in Science and Technology 38, no. 4 (Summer 2022). Retrieved from https://issues.org/technology-governance-mathews-fabi-offodile-forum/. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | A discussion of Imagining Governance for Emerging TechnologiesBY DEBRA J. H. MATHEWS, RACHEL FABI, ANAEZE C. OFFODILE II | Kuzma calls for better governance of emerging technologies, highlighting societal neglect of ethical implications due to technological optimism and capitalism. She suggests creating independent policy spaces, involving diverse perspectives and real decision-making authority, to ensure responsible and equitable technological futures. | Responsible Innovation, Societal Impacts, Governance | https://issues.org/technology-governance-mathews-fabi-offodile-forum/#forum-response-block_6303cfc1bcecf | 0 | 8/23/2022 | Issues in Science and Technology | |||||
| Chestnut Restoration and Tribal Sovereignty | Barnhill, K. | Katie Barnhill | 2022 | North American indigenous people once referred to the then ubiquitous American Chestnut tree as the “grandfather of the forest.” In this talk, Katie Barnhill, Ph.D., explores the history of chestnut’s importance to native people and to European settlers and the impact on the population and ecosystem of its functional extinction. Barnhill identifies biotechnology tools explored to genetically engineer a blight-resistant variety of the American Chestnut and the importance of considering Indigenous sovereignty in this fascinating restoration effort. | An exploration of the history of chestnut’s importance to native people and to European settlers and the impact on the population and ecosystem of its functional extinction. | American Chestnut Tree, Stakeholder Engagement, Forest Biotechnology, Wolpack Solutions | https://doi.org/10.52750/174449 | 10.52750/174449 | 8/22/2022 | 10.52750/174449 | Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions | ||||
| When Biotechnology Goes “Wild”: GE Chestnut Trees | Delborne, J. A. (2022). When Biotechnology Goes “Wild”: GE Chestnut Trees. Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions. DOI: 10.52750/260237 | Jason Delborne | 2022 | What does it mean when biotechnology moves from agricultural fields, dinner plates and pharmacies out into the “wild?” How do we make sense of controversies over GMOs (genetically modified organisms) when they are designed for public benefit and environmental restoration? Jason A. Delborne, Ph.D., explores the case of the genetically engineered (GE) American chestnut tree, which could be the first genetically modified organism (GMO) approved in the U.S. that is designed to spread and persist in unmanaged environments. Currently under regulatory review, the GE chestnut raises a host of ethical, political and social questions that require an interdisciplinary approach. Such complexity is what drives the research, teaching and outreach of NC State’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. | An exploration of the case of the genetically engineered (GE) American chestnut tree, which could be the first genetically modified organism (GMO) approved in the U.S. that is designed to spread and persist in unmanaged environments. | American Chestnut Tree, Stakeholder Engagement, Forest Biotechnology, Wolpack Solutions | https://doi.org/10.52750/260237 | 10.52750/260237 | 8/22/2022 | 10.52750/260237 | Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions | ||||
| STEPS to Tackle Our Phosphorus Paradox | Grieger, K. (2022). STEPS to Tackle Our Phosphorus Paradox. Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions. DOI: 10.52750/331886 | Khara Grieger | 2022 | Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for animals, plants and microbes. The current system to manage phosphorus is extremely inefficient. One major reason relates to the loss of phosphorus from the food chain, where it can bind to soils and transfer to animal wastes and run-off, which can lead to water pollution, algal blooms, eutrophication and even fish kills. Khara Grieger, Ph.D., argues that overall, our society needs more sustainable solutions to solve our global phosphorus paradox. The Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center, led by researchers at NC State and in partnership with several other institutions, aims to facilitate these solutions through combining science, technology and innovation together with social sciences, communication and stakeholder engagement. | The current system to manage phosphorus is extremely inefficient. One major reason relates to the loss of phosphorus from the food chain, where it can transfer to animal wastes and run-off, which can lead to water pollution, algal blooms, eutrophication and fish kills. | STEPS, Phosphorus, Food Supply, Agriculture, Wolpack Solutions | https://doi.org/10.52750/331886 | 10.52750/331886 | 8/22/2022 | 10.52750/331886 | Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions | ||||
| Responsible Innovation in Genetic Engineering | Kuzma, J. (2022). Responsible Innovation in Genetic Engineering. Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions. DOI: 10.52750/542577 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | As genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) become more ubiquitous in agricultural and environmental systems, it will be important for diverse publics to be informed about GEOs, where they occur in the food supply and ecosystem and what the societal impacts are likely to be. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is emerging as a set of principles and practices to give greater voice and choice to interested and affected publics well upstream of innovations entering the marketplace or environment. Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D., argues for the need for embedding RRI in innovation systems for emerging biotechnologies and explores the challenges for doing so and addresses the “wicked problem” of how RRI can coexist within biotechnology oversight systems that lean towards the values of innovators, anti-precaution, and techno-optimism. | As genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) become more ubiquitous in agricultural and environmental systems, it will be important for diverse publics to be informed about GEOs, where they occur in the food supply and ecosystem and what the societal impacts are likely to be. | Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Food Supply, Agriculture, Wolpack Solutions | https://doi.org/10.52750/542577 | 10.52750/542577 | 8/22/2022 | 10.52750/542577 | Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions | ||||
| Pathways to community timber production: A comparative analysis of two well-established community-based forest enterprises in Mexico and Brazil | Humphries, S., Kainer, K., Rodriguez-Ward, D., et al. (2022). “Pathways to community timber production: A comparative analysis of two well-established community-based forest enterprises in Mexico and Brazil” in Bulkan, J. Hobley, M., Larson, A. and J. Palmer, eds. Routledge Handbook on Community Forestry. DOI: 10.4324/9780367488710-7. PDF | Dawn Rodriguez-Ward | 2022 | In this chapter, we analyse two forest-based communities with well-established community-based forest enterprises (CFEs) for timber production: Noh-Bec, an ejido with 36 years of CFE experience in southeast Mexico; and Arimum, a community with 14 years of CFE experience in a federal extractive reserve in the Brazilian Amazon. We contrast their struggles for community rights to forests in each region and describe each CFE’s initiation and current implementation. We utilise the Community Capitals Framework to contextualise each community’s initial assets and identify the types of community forestry–related local investments made by community members and others, and examine ways in which changes in community capitals relate to three broad dimensions of these communities’ well-being. We find similarities in cultural ties to the forest, investments in social and built capital, and financial capital challenges. We find differences in sources of support as well as human and natural capital. We observe that engagement in forest management for timber production by these two communities has been an important way (but certainly not the only way) for them to harness and leverage investments in their community capitals, which, in turn, have contributed to improvements in well-being, especially material well-being in the form of income. | A comparative analysis of two well-established community-based forest enterprises in Mexico and Brazil | Timber, Community-based Forest Enterprises (CFEs), Community Rights, Stakeholder Engagement | https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780367488710-7/pathways-community-timber-production-shoana-humphries-karen-kainer-dawn-rodriguez-ward-ana-luiza-violato-espada-thomas-holmes-pascual-blanco-reyes-jones-da-silva-santos-maria-margarida-ribeiro-da-silva | 10.4324/9780367488710-7 | 7/15/2022 | 10.4324/9780367488710-7/pathways-community-timber-production-shoana-humphries-karen-kainer-dawn-rodriguez-ward-ana-luiza-violato-espada-thomas-holmes-pascual-blanco-reyes-jones-da-silva-santos-maria-margarida-ribeiro-da-silva | Routledge Handbook on Community Forestry | ||||
| Distributional policy impacts, WTP-WTA disparities, and the Kaldor-Hicks tests in benefit-cost analysis | Brown, Z. S. (2022). Distributional policy impacts, WTP-WTA disparities, and the Kaldor-Hicks tests in benefit-cost analysis. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 113, 102654. doi: 10.1016/j.jeem.2022.102654. | Governance of Gene-edited Plants: Insights from the History of Biotechnology Oversight and Policy Process Theory | Kuzma, J. (2022). Governance of Gene-edited Plants: Insights from the History of Biotechnology Oversight and Policy Process Theory. Science, Technology, & Human Values. doi: 10.1177/01622439221108225. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | The history of US biotechnology oversight for genetically modified plants is analyzed in the context of policy process theories to derive insights for contemporary governance of gene-edited plants. The Advocacy Coalition Framework sheds light on how opposing coalitions with different policy beliefs struggled to influence oversight, along with coalition disputes over the scope of issues that should be considered in regulatory policy-making. The Multiple Streams Approach and Punctuated Equilibrium Theory explain how focusing events arising from these struggles opened “windows of opportunity� to put issues on the public policy agenda and force changes to oversight over time. For example, nongovernmental organizations had a prominent role in bringing legal challenges through federal courts or in raising attention to risk issues in the media—efforts that prompted advancements in federal regulations, guidance documents, or risk-mitigation practices for biotechnology oversight. These policy dynamics depended on public information to bring controversies to light and elicit a policy response. However, recent biotech regulations allow for gene-edited crops to enter the marketplace without requirements for public disclosure or tracking. Lack of transparency jeopardizes the public legitimacy of gene-edited crops, venues for public participation in biotechnology oversight, and ultimately responsiveness to adapt oversight to future biotech products and emerging risks. | The study delves into gene-editing policy, drawing on biotech history and policy theories. It uncovers how past conflicts and transformative events led to regulatory advancements. However, it raises concerns about the current lack of transparency for gene-edited crops, suggesting this could undermine public trust and hamper adaptation to future biotech products. The findings highlight the policy process's critical role in responsibly guiding gene-editing technology's evolution. | Genome Editing, Policy Process Theory, Biotechnology, Regulation, Governance, GMO | https://doi.org/10.1177/01622439221108225 | 10.1177/01622439221108225 | 6/29/2022 | 10.1177/01622439221108225 | Science, Technology, & Human Values | ||
| Informing Environmental Health and Risk Priorities through Local Outreach and Extension | Grieger, K., Cummings, C.L. 2022. Informing Environmental Health and Risk Priorities through Local Outreach and Extension. Environment Systems and Decisions doi: 10.1007/s10669-022-09864-0 PDF | Khara Grieger, Christopher L. Cummings | 2022 | Our society is currently facing an unprecedented number of environmental and societal challenges. Stakeholder and community engagement can help identify priority issues and needs at local levels. One approach to engage stakeholders and communities in the contexts of environmental, health, and societal challenges is to leverage outreach and extension programs. Within this context, and to help identify priority issues to focus subsequent research and extension programs in North Carolina (NC), a survey was conducted with extension agents to identify priority issues as they relate to environmental health and risks and related needs. Based on responses from 66 study participants that represented half of the 100 NC counties, we found that Water pollution, Flooding, Natural resources management, and Engaging stakeholders were top priority issues across all environmental health and risk topics. Participants also identified that practices of Engaging stakeholders as well as Assessing, Managing, and Communicating risks were increasingly important. Participants indicated they needed a moderate-to-significant amount of guidance across a range of areas related to assessing, managing, communicating, andmaking decisions regarding environmental health and risk topics, as well as engaging with local communities. Outcomes from this work can not only help inform subsequent research and outreach efforts at local scales, but this work demonstrates a simple, low-cost approach to elicit perspectives and priorities can be leveraged in other states and regions with established stakeholder and community outreach programs more broadly | Environmental Health, Risks, Priorities, North Carolina, Extension | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-022-09864-0 | 10.1007/s10669-022-09864-0 | 6/2/2022 | 10.1007/s10669-022-09864-0 | Environment Systems and Decisions | |||||
| What Role Does Regulation Play in Responsible Innovation of Nanotechnology in Food and Agriculture? Insights and Framings from U.S. Stakeholders | Merck, A. W., Grieger, K. D., Cuchiara, M., & Kuzma, J. (2022). What Role Does Regulation Play in Responsible Innovation of Nanotechnology in Food and Agriculture? Insights and Framings from U.S. Stakeholders. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society. doi: 10.1177/02704676221102066. PDF | Ashton Merck, Khara Grieger, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | Historically, market regulation has played an important role in shaping the trajectory of scientific and technological innovation in food and agriculture. However, regulators’ traditional focus on safety and efficacy may be insufficient to address more complex ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of novel products, such as the use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in food and agriculture (nano-agrifoods). One solution might be to implement the principles of responsible innovation (RI) to challenge innovators and policymakers to better anticipate risks further upstream and be responsive to societal desires and concerns, although substantial barriers to implementation persist. This paper presents stakeholder views on the relationship between regulation and RI in nano-agrifoods based on a broader U.S. stakeholder engagement study conducted in the fall of 2020. We found that participants raised key issues that incorporated all 4 pillars of RI (anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, responsiveness). We also found that participants’ attitudes about the relationship between regulation and innovation informed their recommendations about the relationship between regulation and RI. These attitudes are represented in a spectrum of views, ranging from “regulation as barrier� to “regulation as driver� of innovation. We further identified implications for how each attitude might be used to operationalize RI in regulatory systems. Overall, these results suggest that just as regulation drove key innovations in the twentieth century, regulation may still have a role to play in helping to promote RI of nano-agrifoods in the twenty-first. | Responsible Innovation, Stakeholder Engagement, Nanotechnology, Food & Agriculture, Regulation | https://doi.org/10.1177/02704676221102066 | 10.1177/02704676221102066 | 6/2/2022 | 10.1177/02704676221102066 | Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society | |||||
| Who Trusts in Gene-Edited Foods? Analysis of a Representative Survey Study Predicting Willingness to Eat- and Purposeful Avoidance of Gene Edited Foods in the United States | Cummings C. and Peters D.J. Who Trusts in Gene-Edited Foods? Analysis of a Representative Survey Study Predicting Willingness to Eat- and Purposeful Avoidance of Gene Edited Foods in the United States. Front. Food. Sci. Technol. 2:858277. 01 June 2022. doi: 10.3389/frfst.2022.858277 . PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2022 | CRISPR-Cas, ZFN, and TALEN provide gene editing opportunities which may lead to new food and agricultural products with identifiable benefits for end-use consumers. Given the public perceptions and backlash faced by previous generations of genetically modified food products, there is a lot of speculation regarding how gene edited food products will come to be understood, and if they will be accepted or avoided by society. This study provides timely and reliable data which reports representative coordinated study of the United States public as to what factors influence their willingness to eat- or purposeful avoidance of gene-edited foods. This study fills this gap to identify influential factors which, in concert, help to explain not only if members of the public trust GEF and are willing to eat GEF foods or choose to avoid them, but why they hold the trust attitudes they do. From our analysis, we find that social values, institutional trust, and awareness are the most important factors in why Americans would choose to either eat or avoid gene edited foods. Surprisingly, the public’s attitudes about the tangible characteristics of food (such as safety, cost, taste, and appearance) had no bearing on GE food perceptions. This helps explains why the American public makes little distinction between willingness to eat processed or raw foods made with GE crops. | Gene Edited Food, Trust, Representative Survey, Food, Public Opinion | https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2022.858277 | 10.3389/frfst.2022.858277 | 6/1/2022 | 10.3389/frfst.2022.858277 | Front. Food. Sci. Technol. | |||||
| Lessons for a SECURE Future: Evaluating Diversity in Crop Biotechnology Across Regulatory Regimes | George D.R., Hornstein E.D., Clower C.A., Coomber A.L., Dilliard D., Mugwanya N., Pezzini D.T., and Rozowski C. Lessons for a SECURE Future: Evaluating Diversity in Crop Biotechnology Across Regulatory Regimes. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 02 May 2022. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.886765. PDF. | Dalton George, Eli Hornstein, Carrie Clower, Allison Coomber, DeShae Dillard, Nassib Mugwanya, Daniela Pezzini, Casey Rozowski | 2022 | Regulation of next-generation crops in the United States under the newly implemented “SECURE� rule promises to diversify innovation in agricultural biotechnology. Specifically, SECURE promises to expand the number of products eligible for regulatory exemption, which proponents theorize will increase the variety of traits, genes, organisms, and developers involved in developing crop biotechnology. However, few data-driven studies have looked back at the history of crop biotechnology to understand how specific regulatory pathways have affected diversity in crop biotechnology and how those patterns might change over time. In this article, we draw upon 30 years of regulatory submission data to 1) understand historical diversification trends across the landscape and history of past crop biotechnology regulatory pathways and 2) forecast how the new SECURE regulations might affect future diversification trends. Our goal is to apply an empirical approach to exploring the relationship between regulation and diversity in crop biotechnology and provide a basis for future data-driven analysis of regulatory outcomes. Based on our analysis, we suggest that diversity in crop biotechnology does not follow a single trajectory dictated by the shifts in regulation, and outcomes of SECURE might be more varied and restrictive despite the revamped exemption categories. In addition, the concept of confidential business information and its relationship to past and future biotechnology regulation is reviewed in light of our analysis. | Crop Biotechnology, SECURE Rule, Regulation, Diversity Trends, Innovation, United States | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.886765/full | 10.3389/fbioe.2022.886765 | 5/2/2022 | 10.3389/fbioe.2022.886765 | Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. | |||||
| Bioaccumulation and Translocation of 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonate, GenX, and Perfluoroalkyl Acids by Urban Spontaneous Plants | Zhi Y., Lu H., Grieger K.D., et al. Bioaccumulation and Translocation of 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonate, GenX, and Perfluoroalkyl Acids by Urban Spontaneous Plants. ACS ES&T Engineering Article. April 18, 2022. DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.1c00423. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2022 | There is limited information available regarding the bioaccumulation potential of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in urban vegetation. Using a controlled greenhouse exposure setting, we investigated the bioaccumulation and translocation of select PFAS in four common urban spontaneous plants. Target compounds included legacy PFAS (perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids, PFCA/PFSA), a fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), and an emerging fluorinated ether (i.e., hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), or GenX). Results from this study showed that bioaccumulation factors in root and shoot (BCFroot and BCFshoot) ranged from 0.7 to 83.6 and 0.95 to 26.9, respectively. Phyllanthus urinaria harbored the highest PFAS bioaccumulation capacity among the four urban weed species. The log BCFroot of PFCA homologues showed a concave shape as a function of chain length, while log BCFroot of PFSA increased with chain length. The BCFroot of GenX was lower than that of PFOA; likewise, 6:2 FTS bioaccumulated to a less extent than PFOS. Root uptake seemed to be the dominant accumulation mechanism for the shorter-chain compounds, whereas adsorption was the dominant mechanism for longer-chain compounds such as PFOA. BCFroot and BCFshoot showed consistent trends in response to foliar and root characteristics. Leaf area and average root diameter were the most correlated traits with PFAS bioaccumulation factors, with higher BCF values for plants with smaller leaves and finer roots. This study also provides an important basis for the role and selection of urban weeds in future PFAS bioaccumulation and translocation studies within urban settings. | GenX (HFPO-DA), 6:2 FTS, Urban Spontaneous Plants, Bioaccumulation, Phytoremediation | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsestengg.1c00423 | 10.1021/acsestengg.1c00423 | 4/18/2022 | 10.1021/acsestengg.1c00423 | ACS ES&T Engineering Article | |||||
| Formulating best practices for responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods through stakeholder insights and reflection | Grieger K., Merck A., Kuzma K. (2022) Formulating best practices for responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods through stakeholder insights and reflection. Journal of Responsible Technology 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jrt.2022.100030. PDF Graphical abstract | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | Nanotechnology in food and agriculture (nano-agrifoods) may provide numerous benefits to society. At the same time, previous experiences have demonstrated the importance of innovating responsibly. This study reports on stakeholder-identified actions to address concerns about nano-agrifoods and actions to ensure their responsible innovation (RI). We find stakeholders largely supported actions to address risk and safety, followed by governance actions, the examination of ‘need,’ and identification of clear benefits. Participants also indicated no actions would address their concerns in several cases, largely for nano-in food products without a clear ‘need’ and risk/benefit comparisons. We conclude by highlighting four best practices to foster RI of nano-agrifoods, with relevancy for other novel agrifood technologies, including the institutionalization of RI, education and training next generation of researchers and innovators, use of tiered approaches to implement RI principles at different levels and degrees, and incorporation of monitoring and learning systems to improve RI practices | Discusses stakeholder-identified actions for responsible innovation (RI) in nano-agrifoods, a field with potential benefits and risks. The research highlights four best practices: institutionalizing RI, training future researchers and innovators, implementing RI principles at different levels using a tiered approach, and introducing monitoring and learning systems to improve RI practices. These insights are relevant not just for nano-agrifoods, but for other novel agrifood technologies as well. | Nanotechnology, Food, Agriculture, Stakeholders, Responsible Innovation | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666659622000075 | 10.1016/j.jrt.2022.100030 | 4/5/2022 | 10.1016/j.jrt.2022.100030 | Journal of Responsible Technology | ||||
| Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants—The Case of Nanomaterials | Baun A., Grieger K. (2022) Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants—The Case of Nanomaterials. In: Guo LH., Mortimer M. (eds) Advances in Toxicology and Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials and Emerging Contaminants. Springer, Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-9116-4_15. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2022 | Risk assessment is a powerful tool to help evaluate potential environmental and health risks of novel materials. However, traditional risk assessment frameworks and methods often face significant challenges when evaluating novel materials due to uncertainties and data gaps. Engineered nanomaterials is one prominent example of new, advanced materials whereby scientists, researchers and decision-makers are still discussing best practices to modify and update risk assessment frameworks after nearly two decades of research. This chapter focuses on how early warning signs within the environmental risk assessment development process for nanomaterials were addressed with a focus on characterizing uncertainty. We shed light on how environmental risk assessment of nanomaterials transitioned from a state of “known unknowns� to data-driven inputs to conducting risk assessments. We also discuss ecotoxicological testing considerations, and in particular how methodological and technical challenges were addressed. Finally, we provide recommendations on how best to transfer identified best practices and knowledge to other emerging technologies and advanced materials. | Risk Assessment, Nanomaterials, Uncertainty, Hazard, Exposure | https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-9116-4_15 "_blank">Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants—The Case of Nanomaterials | 10.1007/978-981-16-9116-4_15 | 3/12/2022 | 10.1007/978-981-16-9116-4_15 | Advances in Toxicology and Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials and Emerging Contaminants | |||||
| Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures | Hannah Star Rogers et al. Art's Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures. Leonardo 2022; 55 (1): 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01966. Access PDF. Go to Art's Work/Genetic Futures website. | Hannah Star Rogers | 2022 | Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Futures is a multisite exhibition that explores art’s relationship to biotechnology. The main exhibition was held at North Carolina State University, October 2019–March 2020, and was sponsored by the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, the North Carolina State University Libraries and the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. The project included a Field Trial exhibition at Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (CAM Raleigh), a related interdisciplinary planning symposium and installations at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, the D.H. Hill Jr. Library, the Hunt Library and the North Carolina Museum of Art’s (NCMA) Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, as well as a response symposium. The exhibition aimed to elicit discussion about genetics in society through provocative contemporary art and to offer viewers new ways to think about their role in the genetic revolution. Artists addressed questions often set aside in scientific conversations about biotechnology, including questions of access, sex and gender, race, the rights and roles of animals and the involvement of corporations. | Art's Work/Genetic Futures, Exhibition, SciArt, Contemporary Art | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/artswork-article-leonardo-2022/ | 10.1162/leon_a_01966 | 2/28/2022 | 10.1162/leon_a_01966 | Leonardo | |||||
| Should Gene Editing Be Used to Develop Crops for Continuous-Living-Cover Agriculture? A Multi-Sector Stakeholder Assessment Using a Cooperative Governance Approach | Jordan, N.R., Kuzma, J., Ray, D.K., Foot, K., Snider, M., Miller, K., et al. (2022) Should Gene Editing Be Used to Develop Crops for Continuous-Living-Cover Agriculture? A Multi-Sector Stakeholder Assessment Using a Cooperative Governance Approach. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 10. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.843093 PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | Continuous-living-cover (CLC) agriculture integrates multiple crops to create diversified agroecosystems in which soils are covered by living plants across time and space continuously. CLC agriculture can greatly improve production of many different ecosystem services from agroecosystems, including climate adaptation and mitigation. To go to scale, CLC agriculture requires crops that not only provide continuous living cover but are viable in economic and social terms. At present, lack of such viable crops is strongly limiting the scaling of CLC agriculture. Gene editing (GE) might provide a powerful tool for developing the crops needed to expand CLC agriculture to scale. To assess this possibility, a broad multi-sector deliberative group considered the merits of GE—relative to alternative plant-breeding methods—as means for improving crops for CLC agriculture. The group included many of the sectors whose support is necessary to scaling agricultural innovations, including actors involved in markets, finance, policy, and R&D. In this article, we report findings from interviews and deliberative workshops. Many in the group were enthusiastic about prospects for applications of GE to develop crops for CLC agriculture, relative to alternative plant-breeding options. However, the group noted many issues, risks, and contingencies, all of which are likely to require responsive and adaptive management. Conversely, if these issues, risks, and contingencies cannot be managed, it appears unlikely that a strong multi-sector base of support can be sustained for such applications, limiting their scaling. Emerging methods for responsible innovation and scaling have potential to manage these issues, risks, and contingencies; we propose that outcomes from GE crops for CLC agriculture are likely to be much improved if these emerging methods are used to govern such projects. However, both GE of CLC crops and responsible innovation and scaling are unrefined innovations. Therefore, we suggest that the best pathway for exploring GE of CLC crops is to intentionally couple implementation and refinement of both kinds of innovations. More broadly, we argue that such pilot projects are urgently needed to navigate intensifying grand challenges around food and agriculture, which are likely to create intense pressures to develop genetically-engineered agricultural products and equally intense social conflict. | Emerging Biotechnologies, Gene Editing, Continuous-Living-Cover (CLC) Crops, Cooperative Governance, Stakeholder Engagement | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2022.843093 | 10.3389/fbioe.2022.843093 | 2/25/2022 | 10.3389/fbioe.2022.843093 | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | |||||
| Fostering Responsible Innovation through Stakeholder Engagement: Case Study of North Carolina Sweetpotato Stakeholders | Grieger, K., Zarate, S., Barnhill, S.K., Hunt, S., Jones, D., Kuzma, J. 2022. Fostering Responsible Innovation through Stakeholder Engagement: Case Study of North Carolina Sweetpotato Stakeholders. Sustainability, 14, 2274. doi: 10.3390/su14042274 PDF | Khara Grieger, Sebastian Zarate, Katie Barnhill, Daniela Jones, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | Stakeholder and community engagement are critical for the successful development of new technologies that aim to be integrated into sustainable agriculture systems. This study reports on an approach used to engage stakeholders within the sweetpotato community in North Carolina to understand their preferences, needs, and concerns as they relate to a new sensing and diagnostic platform. This work also demonstrates an example of real-time technology assessment that also fosters responsible innovation through inclusivity and responsiveness. Through the conduction of 29 interviews with sweetpotato stakeholders in North Carolina, we found that participants found the most value in detecting external sweetpotato characteristics, as well as the ability to use or connect to a smartphone that can be used in field. They also found value in including environmental parameters and having a Spanish language module. Most participants indicated that they were comfortable with sharing data as long as it benefited the greater North Carolina sweetpotato industry, and were concerned with sharing these data with “outside� competitors. We also observed differences and variations between stakeholder groups. Overall, this work demonstrates a relatively simple, low-cost approach to eliciting stakeholder needs within a local agricultural context to improve sustainability, an approach that could be leveraged and transferred to other local agrifood systems. | Responsible Innovation, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Sweetpotatoes | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2274 | 10.3390/su14042274 | 2/17/2022 | 10.3390/su14042274 | Sustainability | |||||
| Narrative policy framework at the macro level—cultural theory-based beliefs, science-based narrative strategies, and their uptake in the Canadian policy process for genetically modified salmon | Williams TT, Kuzma J. Narrative policy framework at the macro level—cultural theory-based beliefs, science-based narrative strategies, and their uptake in the Canadian policy process for genetically modified salmon. Public Policy and Administration. February 2022. doi:10.1177/09520767211065609 | Teshanee Williams, Jennifer Kuzma | 2022 | This study utilizes the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and cultural theory to examine the use of policy narratives by coalitions (meso-level) and the institutional uptake (macro-level). We analyze Parliamentary hearings about genetically modified (GM) salmon in Canada to associate narrative strategies with certain cultural worldviews and policy-stances. We explore narrative strategies used by cultural groups with regard to whether they contain the scope of GM salmon issues to “science-only� (direct health and environmental impacts) or expand the issues to “science-plus� (to include broader economic, social, or cultural impacts). Finally, we examine whether certain framings of GM salmon issues or specific cultural narratives are preferentially taken up in the final policy documents generated after the hearings. Our findings reveal significant relationships between policy-stance (pro-vs anti-GM), the cultural disposition of a policy narrative, the narrative strategies being used, and ultimately policy uptake. For example, narratives with hierarchical cultural dispositions were more likely to expand the scope of the issue to science-plus when supporting their own policy position (typically pro-GM) but contain the scope to “science-only� when refuting an anti-GM policy-stance. With regard to policy uptake, final government documents referred more to narratives that contained the scope to “science-only� and expressed hierarchical or individualistic dispositions in comparison to the hearings. This study has practical implications for understanding whose perspectives and arguments are legitimized in national policy debates about GM foods. It also extends NPF theory to how narratives containing specific cultural dispositions and risk-based framings influence policy uptake at the macro-level. | Narrative Policy Framework, Cultural Theory, Genetically Modified Food | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09520767211065609 | 10.1177/09520767211065609 | 2/14/2022 | 10.1177/09520767211065609 | Public Policy and Administration | |||||
| Eliciting stakeholder perceptions using a novel online engagement platform: A case study on nano-agrifoods | Ruzante, J. M., Shumaker, E. T., Holt, S., Mayer, S., Kokotovich, A., Cuchiara, M., Binder, A. R., Kuzma, J., & Grieger, K. (2022). Eliciting stakeholder perceptions using a novel online engagement platform: A case study on nano-agrifoods. RTI Press. RTI Press Occasional Paper No. OP-0071-2201. doi: 10.3768/rtipress.2022.op.0071.2201 PDF | Adam Kokotovich, Andrew Binder, Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger | 2022 | Stakeholder engagement is an important component in developing policies on critical issues such as the use and development of novel methods and technologies, including biotechnologies and nanotechnologies. Understanding the perspectives, needs, and concerns of stakeholder groups can facilitate the development of transparent and trusted policy recommendations. Innovative online research platforms have been developed as alternatives to typical stakeholder engagement methods such as in-person focus groups, interviews, and online and paper surveys. These platforms facilitate the engagement of geographically and linguistically (i.e., individuals who speak different languages) diverse stakeholders using a wide range of methods, from virtual focus groups to surveys. Stakeholders can participate at their own leisure and anonymously, which can facilitate more open interactions on issues where viewpoints may differ. In this work, we used an online stakeholder engagement platform (OSEP) to engage stakeholders and capture their perceptions and views about the application of nanotechnology in food and agriculture (nano-agrifood) and the role of responsible innovation in the development of nano-agrifood products. The OSEP provided a reliable and interactive environment for stakeholders to share their views and exchange ideas. Such OSEPs should be further explored as novel tools for engaging stakeholders on a range of issues from emerging technologies to public health. | Stakeholder Engagement, Nanotechnology, Governance, Responsible Innovation, Food, Agriculture | https://www.rti.org/rti-press-publication/nanotechnology-in-food | 10.3768/rtipress.2022.op.0071.2201 | 1/31/2022 | 10.3768/rtipress.2022.op.0071.2201 | RTI Press | |||||
| Stakeholder engagement to inform the risk assessment and governance of gene drive technology to manage spotted-wing drosophila | Kokotovich, A.E., Barnhill, S.K., Elsensohn, J.E., Li, R., Delborne, J.A., Burrack, H.. Stakeholder engagement to inform the risk assessment and governance of gene drive technology to manage spotted-wing drosophila. Journal of Environmental Management (2022). doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114480. PDF | Adam Kokotovich, Katie Barnhill, Johanna Elsensohn, Jason Delborne, Hannah Burrack | 2022 | Emerging biotechnologies, such as gene drive technology, are increasingly being proposed to manage a variety of pests and invasive species. As one method of genetic biocontrol, gene drive technology is currently being developed to manage the invasive agricultural pest spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii, SWD). While there have been calls for stakeholder engagement on gene drive technology, there has been a lack of empirical work, especially concerning stakeholder engagement to inform risk assessment. To help address this gap and inform future risk assessments and governance decisions for SWD gene drive technology, we conducted a survey of 184 SWD stakeholders to explore how they define and prioritize potential benefits and potential adverse effects from proposed SWD gene drive technology. We found that stakeholders considered the most important potential benefits of SWD gene drive technology to be: 1) Decrease in the quantity or toxicity of pesticides used, and 2) Decrease in SWD populations. Stakeholders were most concerned about the potential adverse effects of: 1) Decrease in beneficial insects, 2) Increase in non-SWD secondary pest infestations, and 3) Decrease in grower profits. Notably, we found that even stakeholders who expressed support for the use of SWD gene drive technology expressed concerns about potential adverse effects from the technology, emphasizing the need to move past simplistic, dichotomous views of what it means to support or oppose a technology. These findings suggest that instead of focusing on the binary question of whether stakeholders support or oppose SWD gene drive technology, it is more important to identify and assess the factors that are consequential to stakeholder decision making – including, for example, exploring whether and under what conditions key potential adverse effects and potential benefits would result from the use of SWD gene drive technology. | Gene Drive, Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Assessment, Governance | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722000536?dgcid=coauthor | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114480 | 1/24/2022 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114480 | Journal of Environmental Management | |||||
| Biofuels policy and innovation impacts: Evidence from biofuels and agricultural patent indicators | Nelson, K.P., Parton, L.C., Brown, Z.S. Biofuels policy and innovation impacts: Evidence from biofuels and agricultural patent indicators. Energy Policy 162 (2022) 112767. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112767. PDF | Kelly Nelson, Zack Brown | 2022 | In the early 2000s, governments implemented policies stimulating the use of ethanol and biodiesel to reduce carbon emissions and encourage domestic energy production. Blend mandates requiring gasoline or diesel to contain a minimum percentage of these biofuels were a favored policy instrument. Theoretical work by Clancy and Moschini (2017) concluded that, if innovation were stimulated by mandates, then the socially optimal mandate would be higher than if innovation were not possible. We test the impact of blend mandates and other biofuels policies on innovation using measures of patenting activity that correspond with research effort and research output. Our analysis shows that ethanol blend mandates significantly increased both R&D effort and quality-weighted innovation output in biofuels technologies while reducing the R&D inputs to plant technologies. This suggests that biofuels innovation increased in response to the policies, with firms substituting some R&D effort away from plant technologies research. Despite decreased R&D effort, output of plant innovation held steady as effort shifted to biofuels, supporting the presence of a spillover effect between biofuels innovation and plant innovation. We find that biodiesel blend mandates did not significantly impact R&D efforts in either plant or biofuels technologies. Furthermore, policies other than blend mandates had varying effects, ranging from limited increases in R&D activity to significant decreases in innovation. | Biofuels, Patenting, Biotechnology, Bayesian Model Averaging | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421521006339 | 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112767 | 1/11/2022 | 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112767 | Energy Policy | |||||
| Responsible Innovation Definitions, Practices, and Motivations from Nanotechnology Researchers in Food and Agriculture | Kokotovich, A.E., Kuzma, J., Cummings, C.L., Grieger, K.. Responsible Innovation Definitions, Practices, and Motivations from Nanotechnology Researchers in Food and Agriculture. Nanoethics (2021). doi: 10.1007/s11569-021-00404-9 PDF | Adam Kokotovich, Jennifer Kuzma, Christopher L. Cummings, Khara Grieger | 2021 | The growth of responsible innovation (RI) scholarship has been mirrored by a proliferation of RI definitions and practices, as well as a recognition of the importance of context for RI. This study investigates how researchers in the field of nanotechnology for food and agriculture (nano-agrifoods) define and practice RI, as well as what motivations they see for pursuing RI. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with nano-agrifood researchers from industry and academia in the USA, where we asked them to describe their RI definitions, practices, and motivations. We analyzed the emergent themes from these interviews, including how the themes aligned with four prominent RI principles (anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, responsiveness). We found that nano-agrifood researchers largely focused their descriptions of RI definitions, practices, and motivations around a narrow envisioning of the RI principle of anticipation — emphasizing product safety, efficacy, and efficiency. We also found noteworthy tensions surrounding the less frequently mentioned RI principles. For example, some researchers envisioned inclusion as a way to align products with industry interests while others saw it as a way to align products with the public good. Concerning motivations for RI, some researchers viewed RI as a way to protect one’s reputation and avoid lawsuits while others viewed it as a way to improve human well-being and solve societal problems. Given these findings, future efforts to foster RI within nano-agrifoods should promote discussions among researchers concerning what it means to responsibly innovate and what practices this could entail, particularly beyond ensuring product safety, efficacy, and efficiency. | Responsible Innovation, Nanotechnology, Food, Agriculture, Governance, Qualitative Research | https://rdcu.be/cEHOW | 10.1007/s11569-021-00404-9 | 12/18/2021 | 10.1007/s11569-021-00404-9 | Nanoethics | |||||
| Deficits of Public Deliberation in U.S. Oversight for Gene Edited Organisms | Kuzma, Jennifer,“ Deficits of Public Deliberation in U.S. Oversight for Gene Edited Organisms,” in Gene Editing in the Wild: Shaping Decisions through Broad Public Deliberation, ed. Michael K. Gusmano et al., special report, Hastings Center Report 51, no. S2 (2021): S25– S33. DOI: 10.1002/hast.1317. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2021 | Environmental releases of gene edited (GEdOs) and gene drive organisms (GDOs) will likely occur under conditions of high uncertainty and in complex socioecological systems. Therefore, public deliberation is especially important to account for diverse interpretations of safety, risks, and benefits; to draw on experiential and public wisdom in areas of proposed release; to ameliorate dangers of technological optimism; and to increase the public legitimacy of decisions. Yet there is a “democratic deficitâ€� in the United States' oversight system for GEdOs and GDOs, as unconflicted experts, publics, and skeptical stakeholders are most often excluded from decision-making and unavailable to critically examine potential risks and benefits or raise broader concerns about socioeconomic or cultural impacts. This article argues for the need to open up decision-making for GEdOs and GDOs, discusses the challenges for doing so within the current oversight framework, and finally, proposes institutional, policy, and attitudinal changes that are likely important for overcoming barriers to public deliberation. | Gene Editing, Public Engagement, Deliberation, Regulation, Governance, Risk Analysis | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hast.1317?af=R | 10.1002/hast.1317 | 12/14/2021 | 10.1002/hast.1317 | Gene Editing in the Wild: Shaping Decisions through Broad Public Deliberation | |||||
| The Decision Phases Framework for Public Engagement: Engaging Stakeholders about Gene Editing in the Wild | Barnhill, S. Kathleen, Kokotovich, Adam, and Delborne, Jason A., “The Decision Phases Framework for Public Engagement: Engaging Stakeholders about Gene Editing in the Wild,� in Gene Editing in the Wild: Shaping Decisions through Broad Public Deliberation, ed. Michael K. Gusmano et al., special report, Hastings Center Report 51, no. S2 (2021): S48– S61. DOI: 10.1002/hast.1320 PDF | Katie Barnhill, Adam Kokotovich, Jason Delborne | 2021 | Some experts and advocates propose environmental biotechnologies such as genetic engineering, gene drive systems, and synthetic biology as potential solutions to accelerating rates of species loss. While these tools may offer hope for a seemingly intractable problem, they also present potential governance challenges for which innovative decision-making systems are required. Two of the perennial governance challenges include, when are broader stakeholder groups involved in these decisions and who exactly should be involved? We propose the decision phases framework—which includes research and development, regulatory review, and deployment, management, and monitoring—as a framework for identifying which stakeholders might be best suited for different phases throughout the innovation and deployment of emerging environmental biotechnologies for species protection. | Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Biotechnologies, Gene Editing | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hast.1320 | 10.1002/hast.1320 | 12/14/2021 | 10.1002/hast.1320 | Gene Editing in the Wild: Shaping Decisions through Broad Public Deliberation | |||||
| Genome evolution in an agricultural pest following adoption of transgenic crops | Katherine L. Taylor, Kelly A. Hamby, Alexandra M. DeYonke, Fred Gould, Megan L. Fritz. Genome evolution in an agricultural pest following adoption of transgenic crops. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Dec 2021, 118 (52) e2020853118; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020853118 PDF | Fred Gould | 2021 | Replacing synthetic insecticides with transgenic crops for pest management has been economically and environmentally beneficial, but these benefits erode as pests evolve resistance. It has been proposed that novel genomic approaches could track molecular signals of emerging resistance to aid in resistance management. To test this, we quantified patterns of genomic change in Helicoverpa zea, a major lepidopteran pest and target of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops, between 2002 and 2017 as both Bt crop adoption and resistance increased in North America. Genomic scans of wild H. zea were paired with quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses and showed the genomic architecture of field-evolved Cry1Ab resistance was polygenic, likely arising from standing genetic variation. Resistance to pyramided Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 toxins was controlled by fewer loci. Of the 11 previously described Bt resistance genes, 9 showed no significant change over time or major effects on resistance. We were unable to rule out a contribution of aminopeptidases (apns), as a cluster of apn genes were found within a Cry-associated QTL. Molecular signals of emerging Bt resistance were detectable as early as 2012 in our samples, and we discuss the potential and pitfalls of whole-genome analysis for resistance monitoring based on our findings. This first study of Bt resistance evolution using whole-genome analysis of field-collected specimens demonstrates the need for a more holistic approach to examining rapid adaptation to novel selection pressures in agricultural ecosystems. | Helicoverpa Zea, Bt Resistance, Temporal Genomic Change, Polygenic Adaptation | https://www.pnas.org/content/118/52/e2020853118 | 10.1073/pnas.2020853118 | 12/1/2021 | 10.1073/pnas.2020853118 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | |||||
| Responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods: Insights and views from U.S. stakeholders | Grieger, K.D, Merck, A.W., Cuchiara, M., Binder, A.R., Kokotovich, A., Cummings, C.L., Kuzma, J. Responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods: Insights and views from U.S. stakeholders. NanoImpact, Volume 24, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100365. PDF | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck, Andrew Binder, Adam Kokotovich, Christopher L. Cummings, Jennifer Kuzma | 2021 | To date, there has been little published work that has elicited diverse stakeholder views of nano-agrifoods and of how nano-agrifoods align with the goals of responsible innovation. This paper aims to fill this research gap by investigating views of nano-agrifoods, how well their development adheres to principles of responsible innovation, and potential challenges for achieving responsible nano-agrifood innovation. Using an online engagement platform, we find that U.S. stakeholder views of responsible innovation were dominated by environmental, health, and safety (EHS) contexts, considerations of societal impacts, opportunities for stakeholder engagement, and responding to societal needs. These views overlap with scholarly definitions of responsible innovation, albeit stakeholders were more focused on impacts of products, while the field of responsible innovation strives for more “upstream� considerations of the process of innovation. We also find that views of nano-agrifoods differed across applications with dietary supplements and improved whitening of infant formula viewed least favorably, and environmental health or food safety applications viewed most favorably. These findings align with the larger body of literature, whereby stakeholders are expected to be more supportive of nanotechnology used in agricultural applications compared to directly within food and food supplements. Overall, participants indicated they held relatively neutral views on research and innovation for nano-agrifoods being conducted responsibly, and they identified key challenges to ensuring their responsible innovation that were related to uncertainties in EHS studies, the need for public understanding and acceptance, and adequate regulation. In light of these results, we recommend future research efforts on EHS impacts and risk-benefit frameworks for nano-agrifoods, better understanding stakeholder views on what constitutes effective regulation, and addressing challenges with effective regulation and responsible innovation practices. Graphical abstract | Food And Agriculture, Nanotechnology, Responsible Innovation, Stakeholder Engagement | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452074821000744?via=ihub | 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100365 | 11/17/2021 | 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100365 | ||||||
| Genome Editing in Latin America: Regional Regulatory Overview/Edición génica aplicada a la agricultura: Resumen del marco regulatorio regional | Todd Kuiken and Jennifer Kuzma. July 2021. Genome Editing in Latin America: Regional Regulatory Overview/Edición génica aplicada a la agricultura: Resumen del marco regulatorio regional. Inter-American Development Bank. DOI: 10.18235/0003410. English version/Versión en español | Jennifer Kuzma, Todd Kuiken | 2021 | As discussed throughout this document, many countries in the LAC region have established genome editing specific governance systems while others have not specifically implemented genome editing specific governance systems and appear to include them in their current biosafety frameworks. While much of the LAC region appears to be coalescing around a similar interpretation of how genome editing will be governed, it is not yet clear if or how international treaties governing these tools (e.g., Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity) will ultimately decide. This discussion document is a starting point at assessing the landscape of genome editing oversight in LAC, and it provides a broad overview of the state of GMO crops and gene edited crops governance in nine selected countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). | Regulation, Governance, CRISPR, Latin America, Genome Editing, Inter-American Development Bank | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/idb-crispr/#resources | 10.18235/0003410. | 7/30/2021 | 10.18235/0003410. | ||||||
| Genome Editing in Latin America: CRISPR Patent and Licensing Policy/ Edición génica aplicada a la agricultura: Politicas de patentes y licencias CRISPR en Americá Latina | Margo Bagley. July 2021. Genome Editing in Latin America: CRISPR Patent and Licensing Policy/ Edición génica aplicada a la agricultura: Politicas de patentes y licencias CRISPR en Americá Latina. Inter-American Development Bank. DOI: 10.18235/0003409. English version/Versión en español | Margo Bagley | 2021 | The goal of this discussion document is to provide an overview of the CRISPR plant agriculture patent landscape, as well as to identify and describe key licensing protocols for Latin American companies and institutes interested in engaging in CRISPR plant agricultural research. Part II describes the numbers and locations of CRISPR plant agriculture-related patents being pursued in the Latin American countries of interest for this study (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay) as well as the organizations behind the filings. Part III identifies the holders of foundational CRISPR plant agriculture-related patents and describes their general licensing protocols necessary for deploying the technology in the region. The brief concludes by noting that the CRISPR plant agriculture patent landscape is changing rapidly, and it will be incumbent on researchers to regularly assess the need for licenses from other entities. | Intellectual Property, CRISPR, Latin America, Genome Editing, Inter-American Development Bank | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/idb-crispr/#resources | 10.18235/0003409. | 7/30/2021 | 10.18235/0003409. | ||||||
| Fred Gould: Indeed, I Was a Hippie | Marlin E Rice. Fred Gould: Indeed, I Was a Hippie. American Entomologist, Volume 67, Issue 2, Summer 2021, Pages 14–20, https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmab029 PDF | Fred Gould | 2021 | Fred Gould, Entomology | https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmab029 | 10.1093/ae/tmab029 | 7/1/2021 | 10.1093/ae/tmab029 | |||||||
| Stakeholder Perspectives on Modified Foliar Fungal Endophytes | S. Kathleen Barnhill, Jason A. Delborne. Stakeholder Perspectives on Modified Foliar Fungal Endophytes. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. September 2021. Online at https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/fun-crops. PDF | Katie Barnhill, Jason Delborne | 2021 | FUN-CROPS, Foliar Fungal Endophytes, Bioengineering, Regulation, Governance | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/fun-crops/ | 0 | 9/1/2021 | ||||||||
| How might bioengineered fungal endophytes be regulated in the U.S.? | S. Kathleen Barnhill, Jason A. Delborne. How might bioengineered fungal endophytes be regulated in the U.S.? Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. July 2021. Online at https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/fun-crops. PDF | Katie Barnhill, Jason Delborne | 2021 | FUN-CROPS, Foliar Fungal Endophytes, Bioengineering, Stakeholder Engagement | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/fun-crops/ | 0 | 7/1/2021 | ||||||||
| Application of Gene Editing for Climate Change in Agriculture | Karavolias NG, Horner W, Abugu MN, and Evanega SN (2021). Application of Gene Editing for Climate Change in Agriculture. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 5:685801. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.685801. PDF | Modesta Abugu | 2021 | Climate change imposes a severe threat to agricultural systems, food security, and human nutrition. Meanwhile, efforts in crop and livestock gene editing have been undertaken to improve performance across a range of traits. Many of the targeted phenotypes include attributes that could be beneficial for climate change adaptation. Here, we present examples of emerging gene editing applications and research initiatives that are aimed at the improvement of crops and livestock in response to climate change, and discuss technical limitations and opportunities therein. While only few applications of gene editing have been translated to agricultural production thus far, numerous studies in research settings have demonstrated the potential for potent applications to address climate change in the near future. | Gene Edited Crops, Livestock Genetics, Climate Change, Agriculture, Food System, Food Security, Crop Biotechnology | https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.685801/full | 10.3389/fsufs.2021.685801/full | 9/7/2021 | 10.3389/fsufs.2021.685801/full | ||||||
| Free-ranging cats: Understanding conflict and the potential for engagement | Kokotovich, A. E., J. A. Delborne, K. Redford, T. Cook, E. Leslie, J. Sieracki, and D. Trevino. 2021. Free-ranging cats: Understanding conflict and the potential for engagement. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2021/2297. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. doi: 10.36967/nrr-2287250 PDF | Adam Kokotovich, Jason Delborne | 2021 | Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus)—cats that spend any of their time outside and unconfined—pose a challenge to the National Park Service (NPS) because of their potential negative impacts to biodiversity and because of the history of stakeholder conflict around their management. In the face of recent calls for a more collaborative approach to management, we examined the conflict among free-ranging cat stakeholders and explored how engagement could be used to help inform NPS decision making. First, we analyzed position statements on free-ranging cats from key national-level organizations to understand how they differ and their implications for approaches to engagement. Second, we interviewed twelve stakeholders who have been involved with free-ranging cat issues at the national level to explore, at a deeper level, what contributes to free-ranging cat conflict, whether engagement is possible, and what might support a collaborative approach. We found that despite the frequent framing of free-ranging cat management as a two-sided issue, 1) all groups agreed upon the goal of having fewer free-ranging cats, and 2) management preferences reflected greater diversity than simple polarization. In addition, interviewees widely, although not unanimously, agreed on the need for a more collaborative and less conflictual approach to free-ranging cat management and highlighted two key factors that could help: 1) recognizing the importance of ecological and social contexts in considering the impact of free-ranging cats and appropriate management actions, and 2) navigating polarization, in part by improving relationships. We conclude by offering eight recommended approaches for NPS free-ranging cat engagement. | National Park Service, Free Ranging Cats, Biodiversity, Public Engagement, Stakeholder Conflict | https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2287250 | 10.36967/nrr-2287250 | 8/28/2021 | 10.36967/nrr-2287250 | ||||||
| Risk Screening Tools for Engineering Nanomaterials | Grieger, K., Isigonis, P., Franken, R., Wigger, H., Bossa, N., Janer, G., Rycroft, T., Kennedy, A., Hansen, S.F. 2021. Chapter 5: Risk Screening Tools for Engineering Nanomaterials. IN: Ethics in Nanotechnology: Social Sciences and Philosophical Aspects, edited by Marcel Van de Voorde and Gunjan Jeswani, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2021, pp. 89-108. doi: 10.1515/9783110719932-005 | Khara Grieger | 2021 | It has now been more than 15 years since scientists, researchers, risk analyzers, policymakers, and other decision-makers initiated comprehensive investigations into the potential environmental, health, and safety risks of engineered nanomaterials. During this time, various tools have been proposed and/or developed to screen potential environmental, health, and safety risks of engineered nanomaterials. Risk screening tools provide a first-tiered, screening-level evaluation to better understand risks without significant time and resource investments. Stakeholders interested in obtaining an initial screen of potential environmental, health, and safety risks of a nanomaterial or product may find risk screening tools particularly useful to formulate decisions, and/or communicate potential risks to stakeholders. This chapter overviews five leading risk screening tools developed specifically for nanomaterials: NanoRiskCat, Swiss Precautionary Matrix, LICARA nanoSCAN, NanoGRID, and GUIDEnano. The selected tools differ in scope, aims, underlying methodologies, and generated output. These tools were selected for further exploration due to the maturity of their development, application in multiple case studies, projects, and initiatives. After highlighting the main features of each of the risk screening tools, we provide brief guidance on their use and formulate broad recommendations for the field of nanomaterial risk screening tool development. | Environmental Health And Safety, Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials, Risk Screening | https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110719932-005/html | 10.1515/9783110719932-005 | 8/27/2021 | 10.1515/9783110719932-005 | ||||||
| Influence of Natural Organic Matter and pH on Phosphate Removal by and Lanthanum Release from Lanthanum-Modified Bentonite | Zhi, Y., Call, D., Grieger, K., Duckworth, O., Jones, J.L., Knappe, D. 2021. Influence of Natural Organic Matter and pH on Phosphate Removal by and Lanthanum Release from Lanthanum-Modified Bentonite. Water Research; doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117399. PDF | Khara Grieger | 2021 | Lanthanum modified bentonite (LMB) has been applied to eutrophic lakes to reduce phosphorus (P) concentrations in the water column and mitigate P release from sediments. Previous experiments suggest that natural organic matter (NOM) can interfere with phosphate (PO4)-binding to LMB and exacerbate lanthanum (La)-release from bentonite. This evidence served as motivation for this study to systematically determine the effects of NOM, solution pH, and bentonite as a La carrier on P removal. We conducted both geochemical modeling and controlled-laboratory batch kinetic experiments to understand the pH-dependent impacts of humic and fulvic acids on PO4-binding to LMB and La release from LMB. The role of bentonite was studied by comparing PO4 removal obtained by LMB and La3+ (added as LaCl3 salt to represent the La-containing component of LMB). Our results from both geochemical modeling and batch experiments indicate that the PO4-binding ability of LMB is decreased in the presence of NOM, and the decrease is more pronounced at pH 8.5 than at 6. At the highest evaluated NOM concentration (28 mg C L−1), PO4-removal by La3+ was substantially lower than that by LMB, implying that bentonite clay in LMB shielded La from interactions with NOM, while still allowing PO4capture by La. Finally, the presence of NOM promoted La-release from LMB, and the amount of La released depended on solution pH and both the type (i.e., fulvic/humic acid ratio) and concentration of NOM. Overall, these results provide an important basis for management of P in lakes and eutrophication control that relies on LMB applications. | Eutrophication, Lake Restoration, Lanthanum Release, Humic And Fulvic Acid, Phosphate Management | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117399 | 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117399 | 6/28/2021 | 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117399 | ||||||
| Can Comorbidity Data Explain Cross-State and Cross-National Difference in COVID-19 Death Rates? | Cegan JC, Trump BD, Cibulsky SM, Collier ZA, Cummings CL, Greer SL, Jarman H, Klasa K, Kleinman G, Surette MA, Wells E, Linkov I. Can Comorbidity Data Explain Cross-State and Cross-National Difference in COVID-19 Death Rates? Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021;14:2877-2885. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S313312. PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2021 | Many efforts to predict the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, and mortality rely on age and comorbidities. These predictions are foundational to learning, policymaking, and planning for the pandemic, and therefore understanding the relationship between age, comorbidities, and health outcomes is critical to assessing and managing public health risks. From a US government database of 1.4 million patient records collected in May 2020, we extracted the relationships between age and number of comorbidities at the individual level to predict the likelihood of hospitalization, admission to intensive care, and death. We then applied the relationships to each US state and a selection of different countries in order to see whether they predicted observed outcome rates. We found that age and comorbidity data within these geographical regions do not explain much of the international or within-country variation in hospitalization, ICU admission, or death. Identifying alternative explanations for the limited predictive power of comorbidities and age at the population level should be considered for future research. | Comorbidity, Health Outcomes, COVID-19, Mortality Rates | https://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=66716 | 10.2147/RMHP.S313312 | 7/7/2021 | 10.2147/RMHP.S313312 | ||||||
| The politics of genetic technoscience for conservation: The case of blight-resistant American chestnut | Barnes, Jessica C. and Jason A. Delborne. The politics of genetic technoscience for conservation: The case of blight-resistant American chestnut. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. June 2021. doi:10.1177/25148486211024910. PDF | Jessica Cavin Barnes, Jason Delborne | 2021 | Innovations in genetics and genomics have been heavily critiqued as technologies that have widely supported the privatization and commodification of natural resources. However, emerging applications of these tools to ecological restoration challenge narratives that cast genetic technoscience as inevitably enrolled in the enactment and extension of neoliberal capitalism. In this paper, we draw on Langdon Winner’s theory of technological politics to suggest that the context in which genetic technologies are developed and deployed matters for their political outcomes. We describe how genetic approaches to the restoration of functionally extinct American chestnut trees—by non-profit organizations, for the restoration of a wild, heritage forest species, and with unconventional intellectual property protections—are challenging precedents in the political economy of plant biotechnology. Through participant observation, interviews with scientists, and historical analysis, we employ the theoretical lens provided by Karl Polanyi’s double movement to describe how the anticipations and agency of the developers of blight-resistant American chestnut trees, combined with chestnut biology and the context of restoration, have thus far resisted key forms of the genetic privatization and commodification of chestnut germplasm. Still, the politics of blight-resistant American chestnut remain incomplete and undetermined; we thus call upon scholars to use the uneven and socially constructed character of both technologies and neoliberalism to help shape this and other applications of genetic technoscience for conservation. | Genetic Engineering, Neoliberalism, Double Movement, Forest Biotechnology, Ecological Restoration | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/25148486211024910 | 10.1177/25148486211024910 | 6/24/2021 | 10.1177/25148486211024910 | ||||||
| Cultural Beliefs and Stakeholder Affiliation Influence Attitudes Towards Responsible Research and Innovation Among United States Stakeholders Involved in Biotechnology and Gene Editing | Kuzma, Jennifer and Christopher L. Cummings. Cultural Beliefs and Stakeholder Affiliation Influence Attitudes Towards Responsible Research and Innovation Among United States Stakeholders Involved in Biotechnology and Gene Editing. Frontiers in Political Science 24 June 2021, Vol. 3, DOI: 10.3389/fpos.2021.677003. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma, Christopher L. Cummings | 2021 | Biotech developers are concerned about the future of gene editing having experienced the contentious history of first-generation GM foods. They have also expressed desires to do better with public engagement in gene-editing innovation. The framework of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) may provide a way forward to act on their desires for greater public legitimacy. However, in the United States, -there has also been reluctance to incorporate RRI into biotechnology innovation systems like gene editing in food and agriculture. In this article, we investigate individual- and group-level factors, including demographic, sociographic, and cultural factors, that influence attitudes towards RRI among biotechnology United States stakeholders. Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework’s (ACF) hierarchy of beliefs as a theoretical guide, biotechnology stakeholders (n = 110) were surveyed about their cultural (deep-core) beliefs and then about their attitudes towards principles (policy-core beliefs) and practices (secondary beliefs) of RRI applied to biotechnology innovation. Through statistical analysis of the results, we found significant relationships between stronger egalitarian cultural-beliefs and positive attitudes towards both the principles and practices of RRI. We also found that participants with higher levels of experience held more positive attitudes towards principles of RRI. In contrast, we found a significant inverse relationship between professional affiliation with industry or trade organizations and attitudes towards RRI practices. With these results, we present a model of factors that influence RRI attitudes for future testing. In closing, we interpret the results in the context of ACF to examine the potential for building cross-sector coalitions for practicing RRI within United States gene-editing innovation systems. | Responsible Innovation, RRI, CCE-STEM, Public Engagement, Advocacy Coalition Framework, Gene Editing, CRISPR | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.677003 | 10.3389/fpos.2021.677003 | 6/24/2021 | 10.3389/fpos.2021.677003 | ||||||
| Barriers to responsible innovation of nanotechnology applications in food and agriculture: A study of US experts and developers | Cummings Christopher L., Kuzma Jennifer, Kokotovich Adam, Glas David, Grieger Khara (2021). Barriers to responsible innovation of nanotechnology applications in food and agriculture: A study of US experts and developers. NanoImpact, 100326, ISSN 2452-0748. doi:10.1016/j.impact.2021.100326. PDF | Christopher L. Cummings, Jennifer Kuzma, Adam Kokotovich, Khara Grieger | 2021 | The use of nanotechnology and engineered nanomaterials in food and agriculture (nano-agrifood) sectors is intended to provide several potential benefits to consumers and society, such as the provision of more nutritious processed foods, edible food coatings to extend shelf lives of fresh cut produce, and more sustainable alternatives to traditional agrochemicals. The responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods may be particularly important to pursue given previous case studies involving other agrifood technologies that experienced significant public consternation. Here, we define responsible innovation following Stilgoej et al. (2013) that establishes processes to iteratively review and reflect upon one's innovation, engage stakeholders in dialogue, and to be open and transparent throughout innovation stages – processes that go beyond primary focuses of understanding environmental, health, and safety impacts of nano-enabled products and implementing safe-by-design principles. Despite calls for responsible nano-innovation across diverse sectors, it has not yet been clear what types of barriers are faced by nano-agrifood researchers and innovators in particular. This study therefore identifies and builds the first typology of barriers to responsible innovation as perceived by researchers and product developers working in nano-agrifood sectors in the United States. Our findings report 5 key barriers to responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods: Lack of Data (reported by 70% of all interview participants, and represented 34.6% of all barrier-related excerpts), Lack of Product Oversight (reported by 60% of participants, and represented 28.7% of excerpts), Need for Ensuring Marketability & Use (reported by 70% of participants, and represented 21.3% of all barrier-related excerpts), Need for Increased Collaboration (reported by 40% of participants, and represented 10.3% of excerpts), and finally Lack of Adequate Training & Workforce (reported by 30% of participants, and represented by 5.1% of excerpts). We also relate these key barriers across three main nano-innovation phases, including 1) Scientific and Technical R&D, 2) Product Oversight, and 3) Post-commercialization Marketability & Use, and discuss how these barriers may impact stakeholders as well as present opportunities to align with principles of responsible innovation. Overall, these findings may help illuminate challenges that researchers and innovators face in the pursuit of responsible innovation relevant for the field of nanotechnology with relevancy for other emerging food and agricultural technologies more broadly. | Responsible Innovation, Nanotechnology, Nano-Agrifood | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2452074821000355 | 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100326 | 5/23/2021 | 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100326 | ||||||
| New Bioengineered (aka GM) Food Disclosure Law: Useful Information or Consumer Confusion? | Gregory Jaffe and Jennifer Kuzma. "New Bioengineered (aka GM) Food Disclosure Law: Useful Information or Consumer Confusion?" Food and Drug Law Institute. https://www.fdli.org/2021/04/new-bioengineered-aka-gm-food-disclosure-law-useful-information-or-consumer-confusion. Accessed 28 April 2021. PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2021 | Bioengineered Food, Regulation, Governance, Transparency, Labeling | https://www.fdli.org/2021/04/new-bioengineered-aka-gm-food-disclosure-law-useful-information-or-consumer-confusion | 0 | 4/26/2021 | ||||||||
| Whose intentions? What consequences? Interrogating “Intended Consequences� for conservation with environmental biotechnology | Barnhill, SK and Delborne, JA. Whose intentions? What consequences? Interrogating “Intended Consequences� for conservation with environmental biotechnology. Conservation Science and Practice 2021; e406. doi: 10.1111/csp2.406. PDF | Katie Barnhill, Jason Delborne | 2021 | Novel genetic interventions may offer innovative solutions to environmental conservation challenges, but they also represent new kinds of risks and concerns for diverse publics. Yet, by focusing on potential negative outcomes of emerging technologies like gene editing, their potential utility in species protection could lead to overblown fears of unknown and unanticipated consequences. In response, Revive and Restore organized a workshop in June 2020 entitled, “Intended Consequences,� to highlight conservation successes in the discourse and governance of genomic interventions. This article argues that if we seek to emphasize Intended Consequences to embolden innovative conservation efforts, we must simultaneously query whose intentions are included and what consequences are considered to ensure that environmental goals are accompanied by the goals of responsibility, democracy, and justice. These questions reveal that the governance and management of conservation interventions always rest upon value judgements. Inspired and informed by the Responsible Research and Innovation framework, we encourage anticipation of potential outcomes, reflection on assumptions and intentions, inclusion of diverse stakeholders and perspectives, and a commitment to responding thoughtfully to concerns and preferences of communities and broader publics. | Biotechnology, Conservation, Responsible Research And Innovation | https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.406 | 10.1111/csp2.406 | 4/15/2021 | 10.1111/csp2.406 | ||||||
| Intended consequences statement | Phelan, R, Baumgartner, B, Brand, S... Delborne, JA, Saah, JR, et al. Intended consequences statement. Conservation Science and Practice 2021; e371. doi: 10.1111/csp2.371. PDF | Jason Delborne, J. Royden Saah | 2021 | As the biodiversity crisis accelerates, the stakes are higher for threatened plants and animals. Rebuilding the health of our planet will require addressing underlying threats at many scales, including habitat loss and climate change. Conservation interventions such as habitat protection, management, restoration, predator control, translocation, genetic rescue, and biological control have the potential to help threatened or endangered species avert extinction. These existing, well�tested methods can be complemented and augmented by more frequent and faster adoption of new technologies, such as powerful new genetic tools. In addition, synthetic biology might offer solutions to currently intractable conservation problems. We believe that conservation needs to be bold and clear�eyed in this moment of great urgency. | Biodiversity, Public Engagement, Conservation, Emerging Technologies | https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.371 | 10.1111/csp2.371 | 4/15/2021 | 10.1111/csp2.371 | ||||||
| Ugandan stakeholder hopes and concerns about gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control: new directions for gene drive risk governance | Hartley, S., Smith, R.D.J., Kokotovich, A. et al. Ugandan stakeholder hopes and concerns about gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control: new directions for gene drive risk governance. Malar J 20, 149 (2021). doi: 10.1186/s12936-021-03682-6 PDF | Adam Kokotovich | 2021 | The African Union’s High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies identified gene drive mosquitoes as a priority technology for malaria elimination. The first field trials are expected in 5–10 years in Uganda, Mali or Burkina Faso. In preparation, regional and international actors are developing risk governance guidelines which will delineate the framework for identifying and evaluating risks. Scientists and bioethicists have called for African stakeholder involvement in these developments, arguing the knowledge and perspectives of those people living in malaria-afflicted countries is currently missing. However, few African stakeholders have been involved to date, leaving a knowledge gap about the local social-cultural as well as ecological context in which gene drive mosquitoes will be tested and deployed. This study investigates and analyses Ugandan stakeholders’ hopes and concerns about gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control and explores the new directions needed for risk governance. | Malaria Control, Gene Drive Mosquitoes, Uganda, Stakeholders, Risk Governance, Risk Assessment, Target Malaria | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-021-03682-6 | 10.1186/s12936-021-03682-6 | 3/16/2021 | 10.1186/s12936-021-03682-6 | ||||||
| COVID-19: how a self-monitoring checklist can empower early intervention and slow disease progression | Cummings, C.L., Miller, C.S. COVID-19: how a self-monitoring checklist can empower early intervention and slow disease progression. Environ Syst Decis (2021). doi: 10.1007/s10669-021-09806-2. PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2021 | The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus pandemic has revealed many scientific, social, and institutional challenges required to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals stricken by this disease. While organizations and governing institutions have risen to the task to concurrently prepare for and respond to this pandemic under conditions of high uncertainty and extreme pressure, another important aspect of this viral infection deserves attention and is not being fully considered, that is early intervention strategies and structured tools for individuals who test positive for the virus and begin developing symptoms. For those whose infection is progressing, we describe the potential benefits of a self-monitoring tool for use in combination with physician directed early medical interventions to slow COVID-19 progression. | COVID-19, Risk, Early Intervention, Risk Response | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-021-09806-2 | 10.1007/s10669-021-09806-2 | 2/21/2021 | 10.1007/s10669-021-09806-2 | ||||||
| Social signals mediate oviposition site selection in Drosophila suzukii | Elsensohn, J.E., Aly, M.F.K., Schal, C., Burrack, H.J.. Social signals mediate oviposition site selection in Drosophila suzukii. Sci Rep 11, 3796 (2021). doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83354-2 | Johanna Elsensohn, Hannah Burrack | 2021 | The information that female insects perceive and use during oviposition site selection is complex and varies by species and ecological niche. Even in relatively unexploited niches, females interact directly and indirectly with conspecifics at oviposition sites. These interactions can take the form of host marking and re-assessment of prior oviposition sites during the decision-making process. Considerable research has focused on the niche breadth and host preference of the polyphagous invasive pest Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), but little information exists on how conspecific signals modulate oviposition behavior. We investigated three layers of social information that female D. suzukii may use in oviposition site selection—(1) pre-existing egg density, (2) pre-existing larval occupation, and (3) host marking by adults. We found that the presence of larvae and host marking, but not egg density, influenced oviposition behavior and that the two factors interacted over time. Adult marking appeared to deter oviposition only in the presence of an unmarked substrate. These results are the first behavioral evidence for a host marking pheromone in a species of Drosophila. These findings may also help elucidate D. suzukii infestation and preference patterns within crop fields and natural areas. | Agroecology, Behavioural Ecology, Invasive Species, Microbial Ecology | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83354-2 | 10.1038/s41598-021-83354-2 | 2/15/2021 | 10.1038/s41598-021-83354-2 | ||||||
| (Broken) Promises of Sustainable Food and Agriculture through New Biotechnologies: The CRISPR Case | Kuiken T, Barrangou R, Grieger K. (Broken) Promises of Sustainable Food and Agriculture through New Biotechnologies: The CRISPR Case. CRISPR J. 2021 Feb 10:1-7. doi: 10.1089/crispr.2020.0098.PDF | Todd Kuiken, Rodolphe Barrangou, Khara Grieger | 2021 | In recent years, the development of diverse CRISPR-based technologies has revolutionized genome manipulation and enabled a broad scientific community in industry, academia, and beyond to redefine research and development for biotechnology products encompassing food, agriculture, and medicine. CRISPR-based genome editing affords tremendous opportunities in agriculture for the breeding of crops and livestock across the food supply chain that could benefit larger portions of the population compared to CRISPR applications in medicine, for example by helping to feed a growing global population, reach sustainability goals, and possibly mitigate the effects of climate change. These promises come alongside concerns of risks and adverse impacts associated with CRISPR-based genome editing and concerns that governance systems that are ill equipped or not well suited to evaluate these risks. The international community will continue to gather, in multiple venues, in the coming years to discuss these concerns. At the same time, responsible research and innovation paradigms also promise to evaluate the risks and benefits better while incorporating broad stakeholder engagement across the research and development process. The CRISPR community therefore must actively engage with these international deliberations, society, and national governance systems that have promised to build better agricultural systems and provide better food products to achieve equitable outcomes while protecting the environment. Without this active engagement, the promises discussed in this paper are sure to be broken. | CRISPR, Stakeholder Engagement, Responsible Research And Innovation | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33570455/ | 10.1089/crispr.2020.0098 | 2/10/2021 | 10.1089/crispr.2020.0098 | ||||||
| Biotech: An Environmentalist's Dilemna | Kuiken, Todd. Biotech: An Environmentalist’s Dilemna. Biodesigned, January 21, 2021. Online at https://www.biodesigned.org/todd-kuiken/biotech-an-environmentalists-dilemma | Todd Kuiken | 2021 | Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Art, Environment | https://www.biodesigned.org/todd-kuiken/biotech-an-environmentalists-dilemma | 0 | 1/21/2021 | ||||||||
| Community-led governance for gene-edited crops | Kuzma, J. and Grieger, K. 2020. Community-led governance for gene-edited crops. Science, Vol. 370, Issue 6519. doi: 10.1126/science.abd1512 | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger | 2020 | New government regulations for biotechnology will create gaps in oversight of gene-edited crops and the provision of information to consumers. With this lack of transparency, gene-edited crop developers may be reconstituting the same conditions that led to public rejection and mistrust of the 1st generation of GM foods. Based on our decades of experience and the literature on risk governance and GM crops, we propose a “Community-Led Responsible Governance� (CLEAR-GOV) coalition and certification process for biotech crops based on information-sharing about the host plants, traits, environment, and current and anticipated market uses of gene-edited and other GM crops. CLEAR-GOV would be led by an independent non-profit coalition, a stakeholder advisory group, and a public advisory group that is diverse in representation of viewpoints and interests. Commitment to CLEAR-GOV will enable the agricultural biotechnology community to earn greater public trust through the open, inclusive, and transparent monitoring of biotech crop use. | Responsible Innovation, Biotechnology, Governance, CRISPR, Gene-Editing | https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6519/916 | 10.1126/science.abd1512 | 11/20/2020 | 10.1126/science.abd1512 | ||||||
| Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organism | Kanya C. Long, Luke Alphey, George J. Annas, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Karl J. Campbell, George M. Church, James P. Collins, Kimberly L. Cooper, Jason A. Delborne, Kevin Esvelt, Sam Weiss Evans, Fred Gould, Sarah Hartley, Jennifer Kuzma, Marce Lorenzen, Jeantine E. Lunshof, Megan J. Palmer, J. Royden Saah, Maxwell J. Scott, et. al. 2020. Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organisms. Science, 18 Dec 2020, Vol. 370, Issue 6523, pp. 1417-1419. doi: 10.1126/science.abd1908 PDF | Jason Delborne, Fred Gould, Jennifer Kuzma, Marce Lorenzen, J. Royden Saah, Maxwell Scott | 2020 | Gene Drive, Field Trials, Governance, Risk/Benefit Assessment, Transparency | https://www.biodesigned.org/todd-kuiken/biotech-an-environmentalists-dilemma | 10.1126/science.abd1908 | 12/18/2020 | 10.1126/science.abd1908 | |||||||
| Accessing Legacy Phosphorus in Soil | Doydora, S., Gatiboni, L., Grieger, K., Hesterberg, D., Jones, J., McLamore, E., Peters, R., Sozzani, R., Van den Broeck, L., Duckworth O. Accessing Legacy Phosphorus in Soil. Soil Systems, 4(74): doi:10.3390/soilsystems4040074 PDF | Khara Grieger | 2020 | Repeated applications of phosphorus (P) fertilizers result in the buildup of P in soil (commonly known as legacy P), a large fraction of which is not immediately available for plant use. Long-term applications and accumulations of soil P is an inefficient use of dwindling P supplies and can result in nutrient runoff, often leading to eutrophication of water bodies. Although soil legacy P is problematic in some regards, it conversely may serve as a source of P for crop use and could potentially decrease dependence on external P fertilizer inputs. This paper reviews the (1) current knowledge on the occurrence and bioaccessibility of different chemical forms of P in soil, (2) legacy P transformations with mineral and organic fertilizer applications in relation to their potential bioaccessibility, and (3) approaches and associated challenges for accessing native soil P that could be used to harness soil legacy P for crop production. We highlight how the occurrence and potential bioaccessibility of different forms of soil inorganic and organic P vary depending on soil properties, such as soil pH and organic matter content. We also found that accumulation of inorganic legacy P forms changes more than organic P species with fertilizer applications and cessations. We also discuss progress and challenges with current approaches for accessing native soil P that could be used for accessing legacy P, including natural and genetically modified plant-based strategies, the use of P-solubilizing microorganisms, and immobilized organic P-hydrolyzing enzymes. It is foreseeable that accessing legacy P will require multidisciplinary approaches to address these limitations. | Legacy Phosphorus, Speciation, Transformation, Accessibility | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/4/4/74/htm | 10.3390/soilsystems4040074 | 12/18/2020 | 10.3390/soilsystems4040074 | ||||||
| Landscape-level feedbacks in the demand for transgenic pesticidal corn in the Philippines | Brown, Zachary S., Lawson Connor, Roderick M. Rejesus, and Jose M. Yorobe Jr (2020). Landscape-level feedbacks in the demand for transgenic pesticidal corn in the Philippines. Ecological Economics, 180: 106883. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106883 PDF | Zack Brown | 2020 | We introduce a novel econometric approach to estimate economic pest control feedbacks within agroecological systems, using discrete choice endogenous sorting models. We apply this approach to deployment of transgenic Bt maize in the Philippines. We show with basic theory how areawide pest suppression from largescale Bt maize deployment attenuates farmers' demand for this technology. Econometric results support this hypothesis and imply long-run demand for the Bt trait is price-inelastic, contrasting with price-elastic demand estimated from a model without feedback. Investigating whether this feedback truly derives from areawide pest suppression, we analyze farmers' pest infestation expectations and find expected damages are significantly reduced by higher areawide Bt deployment. We discuss implications of these findings and other potential applications of the econometric approach to study coupled biological and economic systems. | Agroecology, Bioeconomic Feedbacks, Areawide Pest Suppression, Crop Choice, Discrete Choice Models, Endogenous Sorting | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921800919321950?via=ihub | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106883 | 11/11/2020 | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106883 | ||||||
| Social science and infrastructure networks and the human–technology interface | Berube, D.M., Bogomoletc, E., Eng, N. et al. Social science and infrastructure networks and the human–technology interface. J Nanopart Res 22, 296 (2020). doi:10.1007/s11051-020-05022-2. PDF | David Berube | 2020 | Social science research (under the guise of SEI [societal and ethical implications]) in association with nanotechnology infrastructure networks (in this case, the Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network) is challenging due to the unique function of an infrastructure network. Infrastructure networks share laboratory resources and make available to the user in the early stages in the technological process. As such, characterization and fabrication activities demand fine-tuned social science tools appropriate to the subject instant. This article examines the application of a process of “deep assessment� akin to grounded theory that examines a subset of societal and ethical issues derived from assessing activities proximate to users as they interface with the network. It presents assessment data over the last 5 years that is being used to design the research questions and research hypotheses that answer some of the most important societal concerns of the infrastructure network. These highly valued SEI activities are contextually relevant to the operation and management of the facilities in the infrastructure. | Social Science, Nantechnology, Societal And Ethical Implications, Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-020-05022-2 | 10.1007/s11051-020-05022-2 | 9/23/2020 | 10.1007/s11051-020-05022-2 | ||||||
| Emerging lanthanum (III)-containing materials for phosphate removal from water: A review towards future developments | Zhi, Y., Zhang, C., Hjorth, R., Baun, A., Duckworth, O.W., Call, D.F., Knappe, D.R.U., Jones, J.L., Grieger, K. (2020) Emerging lanthanum (III)-containing materials for phosphate removal from water: A review towards future developments. Environment International, 435: 109257. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106115 PDF | Khara Grieger | 2020 | The last two decades have seen a rise in the development of lanthanum (III)-containing materials (LM) for controlling phosphate in the aquatic environment. >70 papers have been published on this topic in the peer-reviewed literature, but mechanisms of phosphate removal by LM as well as potential environmental impacts of LM remain unclear. In this review, we summarize peer-reviewed scientific articles on the development and use of 80 different types of LM in terms of prospective benefits, potential ecological impacts, and research needs. We find that the main benefits of LM for phosphate removal are their ability to strongly bind phosphate under diverse environmental conditions (e.g., over a wide pH range, in the presence of diverse aqueous constituents). The maximum phosphate uptake capacity of LM correlates primarily with the La content of LM, whereas reaction kinetics are influenced by LM formulation and ambient environmental conditions (e.g., pH, presence of co-existing ions, ligands, organic matter). Increased La solubilization can occur under some environmental conditions, including at moderately acidic pH values (i.e., 7 and moderate-to-high bicarbonate alkalinity, although caution should be applied when considering LM use in aquatic systems with acidic pH values and low bicarbonate alkalinity. Moving forward, we recommend additional research dedicated to understanding La release from LM under diverse environmental conditions as well as long-term exposures on ecological organisms, particularly primary producers and benthic organisms. Further, site-specific monitoring could be useful for evaluating potential impacts of LM on both biotic and abiotic systems post-application. | Lanthanum, Phosphate, Surface Water Restoration, Eutrophication Control, Phosphorus Inactivation | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106115 | 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106115 | 9/21/2020 | 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106115 | ||||||
| Effect of microplastics on ecosystem function: Microbial nitrogen removal mediated by benthic macroinvertebrates | Huang, Y., Li, W., Gao, J., Wang, F., Yang, W., Han, L., Lin, D., Min, B., Zhi, Y., Grieger, K., Yao, J. Effect of microplastics on ecosystem function: Microbial nitrogen removal mediated by benthic macroinvertebrates. Science of the Total Environment, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142133. | Khara Grieger | 2020 | While ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on aquatic organisms have started to be investigated recently, impacts on ecosystem functions mediated by benthic biota remain largely unknown. We investigated the effect of microplastics on nitrogen removal in freshwater sediments where microorganisms and benthic invertebrates (i.e., chironomid larvae) co-existed. Using microcosm experiments, sediments with and without invertebrate chironomid larvae were exposed to microplastics (polyethylene) at concentrations of 0, 0.1, and 1 wt%. After 28 days of exposure, the addition of microplastics or chironomid larvae promoted the growth of denitrifying and anammox bacteria, leading to increased total nitrogen removal, in both cases. However, in microcosms with chironomid larvae and microplastics co-existing, nitrogen removal was less than the sum of their individual effects, especially at microplastics concentration of 1 wt%, indicating an adverse effect on microbial nitrogen removal mediated by macroinvertebrates. This study reveals that the increasing concentration of microplastics entangled the nitrogen cycling mediated by benthic invertebrates in freshwater ecosystems. These findings highlight the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of microplastics on the functioning in freshwater ecosystems. | Microplastics, Nitrogen Removal Function, Denitrification, Anammox, Chironomids, Microorganisms | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972035662X | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142133 | 9/7/2020 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142133 | ||||||
| Transitioning Machine Learning from Theory to Practice in Natural Resource Management | Saia, S., Nelson, N., Huseth, A., Grieger, K., Reich, B., Transitioning Machine Learning from Theory to Practice in Natural Resource Management. Ecological Modelling, 435: 109257. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109257 PDF | Khara Grieger | 2020 | Advances in sensing and computation have accelerated at unprecedented rates and scales, in turn creating new opportunities for natural resources managers to improve adaptive and predictive management practices by coupling large environmental datasets with machine learning (ML). Yet, to date, ML models often remain inaccessible to managers working outside of academic research. To identify challenges preventing natural resources managers from putting ML into practice more broadly, we convened a group of 23 stakeholders (i.e., applied researchers and practitioners) who model and analyze data collected from environmental and agricultural systems. Workshop participants shared many barriers regarding their perceptions of, and experiences with, ML modeling. These barriers emphasized three main areas of concern: ML model transparency, availability of educational resources, and the role of process-based understanding in ML model development. Informed by workshop participant input, we offer recommendations on how the ecological modelling community canovercome key barriers preventing ML model use in natural resources management and advance the profession towards data-driven decision-making. | Machine Learning, Natural Resources Management, Stakeholders, Decision-Support Tools, Decision-Making, Process-Based Modeling | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304380020303276?via=ihub | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109257 | 9/2/2020 | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109257 | ||||||
| Responsible innovation in biotechnology: Stakeholder attitudes and implications for research policy | Roberts, P, Herkert, J and Kuzma, J. 2020. Responsible innovation in biotechnology: Stakeholder attitudes and implications for research policy. Elem Sci Anth, 8(1): 47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.446 Download PDF | Pat Roberts, Joseph Herkert, Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | This article explores attitudes of stakeholders involved in biotechnology towards the Responsible Innovation (RI) framework. As a framework for governance, RI has received increasing scholarly attention but has yet to be successfully integrated into U.S. research and innovation policy. Using a mixed methods approach, we analyzed the attitudes of different biotechnology stakeholders, particularly those working in areas related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and the environment, towards the principles and practices of RI. Homogenous focus groups (organized by stakeholder affiliation) and pre- and post-focus group surveys were used to measure attitudes towards RI. We designed the survey questions according to the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and examined the agreement of stakeholders with policy core beliefs (general principles of RI) and secondary beliefs (implementation practices of RI). Although all stakeholder groups had neutral to positive attitudes towards RI general principles, we found significant differences in their reactions to the scholarly definitions of RI and in their attitudes towards practices to implement RI. In comparison to government and advocacy groups, stakeholders promoting biotechnology innovations–industry, trade organizations, and academics–had more negative reactions to social science definitions of RI and to RI practices that relinquish control to people outside of technology development pipelines. Qualitative analysis of focus-groups revealed barriers for implementing RI practices. For example, innovators were cynical about including external voices in innovation pathways due to inflexible funding programs and were concerned about potential delays to innovation given the highly competitive environments for financing and patents. In order to help address these tensions, we call for the co-design of RI practices between biotechnology innovators and other stakeholders. The opening-up of biotechnology innovation to RI practices of anticipation, inclusion, responsiveness and reflexivity will likely be important for future, public legitimacy of emerging genetic engineering applications such as gene editing and gene drives. | Responsible Innovation, Biotechnology, Governance, GMOs | https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/feeding-world-well/table-of-contents | 10.1525/elementa.446 | 9/1/2020 | 10.1525/elementa.446 | ||||||
| Secondary Risk Theory: Validation of a Novel Model of Protection Motivation | Cummings, CL, Rosenthal, S., and Kong, W. (2020). Secondary Risk Theory: Validation of a Novel Model of Protection Motivation. Risk Analysis. doi: 10.1111/risa.13573 | Christopher L. Cummings | 2020 | Protection motivation theory states individuals conduct threat and coping appraisals when deciding how to respond to perceived risks. However, that model does not adequately explain today's risk culture, where engaging in recommended behaviors may create a separate set of real or perceived secondary risks. We argue for and then demonstrate the need for a new model accounting for a secondary threat appraisal, which we call secondary risk theory. In an online experiment, 1,246 participants indicated their intention to take a vaccine after reading about the likelihood and severity of side effects. We manipulated likelihood and severity in a 2 × 2 between�subjects design and examined how well secondary risk theory predicts vaccination intention compared to protection motivation theory. Protection motivation theory performed better when the likelihood and severity of side effects were both low (R2 = 0.30) versus high (R2 = 0.15). In contrast, secondary risk theory performed similarly when the likelihood and severity of side effects were both low (R2 = 0.42) or high (R2 = 0.45). But the latter figure is a large improvement over protection motivation theory, suggesting the usefulness of secondary risk theory when individuals perceive a high secondary threat. | Protection Motivation, Risk Response, Risk Tradeoffs, Secondary Risk Theory, Secondary Risks | https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13573 | 10.1111/risa.13573 | 8/13/2020 | 10.1111/risa.13573 | ||||||
| U.S. Oversight of GM Crops: A Place for Values? | Kuzma J (2020). U.S. Oversight of GM Crops: A Place for Values? In Eds Goldberg, A. Feeding the World Well. John Hopkins University Press: Baltimore, MD. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | In the United States, food is abundant and cheap but loaded with hidden costs to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the people who work in our food systems. The country's current food production systems lack diversity in crops and animals and are intensified but not sustainable, inhumane in the treatment of animals, and inconsiderate of labor. In order to feed the world's rapidly growing population with high-quality, ethically produced food, new food production systems are urgently needed. These new systems must be genetically diverse and environmentally sustainable, and they need to follow internationally recognized animal welfare and labor practices. | Food, Ethics, Values, Regulation, Governance | https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/feeding-world-well/table-of-contents | 10.1353/book.78560 | 8/1/2020 | https://doi.org/10.1353/book.78560 | ||||||
| Consumer expectations and attitudes toward nanomaterials in foods | S. Zhao, C-H Yue, and J. Kuzma (2020) Consumer expectations and attitudes toward nanomaterials in foods. Pages 705-733. Chapter 17, Handbook of Food Nanotechnology: Applications and Approaches. Academic Press Elsevier: Cambridge MA. July 2020. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-815866-1.00017-0 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | Many food companies are developing nanotechnology-modified food packaging and it is critical to understand the informational and attitudinal factors that influence public acceptance of nanopackaging. This chapter first reviews the market situation for nanotechnology in the food packaging industry, including the benefits and potential risks of nanotechnology application in the food industry, the market trend for nanotechnology in food, consumer acceptance of nanotechnology in food, and the possible factors affecting consumer acceptance. Then a case study will be presented that uses an experimental auction with real nanopackaged products to test and compare consumer acceptance of nanopackaged food products with information from various sources. The case study results indicate consumer acceptance for and attitude toward nanopackaged food products are changing corresponding to the information perceived: for plain-labeled food products, a reliance on government regulation was the only determinant influencing participants’ willingness to pay; after general information about nanotechnology was given, participants were willing to pay more for nanopackaged products. This was affected by their general attitude toward new food technology and concerns about environment/health. | Nanopackage, Nanotechnology, Experimental Auction, Structural Equation Model, Information Effect, Willingness-To-Pay, Food | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128158661000170?via=ihub | 10.1016/B978-0-12-815866-1.00017-0 | 8/1/2020 | 10.1016/B978-0-12-815866-1.00017-0 | ||||||
| An Integrated Approach to Oversight Assessment for Emerging Technologies | Kuzma J., J. Paradise, G. Ramachandran, JA Kim, A. Kokotovich, SM. Wolf. (2020) An Integrated Approach to Oversight Assessment for Emerging Technologies. Chapter 17 in Emerging Technologies: Ethics, Law and Governance. Eds. Gary E. Marchant, Wendell Wallach. London: Routledge. 23 pp. July 2020. doi: 10.4324/9781003074960 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | Analysis of oversight systems is often conducted from a single disciplinary perspective and by using a limited set of criteria for evaluation. In this article, we develop an approach that blends risk analysis, social science, public administration, legal, public policy, and ethical perspectives to develop a broad set of criteria for assessing oversight systems. Multiple methods, including historical analysis, expert elicitation, and behavioral consensus, were employed to develop multidisciplinary criteria for evaluating oversight of emerging technologies. Sixty-six initial criteria were identified from extensive literature reviews and input from our Working Group. Criteria were placed in four categories reflecting the development, attributes, evolution, and outcomes of oversight systems. Expert elicitation, consensus methods, and multidisciplinary review of the literature were used to refine a condensed, operative set of criteria. Twenty-eight criteria resulted spanning four categories: seven development criteria, 15 attribute criteria, five outcome criteria, and one evolution criterion. These criteria illuminate how oversight systems develop, operate, change, and affect society. We term our approach “integrated oversight assessment� and propose its use as a tool for analyzing relationships among features, outcomes, and tradeoffs of oversight systems. Comparisons among historical case studies of oversight using a consistent set of criteria should result in defensible and evidence-supported lessons to guide the development of oversight systems for emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology. | Governance, Nanotechnology, Emerging Technologies, Oversight | https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003074960 | 10.4324/9781003074960 | 7/26/2020 | 10.4324/9781003074960 | ||||||
| Recommendations for oversight of nanobiotechnology: dynamic oversight for complex and convergent technology | G. Ramachandran, S M. Wolf, J Paradise, J Kuzma, R Hall, E Kokkoli, L Fatehi. (2020) Recommendations for oversight of nanobiotechnology: dynamic oversight for complex and convergent technology Chapter 22 in Emerging Technologies: Ethics, Law and Governance. Eds. Gary E. Marchant, Wendell Wallach. London: Routledge. 27 pp. July 2020. doi: 10.4324/9781003074960 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | Federal oversight of nanobiotechnology in the U.S. has been fragmented and incremental. The prevailing approach has been to use existing laws and other administrative mechanisms for oversight. However, this “stay-the-course� approach will be inadequate for such a complex and convergent technology and may indeed undermine its promise. The technology demands a new, more dynamic approach to oversight. The authors are proposing a new oversight framework with three essential features: (a) the oversight trajectory needs to be able to move dynamically between “soft� and “hard� approaches as information and nano-products evolve; (b) it needs to integrate inputs from all stakeholders, with strong public engagement in decision-making to assure adequate analysis and transparency; and (c) it should include an overarching coordinating entity to assure strong inter-agency coordination and communication that can meet the challenge posed by the convergent nature of nanobiotechnology. The proposed framework arises from a detailed case analysis of several key oversight regimes relevant to nanobiotechnology and is informed by inputs from experts in academia, industry, NGOs, and government. | Governance, Nanotechnology, Emerging Technologies, Oversight | https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003074960 | 10.4324/9781003074960 | 7/26/2020 | 10.4324/9781003074960 | ||||||
| Crop rotation mitigates impacts of corn rootworm resistance to transgenic Bt corn | Yves Carrière, Zachary Brown, Serkan Aglasan, Pierre Dutilleul, Matthew Carroll, Graham Head, Bruce E. Tabashnik, Peter Søgaard Jørgensen, Scott P. Carroll. Crop rotation mitigates impacts of corn rootworm resistance to transgenic Bt corn. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jul 2020, 202003604. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | Zack Brown | 2020 | Transgenic crops that produce insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can suppress pests and reduce insecticide sprays, but their efficacy is reduced when pests evolve resistance. Although farmers plant refuges of non-Bt host plants to delay pest resistance, this tactic has not been sufficient against the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. In the United States, some populations of this devastating pest have rapidly evolved practical resistance to Cry3 toxins and Cry34/35Ab, the only Bt toxins in commercially available corn that kill rootworms. Here, we analyzed data from 2011 to 2016 on Bt corn fields producing Cry3Bb alone that were severely damaged by this pest in 25 crop-reporting districts of Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. The annual mean frequency of these problem fields was 29 fields (range 7 to 70) per million acres of Cry3Bb corn in 2011 to 2013, with a cost of $163 to $227 per damaged acre. The frequency of problem fields declined by 92% in 2014 to 2016 relative to 2011 to 2013 and was negatively associated with rotation of corn with soybean. The effectiveness of corn rotation for mitigating Bt resistance problems did not differ significantly between crop-reporting districts with versus without prevalent rotation-resistant rootworm populations. In some analyses, the frequency of problem fields was positively associated with planting of Cry3 corn and negatively associated with planting of Bt corn producing both a Cry3 toxin and Cry34/35Ab. The results highlight the central role of crop rotation for mitigating impacts of D. v. virgifera resistance to Bt corn. | Resistance Management, Resistance Mitigation, Landscape Analysis | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | 10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | 7/21/2020 | 10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | ||||||
| Building biosecurity for synthetic biology | Benjamin D Trump, SE Galaitsi, Evan Appleton, Diederik A Bleijs, Marie�Valentine Florin, Jimmy D Gollihar, R Alexander Hamilton, Todd Kuiken, et al. Building biosecurity for synthetic biology. PNAS, Jul 2020, 202003604. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003604117. Download PDF | Todd Kuiken | 2020 | The fast�paced field of synthetic biology is fundamentally changing the global biosecurity framework. Current biosecurity regulations and strategies are based on previous governance paradigms for pathogen�oriented security, recombinant DNA research, and broader concerns related to genetically modified organisms (GMO s). Many scholarly discussions and biosecurity practitioners are therefore concerned that synthetic biology outpaces established biosafety and biosecurity measures to prevent deliberate and malicious or inadvertent and accidental misuse of synthetic biology's processes or products. This commentary proposes three strategies to improve biosecurity: Security must be treated as an investment in the future applicability of the technology; social scientists and policy makers should be engaged early in technology development and forecasting; and coordination among global stakeholders is necessary to ensure acceptable levels of risk. | Biosecurity, Synthetic Biology, STS, Policy, Public Engagement | https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20209723 | 10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | 7/21/2020 | 10.1073/pnas.2003604117 | ||||||
| Before genetically modified mosquitoes are released, we need a better EPA | Natalie Kofler and Jennifer Kuzma. Before genetically modified mosquitoes are released, we need a better EPA. Boston Globe, Published: 22 June 2020. Online at: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/opinion/before-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-are-released-we-need-better-epa/. Download PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | If risks are being assessed, it is largely happening behind closed doors between technology developers and EPA employees. | EPA, Transparency, GM Mosquitoes, Disease Control, Governance | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/opinion/before-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-are-released-we-need-better-epa/ | 0 | 6/22/2020 | |||||||
| Genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in Florida and Texas beginning this summer – silver bullet or jumping the gun? | Allan, Brian, Chris Stone, Holly Tuten, Jennifer Kuzma, Natalie Kofler. Genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in Florida and Texas beginning this summer – silver bullet or jumping the gun?. The Conversation, Published: 3 June 2020. Online at: https://theconversation.com/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-could-be-released-in-florida-and-texas-beginning-this-summer-silver-bullet-or-jumping-the-gun-139710. Download PDF | Jennifer Kuzma | 2020 | This summer, for the first time, genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the U.S. On May 1, 2020, the company Oxitec received an experimental use permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release millions of GM mosquitoes (labeled by Oxitec as OX5034) every week over the next two years in Florida and Texas. Females of this mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, transmit dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses. When these lab-bred GM males are released and mate with wild females, their female offspring die. Continual, large-scale releases of these OX5034 GM males should eventually cause the temporary collapse of a wild population. However, as vector biologists, geneticists, policy experts and bioethicists, we are concerned that current government oversight and scientific evaluation of GM mosquitoes do not ensure their responsible deployment. | EPA, Transparency, GM Mosquitoes, Disease Control, Governance | https://theconversation.com/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-could-be-released-in-florida-and-texas-beginning-this-summer-silver-bullet-or-jumping-the-gun-139710 | 0 | 6/5/2020 | |||||||
| Point of View: Bioengineering horizon scan 2020 | Kemp, L. et al. Point of View: Bioengineering horizon scan 2020. eLife 2020; 9:e54489, doi: 10.7554/eLife.54489. Feature Article 29 May, 2020. Download PDF | Todd Kuiken | 2020 | Horizon scanning is intended to identify the opportunities and threats associated with technological, regulatory and social change. In 2017 some of the present authors conducted a horizon scan for bioengineering (Wintle et al., 2017). Here we report the results of a new horizon scan that is based on inputs from a larger and more international group of 38 participants. The final list of 20 issues includes topics spanning from the political (the regulation of genomic data, increased philanthropic funding and malicious uses of neurochemicals) to the environmental (crops for changing climates and agricultural gene drives). The early identification of such issues is relevant to researchers, policy-makers and the wider public. | Genetics And Genomics, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Horizon Scanning, Foresight, Human Biology And Medicine | https://elifesciences.org/articles/54489 | 10.7554/eLife.54489 | 5/29/2020 | 10.7554/eLife.54489 | ||||||
| A typology of beliefs and misperceptions about the influenza disease and vaccine among older adults in Singapore | Cummings CL, Kong WY, Orminski J (2020) A typology of beliefs and misperceptions about the influenza disease and vaccine among older adults in Singapore. PLoS ONE 15(5): e0232472. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232472 Download PDF | Christopher L. Cummings | 2020 | Access to the influenza vaccine pose little barriers in developed countries such as Singapore and vaccination against influenza is highly recommended for at-risk populations including older adults. However, vaccination rates are much lower than recommended despite the significant morbidity and mortality associated with the disease among this vulnerable population. Given timely goals to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake, we explored Singaporean older adults’ misperceptions about influenza disease and vaccine. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted among 76 Singaporean adults aged 65 and above with no focus on a specific area in Singapore. Data were analyzed with grounded theory methods to understand participants’ attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge. We developed in vivo codes that reflect the verbiage used by participants and exhaustively catalogued themes through a constant comparison coding method. Focusing specifically on older adults’ misperceptions, seven main themes about influenza disease or vaccine emerged from our data analysis: familiarity with influenza, misperceptions about influenza, personal susceptibility to influenza, familiarity with the influenza vaccine, misperceptions about the influenza vaccine, misperceptions about influenza vaccine usage, and opinions about and barriers to influenza vaccine uptake. Notably, there is a lack of adequate knowledge and motivation in vaccinating against influenza among older adults in Singapore. Health communication needs to be more tailored toward older adults’ message processing systems and engage health professionals’ involvement in addressing the influenza disease and vaccine misperceptions identified in this study. | Flu, Vaccines, Misperceptions, Public Engagement, Health Communication | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0232472&fbclid=IwAR0JPQkiZrZ4YORCF_hAipv4TqcwLXSLeRISIQtp02WWQkpkBfDc-7bFw8A | 10.1371/journal.pone.0232472 | 5/7/2020 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0232472 | ||||||
| Pandemics Call for Systems Approaches to Research and Funding | Kuzma, Jennifer, Khara D. Grieger, Zachary S. Brown, and Christopher L. Cummings. “Pandemics Call for Systems Approaches to Research and Funding.� Issues in Science and Technology (May 4, 2020) Download PDF | Jennifer Kuzma, Khara Grieger, Christopher L. Cummings, Zack Brown | 2020 | National strategies must incorporate social as well as natural sciences. | Coronavirus, COVID-19, Governance, Social Sciences | https://issues.org/pandemics-call-for-systems-approaches/ | 0 | 5/4/2020 | |||||||
| Social license and synthetic biology: the trouble with mining terms | Jason A. Delborne, Adam E. Kokotovich & Jeantine E. Lunshof (2020) Social license and synthetic biology: the trouble with mining terms. Journal of Responsible Innovation. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2020.1738023. Published: 06 April 2020. Download PDF | Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich | 2020 | In the wake of controversies over first-generation biotechnologies, the growing field of synthetic biology appears cognizant of the need to attend to the social, political, cultural, and ethical dimensions of innovation. Public engagement has emerged as an important means for attending to these dimensions. Here, we call attention to the problematic nature of one paradigm being drawn upon to conceptualize this public engagement for synthetic biology: social license to operate (SLO). After reviewing SLO’s emergence in the resource extraction context and the existing critiques of SLO, we examine its current use in the synthetic biology literature. We argue that an SLO-derived model of engagement is especially inadequate for synthetic biology due to unique challenges posed by synthetic biology and the limited conception of engagement provided by SLO. We conclude by discussing alternative public engagement paradigms and examples better suited to inform synthetic biology governance. | Community And Stakeholder Engagement, Public Engagement, Responsible Research And Innovation, Social License To Operate, Synthetic Biology | https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2020.1738023 | 10.1080/23299460.2020.1738023 | 4/6/2020 | 10.1080/23299460.2020.1738023 | ||||||
| Emerging Technologies for Invasive Insects: The Role of Engagement | Adam E. Kokotovich, Jason A. Delborne, Johanna Elsensohn, and Hannah Burrack. Emerging Technologies for Invasive Insects: The Role of Engagement. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, XX(X), 2019, 1–14, doi: 10.1093/aesa/saz064 Special Collection. Published: 16 March 2020. Download PDF | Adam Kokotovich, Jason Delborne, Johanna Elsensohn, Hannah Burrack | 2020 | Emerging technologies have the potential to offer new applications for managing invasive insects. While scientific and technological advancements are vital to realizing this potential, the successful development and use of these applications will also largely depend on community and stakeholder engagement. To contribute to a relevant and rigorous envisioning of engagement for emerging technologies for invasive insects (ETII), we begin by reviewing key insights on engagement from three scholarly fields: invasive species management, responsible research and innovation, and ecological risk assessment. Across these fields we glean best practices for engagement for ETII: 1) pursue engagement across decision phases and sectors; 2) select context-appropriate participants and methods; and 3) recognize and navigate engagement-related tensions. We illustrate these best practices by describing an ongoing project that uses engagement to inform risk assessment and broader decision making on biotechnologies being developed to address the Spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) invasive fruit fly. We describe completed and planned engagement activities designed to identify and prioritize potential adverse effects, benefits, management actions, and research actions of the proposed genetically engineered sterile male, gene drive, and RNAi biotechnologies. In the face of broadening calls for engagement on emerging technologies, this article provides theoretical and empirical insights that can guide future engagement for ETII. | Responsible Research And Innovation, Ecological Risk Assessment, Invasive Species Management, Community And Stakeholder Engagement, Drosophila Suzukii | https://academic.oup.com/aesa/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aesa/saz064/5748321 | 10.1093/aesa/saz064/5748321 | 3/16/2020 | 10.1093/aesa/saz064/5748321 | ||||||
| The impact of local population genetic background on the spread of the selfish element Medea�1 in red flour beetles | Sarah A. Cash, Michael A. Robert, Marce D. Lorenzen, and Fred Gould. The impact of local population genetic background on the spread of the selfish element Medea�1 in red flour beetles. Ecol Evol,2020; 10: 863– 874. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5946. Published: 19 December 2019. Download PDF | Fred Gould, Marce Lorenzen | 2019 | Selfish genetic elements have been found in the genomes of many species, yet our understanding of their evolutionary dynamics is only partially understood. A number of distinct selfish Medea elements are naturally present in many populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Although these Medea elements are predicted by models to increase in frequency within populations because any offspring of a Medea�bearing mother that do not inherit at least one Medea allele will die, experiments demonstrating an increase in a naturally occurring Medea element are lacking. Our survey of the specific Medea element, M1, in the United States showed that it had a patchy geographic distribution. From the survey, it could not be determined if this distribution was caused by a slow process of M1 colonization of discrete populations or if some populations lacked M1 because they had genetic factors conferring resistance to the Medea mechanism. We show that populations with naturally low to intermediate M1 frequencies likely represent transient states during the process of Medea spread. Furthermore, we find no evidence that genetic factors are excluding M1 from US populations where the element is not presently found. We also show how a known suppressor of Medea can impair the increase of M1 in populations and discuss the implications of our findings for pest�management applications of Medea elements. | Natural Gene Drive, Maternal Effect, Medea, Red Flour Beetle, Selfish Genetic Element | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.5946 | 10.1002/ece3.5946 | 12/19/2019 | 10.1002/ece3.5946 | ||||||
| The distribution and spread of naturally occurring Medea selfish genetic elements in the United States | Sarah A. Cash, Marce D. Lorenzen, and Fred Gould. The distribution and spread of naturally occurring Medea selfish genetic elements in the United States. Ecol Evol, 2019; 9: 14407– 14416. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5876. Published: 27 November 2019. Download PDF | Fred Gould, Marce Lorenzen | 2019 | Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are DNA sequences that are transmitted to viable offspring in greater than Mendelian frequencies. Medea SGEs occur naturally in some populations of red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and are expected to increase in frequency within populations and spread among populations. The large�scale U.S. distributions of Medea�4 (M4) had been mapped based on samples from 1993 to 1995. We sampled beetles in 2011–2014 and show that the distribution of M4 in the United States is dynamic and has shifted southward. By using a genetic marker of Medea�1 (M1), we found five unique geographic clusters with high and low M1 frequencies in a pattern not predicted by microsatellite�based analysis of population structure. Our results indicate the absence of rigid barriers to Medea spread in the United States, so assessment of what factors have limited its current distribution requires further investigation. There is great interest in using synthetic SGEs, including synthetic Medea, to alter or suppress pest populations, but there is concern about unpredicted spread of these SGEs and potential for populations to become resistant to them. The finding of patchy distributions of Medea elements suggests that released synthetic SGEs cannot always be expected to spread uniformly, especially in target species with limited dispersal. | Natural Gene Drive, Maternal Effect, Medea, Red Flour Beetle, Selfish Genetic Element | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.5876 | 10.1002/ece3.5876 | 11/27/2019 | 10.1002/ece3.5876 | ||||||
| Scenario analysis on the use of rodenticides and sex-biasing gene drives for the removal of invasive house mice on islands | Megan E. Serr, Rene X. Valdez, Kathleen S. Barnhill, John Godwin, Todd Kuiken & Matthew Booker. Scenario analysis on the use of rodenticides and sex-biasing gene drives for the removal of invasive house mice on islands. Biological Invasions (2020) pp 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10530-019-02192-6. Published: 02 January 2020. | Megan Serr, Rene Valdez, Katie Barnhill, John Godwin, Todd Kuiken, Matthew Booker | 2020 | Since the 1960s conservation efforts have focused on recovering island biodiversity by eradicating invasive rodents. These eradication campaigns have led to considerable conservation gains, particularly for nesting seabirds. However, eradications are complex and lengthy endeavors and are even more challenging when humans are co-inhabitants of the targeted island. Furthermore, the method of eradication matters and recent proposals to consider genetic technologies for rodent eradication require specific scrutiny. One such technology is the potential use of a gene drive for biasing offspring sex ratios in invasive house mice, Mus musculus, that would spread and prevent the production of one sex, allowing die-off from lack of reproduction and natural attrition. Practitioners can gain insight into the potential for adoption of this technology from examining stakeholder engagement. This paper uses scenario analysis to address the eradication of rodents on inhabited and uninhabited islands, by specifically comparing the traditional approach of using rodenticides with sex-biasing gene drives. Concurrently the International Union for Conservation of Nature is assessing the risks and value of gene drives in general for conservation. Hence, we make the case that the ethical challenges with the use of gene drive sex-biasing techniques and the effectiveness of this tool will rely as much on its public acceptance and its democratic use as the actual science used to construct the technology. | Preserving Island Biodiversity, Rodent Eradications, Synthetic Biology, Stakeholder Engagement, Public Perceptions | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-019-02192-6 | 10.1007/s10530-019-02192-6 | 1/2/2020 | 10.1007/s10530-019-02192-6 | ||||||
| Articulating ‘free, prior and informed consent’ (FPIC) for engineered gene drives | Dalton R. George, Todd Kuiken, and Jason A. Delborne. Articulating ‘free, prior and informed consent’ (FPIC) for engineered gene drives. Proc. Royal Soc. B. Vol. 286, Issue 1917. Published: 18 December 2019. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1484 | Dalton George, Todd Kuiken, Jason Delborne | 2019 | Recent statements by United Nations bodies point to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as a potential requirement in the development of engineered gene drive applications. As a concept developed in the context of protecting Indigenous rights to self-determination in land development scenarios, FPIC would need to be extended to apply to the context of ecological editing. Without an explicit framework of application, FPIC could be interpreted as a narrowly framed process of community consultation focused on the social implications of technology, and award little formal or advisory power in decision-making to Indigenous peoples and local communities. In this paper, we argue for an articulation of FPIC that attends to issues of transparency, iterative community-scale consent, and shared power through co-development among Indigenous peoples, local communities, researchers and technology developers. In realizing a comprehensive FPIC process, researchers and developers have an opportunity to incorporate enhanced participation and social guidance mechanisms into the design, development and implementation of engineered gene drive applications. | Community Engagement, Indigenous Peoples, Responsible Research And Innovation, Convention On Biological Diversity, Public Engagement, Biodiversity | http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1484 | 10.1098/rspb.2019.1484 | 12/18/2019 | 10.1098/rspb.2019.1484 | ||||||
| Genetic Engineering and Society | Barnes, J., Pitts, E., Barnhill, S., & Delborne, J.. (2019) Genetic Engineering and Society. In T. Pittinsky (Ed.), Science, Technology, and Society: New Perspectives and Directions (pp. 203-233). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316691489.009. Published: November 2019. | Megan Serr, Rene Valdez, Katie Barnhill, John Godwin, Todd Kuiken, Matthew Booker | 2019 | Genetic engineering disrupts assumed distinctions between nature and culture, between human and nonhuman, and between the production of knowledge and the production of commercially viable products. As a result, this area of technological development continues to inspire science and technology studies (STS) researchers not only to rethink theoretical paradigms, but also to test and retest a variety of ways to intervene in science and society.Also referred to as genetic modification, genetic engineering involves inserting, deleting, or modifying an organism’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), or proteins to change its characteristics, or traits (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM], 2016b). Genetically engineered organisms are forms of biotechnology, a broad category that encompasses a variety of ways of altering biological materials and processes to make them more useful for human purposes. Although the selection of desirable traits in living organisms dates at least to the invention of agriculture, contemporary genetic approaches are particularly indebted to Darwin’s (1859/2001) research on evolution and Mendel’s (1866) study of heredity (NASEM, 2016b). | Genetic Engineering, Society, Public Engagement | https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/science-technology-and-society/genetic-engineering-and-society/D88D66339C9D75EDD3B89F5BD316ED94 | 10.1017/9781316691489.009 | 11/30/2019 | 10.1017/9781316691489.009 | ||||||
| Synthetic Biology 2020: Frontiers in Risk Analysis and Governance | Trump, B. D., Cummings, C. L., Kuzma, J. & Linkov, I. (2020). Synthetic Biology 2020: Frontiers in Risk Analysis and Governance. Springer, Cham.doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-27264-7. ISBN: 978-3-030-27263-0. First online: 29 November 2019 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2019 | IntroductionSynthetic biology offers powerful remedies for some of the world’s most intractable problems, but these solutions are clouded by uncertainty and risk that few strategies are available to address. The incentives for continued development of this emerging technology are prodigious and obvious, and the public deserves assurances that all potential downsides are duly considered and minimized accordingly. Incorporating social science analysis within the innovation process may impose constraints, but its simultaneous support in making the end products more acceptable to society at large should be considered a worthy trade-off | Synthetic Biology, Risk, Social Science, Policy, Governance | https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-27264-7 | 10.1007/978-3-030-27264-7 | 11/29/2019 | 10.1007/978-3-030-27264-7 | ||||||
| Economic Principles and Concepts in Area-Wide Genetic Pest Management | Zachary Brown, Mike Jones, John Mumford. (2019) Economic Principles and Concepts in Area-Wide Genetic Pest Management. Eds. Onstad, D. W., & Crain, P. in The Economics of Integrated Pest Management of Insects. (pp. 96-121) CABI. doi: 10.1079/9781786393678.0096 | Zack Brown, Michael S. Jones | 2019 | The objective of the article was to explore the key economic principles for the inclusion of genetically engineered insects within integrated pest management (IPM) programmes, discussing proposed examples with agriculture and health applications. | Genetic Pest Management, Genetic Engineering | https://www.cabi.org/cabebooks/ebook/20193342015 | 10.1079/9781786393678.0096 | 9/18/2019 | 10.1079/9781786393678.0096 | ||||||
| From risk perception to risk governance in nanotechnology: a multi-stakeholder study. | Porcari, A., Borsella, E., Benighaus, C., Grieger, K. et al. From risk perception to risk governance in nanotechnology: a multi-stakeholder study. Journal of Nanoparticle Research (2019) 21: 245. doi: 10.1007/s11051-019-4689-9. Published: 21 November 2019. Download PDF | Khara Grieger | 2019 | Nanotechnology is widely used in several industrial and consumer sectors and has the potential to grow further and expand globally. An exploration of stakeholder (SH)’s perceptions is essential to ensuring that robust risk governance processes are in place for nanotechnology and nano-related products. In response, numerous studies have been conducted to investigate SH’s perceptions of nanotechnology and nano-related products over the past 15 years. To build on this work and to capture current perceptions across a wide panel of SHs, we conducted a multi-national and cross-sectoral SH study of awareness, perceptions and opinions regarding the use and potential impact on society and the environment of nanomaterials (NMs) and nano-related products, and SH’s expectations about risk governance. The study was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative inquiries and targeted more than 3000 SHs across different sectors in a total of 15 countries. Results showed a tendency towards more convergence of opinions amongst all the relevant SHs and the public respondents than in past studies. There was consensus on the crucial importance of having unbiased, scientific and trustable information regarding the potential impacts of NMs and nano-related products on the environment, health and safety. SHs were interested in having more internationally harmonised and robust regulation for NMs and nano-related products; improved scientific evidence on nanomaterial hazards, exposures and effects; as well as specific guidance on the safe use of NMs. Overall, this work provides an updated scenario of SHs’ perceptions regarding nanotechnology and nano-related products, underscoring the importance of including SH needs in effective risk governance strategies. | Nanomaterials, Nano-Related Products, Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Risk Communication, Decision Analysis, Risk-Benefit Of Nanomaterials, Societal Implications | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-019-4689-9 | 10.1007/s11051-019-4689-9 | 11/21/2019 | 10.1007/s11051-019-4689-9 | ||||||
| Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs | John Godwin, Megan Serr, S. Kathleen Barnhill , Dimitri V. Blondel, Peter R. Brown, Karl Campbell, Jason Delborne, Alun L. Lloyd , et al. Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Volume 286, Issue 1914, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1606. Published: 06 November 2019. Download PDF | John Godwin, Megan Serr, Katie Barnhill, Jason Delborne, Alun Lloyd | 2019 | Invasive rodents impact biodiversity, human health and food security worldwide. The biodiversity impacts are particularly significant on islands, which are the primary sites of vertebrate extinctions and where we are reaching the limits of current control technologies. Gene drives may represent an effective approach to this challenge, but knowledge gaps remain in a number of areas. This paper is focused on what is currently known about natural and developing synthetic gene drive systems in mice, some key areas where key knowledge gaps exist, findings in a variety of disciplines relevant to those gaps and a brief consideration of how engagement at the regulatory, stakeholder and community levels can accompany and contribute to this effort. Our primary species focus is the house mouse, Mus musculus, as a genetic model system that is also an important invasive pest. Our primary application focus is the development of gene drive systems intended to reduce reproduction and potentially eliminate invasive rodents from islands. Gene drive technologies in rodents have the potential to produce significant benefits for biodiversity conservation, human health and food security. A broad-based, multidisciplinary approach is necessary to assess this potential in a transparent, effective and responsible manner. | Rodent, Biodiversity, Gene Drive, Island, Mice, Genetics, Behaviour | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.1606 | 10.1098/rspb.2019.1606 | 11/6/2019 | 10.1098/rspb.2019.1606 | ||||||
| Best practices from nano-risk analysis relevant for other emerging technologies | Khara Grieger, Jacob L. Jones, Steffen Foss Hansen, Christine Ogilvie Hendren, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Jennifer Kuzma & Anders Baun . Best practices from nano-risk analysis relevant for other emerging technologies. Nature Nanotechnology, 14, pages 998–1001(2019) doi: 10.1038/s41565-019-0572-1. Published: 06 November 2019. Download PDF | Khara Grieger | 2019 | The experiences gained from the past 15 years of nanomaterial risk analysis may be useful for the risk analysis efforts of other emerging technologies. | Environmental Health And Safety Issues, Research Management | https://rdcu.be/bWvQE | 10.1038/s41565-019-0572-1 | 11/6/2019 | 10.1038/s41565-019-0572-1 | ||||||
| Rooted in Recognition: Indigenous Environmental Justice and the Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Tree | S. Kathleen Barnhill, Louie Rivers & Jason A. Delborne (2019) Rooted in Recognition: Indigenous Environmental Justice and the Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Tree. Society & Natural Resources, doi: 10.1080/08941920.2019.1685145. Published: 05 November 2019. Download PDF | Katie Barnhill, Louie Rivers, Jason Delborne | 2019 | The restoration plan for the American chestnut tree includes the potential wild release of a genetically engineered tree in close proximity to the sovereign Haudenosaunee communities of Central and Upstate New York. As such, inclusive deliberative frameworks are needed to consider the implications for these communities. Indigenous environmental justice highlights the importance of recognizing tribal sovereignty and Indigenous worldviews as foundational to more just environmental governance. This paper examines how the case of genetically engineered American chestnut tree highlights the importance of recognizing tribal sovereignty and Indigenous worldviews in considering a GE organism for species restoration. | Chestnut Restoration, Genetic Engineering, Indigenous Environmental Justice | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08941920.2019.1685145 | 10.1080/08941920.2019.1685145 | 11/5/2019 | 10.1080/08941920.2019.1685145 | ||||||
| Locally Fixed Alleles: A method to localize gene drive to island populations | Sudweeks, J., Hollingsworth, B., Blondel, D.V., Lloyd, A.L. et al.. Locally Fixed Alleles: A method to localize gene drive to island populations. Nature Scientific Reports, 9, Article number: 15821 (2019) doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51994-0. Published: 01 November 2019. Download PDF | Jayce Sudweeks, John Godwin, J. Royden Saah, Michael Vella, Fred Gould, Alun Lloyd | 2019 | Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity on islands. While successes have been achieved using traditional removal methods, such as toxicants aimed at rodents, these approaches have limitations and various off-target effects on island ecosystems. Gene drive technologies designed to eliminate a population provide an alternative approach, but the potential for drive-bearing individuals to escape from the target release area and impact populations elsewhere is a major concern. Here we propose the “Locally Fixed Alleles� approach as a novel means for localizing elimination by a drive to an island population that exhibits significant genetic isolation from neighboring populations. | Ecological Modeling, Evolutionary Ecology, Evolutionary Genetics | https://rdcu.be/bWvRL | 10.1038/s41598-019-51994-0 | 11/1/2019 | 10.1038/s41598-019-51994-0 | ||||||
| Threshold-Dependent Gene Drives in the Wild: Spread, Controllability, and Ecological Uncertainty | Gregory A Backus, Jason A Delborne. Threshold-Dependent Gene Drives in the Wild: Spread, Controllability, and Ecological Uncertainty. BioScience, biz098, doi: 10.1093/biosci/biz098. Published: 18 September 2019. Download PDF | Gregory Backus, Jason Delborne | 2019 | Gene drive technology could allow the intentional spread of a desired gene throughout an entire wild population in relatively few generations. However, there are major concerns that gene drives could either fail to spread or spread without restraint beyond the targeted population. One potential solution is to use more localized threshold-dependent drives, which only spread when they are released in a population above a critical frequency. However, under certain conditions, small changes in gene drive fitness could lead to divergent outcomes in spreading behavior. In the face of ecological uncertainty, the inability to estimate gene drive fitness in a real-world context could prove problematic because gene drives designed to be localized could spread to fixation in neighboring populations if ecological conditions unexpectedly favor the gene drive. This perspective offers guidance to developers and managers because navigating gene drive spread and controllability could be risky without detailed knowledge of ecological contexts. | Gene Drive, Ecology, Conservation, Uncertainty, Modeling, Biotechnology | https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz098/5559621 | 10.1093/biosci/biz098/5559621 | 9/18/2019 | 10.1093/biosci/biz098/5559621 | ||||||
| Does the U.S. public support using gene drives in agriculture? And what do they want to know? | Michael S. Jones, Jason. A. Delborne, Johanna Elsensohn, Paul D. Mitchell, Zachary S. Brown. Does the U.S. public support using gene drives in agriculture? And what do they want to know?. Science Advances 11 Sep 2019; Vol. 5, no. 9, eaau8462. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8462. Download PDF | Michael S. Jones, Jason Delborne, Johanna Elsensohn, Zack Brown | 2019 | Gene drive development is progressing more rapidly than our understanding of public values toward these technologies. We analyze a statistically representative survey (n = 1018) of U.S. adult attitudes toward agricultural gene drives. When informed about potential risks, benefits, and two previously researched applications, respondents’ support/opposition depends heavily (+22%/−19%) on whether spread of drives can be limited, non-native versus native species are targeted (+12%/−9%), or the drive replaces versus suppresses target species (±2%). The one-fifth of respondents seeking out non–GMO–labeled food are more likely to oppose drives, although their support exceeds opposition for limited applications. Over 62% trust U.S. universities and the Department of Agriculture to research gene drives, with the private sector and Department of Defense viewed as more untrustworthy. Uncertain human health and ecological effects are the public’s most important concerns to resolve. These findings can inform responsible innovation in gene drive development and risk assessment. | Gene Drive, Agricultural Biotechnology, Public Engagement, Survey, Public Opinion | https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/9/eaau8462 | 10.1126/sciadv.aau8462 | 9/11/2019 | 10.1126/sciadv.aau8462 | ||||||
| Biological Interactions between Nanomaterials and Placental Development and Function Following Oral Exposure | Ninell P. Mortensen, Leah M. Johnson, Khara D. Grieger, Jeffrey L. Ambroso, Timothy R. Fennell. Biological Interactions between Nanomaterials and Placental Development and Function Following Oral Exposure. Reproductive Toxicology - Published Online August 2019. ISSN 0890-6238, doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.08.016. | Khara Grieger | 2019 | We summarize the literature involving the deposition of nanomaterials within the placenta following oral exposure and the biological interactions between nanomaterials and placental development and function. The review focuses on the oral exposure of metal and metal oxide engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), carbon-based ENMs, and nanoplastics in animal models, with a minor discussion of intravenous injections. Although the literature suggests that the placenta is an efficient barrier in preventing nanomaterials from reaching the fetus, nanomaterials that accumulate in the placenta may interfere with its development and function. Furthermore, some studies have demonstrated a decrease in placental weight and association with adverse fetal health outcomes following oral exposure to nanomaterials. Since nanomaterials are increasingly used in food, food packaging, and have been discovered in drinking water, the risk for adverse impacts on placental development and functions, with secondary effects on embryo-fetal development, following unintentional maternal ingestion of nanomaterials requires further investigation. | Nanoparticles, Nano-Toxicology, Placental Function | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623818306701 | 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.08.016 | 8/30/2019 | 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.08.016 | ||||||
| Rethinking restoration targets for American chestnut using species distribution modeling | Barnes, J.C. and Delborne, J.A. (2019) Rethinking restoration targets for American chestnut using species distribution modeling. Biodiversity and Conservation, FirstOnline doi: 10.1007/s10531-019-01814-8. | Jessica Cavin Barnes, Jason Delborne | 2019 | Given the scale and speed of contemporary environmental changes, intensive conservation interventions are increasingly being proposed that would assist the evolution of adaptive traits in threatened species. The ambition of these projects is tempered by a number of concerns, including the potential maladaptation of manipulated organisms for contemporary and future climatic conditions in their historical ranges. Following the guidelines of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, we use a species distribution model (SDM) to consider the potential impact of climate change on the distribution and quantity of suitable habitat for American chestnut (Castanea dentata), a functionally extinct forest species that has been the focus of various restoration efforts for over 100 years. Consistent with other SDMs for North American trees, our model shows contraction of climatically suitable habitat for American chestnut within the species’ historical range and the expansion of climatically suitable habitat in regions to the north of it by 2080. These broad changes have significant implications for restoration practice. In particular, they highlight the importance of germplasm conservation, local adaptation, and addressing knowledge gaps about the interspecific interactions of American chestnut. More generally, this model demonstrates that the goals of assisted evolution projects, which often aim to maintain species in their native ranges, need to account for the uncertainty and novelty of future environmental conditions. | Environmental Conservation, Genetic Engineering, Forestry, Forest Biotechnology, Native Plants | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-019-01814-8 | 10.1007/s10531-019-01814-8. | 7/2/2019 | 10.1007/s10531-019-01814-8. | ||||||
| Synthetic Biology and the United Nations | Hung-En Lai, Caoimhe Canavan, Loren Cameron, Simon Moore, Monika Danchenko, Todd Kuiken, et. al. (2019) Synthetic Biology and the United Nations. Trends in Biotechnology. ISSN 0167-7799, doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.05.011. Download PDF | Todd Kuiken | 2019 | Synthetic biology is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field of science and engineering that aims to redesign living systems through reprogramming genetic information. The field has catalysed global debate among policymakers and publics. Here we describe how synthetic biology relates to these international deliberations, particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). | Synthetic Biology, United Nations, Regulatory Policy, Biodiversity, Conservation, International Treaty | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167779919301337 | 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.05.011. | 6/27/2019 | 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.05.011. | ||||||
| Workshop Report for “Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Gene Drive Mouse for Biodiversity Protection on Islands� | Mahmud Farooque, S. Kathleen Barnhill, Julie Shapiro, and Jason Delborne. “Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Gene Drive Mouse for Biodiversity Protection on Islands� Workshop Report. June 2019. Available online at http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-gene-drive-workshop. Download PDF | Jason Delborne, Katie Barnhill | 2019 | Island Biodiversity, Gene Drive, Stakeholder Engagement, Species Conservation | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/research/biodiversity-and-gene-drive-mice/ | 0 | 6/24/2019 | ||||||||
| Genetic frontiers for conservation: An assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation | Genetic frontiers for conservation : an assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation: synthesis and key messages. IUCN Task Force on Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation. 2019. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2019.04.en. Download PDF | Todd Kuiken, Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich | 2019 | In recent years synthetic biology has emerged as a suite of techniques and technologies that enable humans to read, interpret, modify, design and manufacture DNA in order to rapidly influence the forms and functions of cells and organisms, with the potential to reach whole species and ecosystems. As synthetic biology continues to evolve, new tools emerge, novel applications are proposed, and basic research is applied. This assessment is one part of IUCN’s effort to provide recommendations and guidance regarding the potential positive and negative impacts of synthetic biology on biodiversity conservation; it comprises a full assessment and a short synthesis report. | Synthetic Biology, Biodiversity Conservation, Genetic Resources, IUCN, International Union For Conservation Of Nature | https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48409 | 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2019.04.en. | 5/9/2019 | 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2019.04.en. | ||||||
| Gene drive dynamics in natural populations: The importance of density-dependence, space and sex | Sumit Dhole, Alun L. Lloyd, and Fred Gould. (2020) Gene drive dynamics in natural populations: The importance of density-dependence, space and sex. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics. [Pre-print] submitted May 4, 2020 201901886. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-031120-101013. Download | Fred Gould, Sumit Dhole, Alun Lloyd | 2019 | The spread of synthetic gene drives is often discussed in the context of panmictic populations connected by gene flow and described with simple deterministic models. Under such assumptions, an entire species could be altered by releasing a single individual carrying an invasive gene drive, such as a standard homing drive. While this remains a theoretical possibility, gene drive spread in natural populations is more complex and merits a more realistic assessment. The fate of any gene drive released in a population would be inextricably linked to the ecology of the population. Given the uncertainty often involved in ecological assessment of natural populations, understanding the sensitivity of gene drive spread to important ecological factors is critical. Here we review how different forms of density-dependence, spatial heterogeneity and mating behaviors can impact the spread of self-sustaining gene drives. We highlight specific aspects of gene drive dynamics and the target populations that need further research. | Gene Drive, Models, Population Ecology, Genetic Pest Management, Underdominance, CRISPR, Spatial Dynamics, Density-Dependence, Population Alteration | https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.01838 | 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-031120-101013 | 5/4/2019 | 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-031120-101013 | ||||||
| Risk Governance of Nanomaterials: Review of Criteria and Tools for Risk Communication, Evaluation, and Mitigation | Isigonis P, Hristozov D, Benighaus C, Giubilato E, Grieger K, Pizzol L, Semenzin E, Linkov I, Zabeo A, Marcomini A. Risk Governance of Nanomaterials: Review of Criteria and Tools for Risk Communication, Evaluation, and Mitigation. Nanomaterials. 2019; 9(5):696. doi: 10.3390/nano9050696 Download PDF | Khara Grieger | 2019 | Nanotechnologies have been increasingly used in industrial applications and consumer products across several sectors, including construction, transportation, energy, and healthcare. The widespread application of these technologies has raised concerns regarding their environmental, health, societal, and economic impacts. This has led to the investment of enormous resources in Europe and beyond into the development of tools to facilitate the risk assessment and management of nanomaterials, and to inform more robust risk governance process. In this context, several risk governance frameworks have been developed. In our study, we present and review those, and identify a set of criteria and tools for risk evaluation, mitigation, and communication, the implementation of which can inform better risk management decision-making by various stakeholders from e.g., industry, regulators, and the civil society. Based on our analysis, we recommend specific methods from decision science and information technologies that can improve the existing risk governance tools so that they can communicate, evaluate, and mitigate risks more transparently, taking stakeholder perspectives and expert opinion into account, and considering all relevant criteria in establishing the risk-benefit balance of these emerging technologies to enable more robust decisions about the governance of their risks. | Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Risk Analysis, Tools, Communication, Stakeholders | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/5/696 | 10.3390/nano9050696 | 5/4/2019 | 10.3390/nano9050696 | ||||||
| Emerging risk governance for stratospheric aerosol injection as a climate management technology | Khara D. Grieger, Tyler Felgenhauer, Ortwin Renn, Jonathan Wiener, Mark Borsuk (2019). Emerging risk governance for stratospheric aerosol injection as a climate management technology. Environment Systems and Decisions. doi: 10.1007/s10669-019-09730-6. Download | Khara Grieger | 2019 | Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) as a solar radiation management (SRM) technology may provide a cost-effective means of avoiding some of the worst impacts of climate change, being perhaps orders of magnitude less expensive than greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. At the same time, SAI technologies have deeply uncertain economic and environmental impacts and complex ethical, legal, political, and international relations ramifications. Robust governance strategies are needed to manage the many potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties related to SAI. This perspective reviews the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC)’s guidelines for emerging risk governance (ERG) as an approach for responsible consideration of SAI, given the IRGC’s experience in governing other more conventional risks. We examine how the five steps of the IRGC’s ERG guidelines would address the complex, uncertain, and ambiguous risks presented by SAI. Diverse risks are identified in Step 1, scenarios to amplify or dissipate the risks are identified in Step 2, and applicable risk management options identified in Step 3. Steps 4 and 5 involve implementation and review by risk managers within an established organization. For full adoption and promulgation of the IRGC’s ERG guidelines, an international consortium or governing body (or set of bodies) should be tasked with governance and oversight. This Perspective provides a first step at reviewing the risk governance tasks that such a body would undertake and contributes to the growing literature on best practices for SRM governance. | Risk Governance, Climate Engineering, Stratospheric Aerosols | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2019.1591145 | 10.1007/s10669-019-09730-6. | 5/1/2019 | 10.1007/s10669-019-09730-6. | ||||||
| Developing a Comprehensive, Adaptive, and International Biosafety and Biosecurity Program for Advanced Biotechnology: The iGEM Experience | Millett, P., Binz, T., Evans, S. W., Kuiken, T., et al (2019). Developing a Comprehensive, Adaptive, and International Biosafety and Biosecurity Program for Advanced Biotechnology: The iGEM Experience. Applied Biosafety. doi: 10.1177/1535676019838075 Download PDF | Todd Kuiken | 2019 | Introduction: The international synthetic biology competition iGEM (formally known as the international Genetically Engineered Machines competition) has a dedicated biosafety and biosecurity program.Method: A review of specific elements of the program and a series of concrete examples illustrate how experiences in implementing the program have helped improved policy, including an increasing diversity of sources for genetic parts and organisms, keeping pace with technical developments, considering pathways toward future environmental release, addressing antimicrobial resistance, and testing the efficacy of current biosecurity arrangements.Results: iGEM’s program is forward-leaning, in that it addresses both traditional (pathogen-based) and emerging risks both in terms of new technologies and new risks. It is integrated into the technical work of the competition—with clearly described roles and responsibilities for all members of the community. It operates throughout the life cycle of projects—from project design to future application. It makes use of specific tools to gather and review biosafety and biosecurity information, making it easier for those planning and conducting science and engineering to recognize potential risks and match them with appropriate risk management approaches, as well as for specialists to review this information to identify gaps and strengthen plans.Discussion: Integrating an increasingly adaptive risk management approach has allowed iGEM’s biosafety and biosecurity program to become comprehensive, be cross-cutting, and cover the competition’s life cycle. | Synthetic Biology, Biological Engineering, Biotechnology, Adaptive Biosafety, IGEM, Genetic Engineering | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1535676019838075 | 10.1177/1535676019838075 | 4/4/2019 | 10.1177/1535676019838075 | ||||||
| Anticipating risks, governance needs, and public perceptions of de-extinction | Rene X. Valdez, Jennifer Kuzma, Christopher L. Cummings & M. Nils Peterson (2019) Anticipating risks, governance needs, and public perceptions of de-extinction. Journal of Responsible Innovation. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2019.1591145. Download | Rene Valdez, Jennifer Kuzma | 2019 | Advances in biotechnology may allow for de-extinction. Potential impacts of de-extinct species remain uncertain; they may improve ecosystem function, or hinder conservation efforts and damage socio-ecological systems. To better anticipate de-extinction's outcomes, ethical dilemmas, and governance needs, we surveyed experts from multiple disciplinary backgrounds. We applied a mixed-method approach to our analysis, integrating quantitative responses of perceived outcomes with qualitative responses, to clarify and provide context. Overall, respondents indicated de-extinction was more likely to induce hazards, not benefits. Reasons for this viewpoint included a ‘moral hazard’ argument, suggesting conservation policies could be undermined if society perceives that species need less protection because they can be revived later. Pessimistic views of de-extinction were linked to concerns about unclear development paths. Experts believed the public might be skeptical about de-extinction. Our results suggest future de-extinction efforts may benefit from collaborative efforts to clarify hazards and explore salient concerns among the engaged public. | De-Extinction, Governance, Environmental Risk, Moral Risk, Technological Pessimism | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2019.1591145 | 10.1080/23299460.2019.1591145. | 4/4/2019 | 10.1080/23299460.2019.1591145. | ||||||
| Governing evolution: A socioecological comparison of resistance management for insecticidal transgenic Bt crops among four countries | Carrière, Y., Brown, Z.S., Downes, S.J. et al (2019). Governing evolution: A socioecological comparison of resistance management for insecticidal transgenic Bt crops among four countries. Ambio. doi: 10.1007/s13280-019-01167-0 Download PDF | Zack Brown | 2019 | Cooperative management of pest susceptibility to transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops is pursued worldwide in a variety of forms and to varying degrees of success depending on context. We examine this context using a comparative socioecological analysis of resistance management in Australia, Brazil, India, and the United States. We find that a shared understanding of resistance risks among government regulators, growers, and other actors is critical for effective governance. Furthermore, monitoring of grower compliance with resistance management requirements, surveillance of resistance, and mechanisms to support rapid implementation of remedial actions are essential to achieve desirable outcomes. Mandated resistance management measures, strong coordination between actors, and direct linkages between the group that appraises resistance risks and growers also appear to enhance prospects for effective governance. Our analysis highlights factors that could improve current governance systems and inform other initiatives to conserve susceptibility as a contribution to the cause of public good. | Bt Crops, Resistance Management, Governance, Transgenic Crops, Insecticide | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01167-0 | 10.1007/s13280-019-01167-0 | 3/21/2019 | 10.1007/s13280-019-01167-0 | ||||||
| Pest Management by Genetic Addiction | Fred Gould, Sumit Dhole, and Alun L. Lloyd. Pest management by genetic addiction. Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences Mar 2019, 201901886. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1901886116. Download | Fred Gould, Sumit Dhole, Alun Lloyd | 2019 | Genetic Engineering, Genetic Pest Management, National Academies, Gene Drives, Medea, Crispr Cas-9 | https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/03/14/1901886116 | 10.1073/pnas.1901886116. | 3/15/2019 | 10.1073/pnas.1901886116. | |||||||
| A potential new tool for the toolbox: Assessing gene drives for eradicating invasive rodent populations | Campbell, K. J., Saah, J. R., Brown, P. R., Godwin, J., Gould, F., Howald, G. R., Piaggio, A., Thomas, P., Tompkins, D. M., Threadgill, D., Delborne, J., Kanavy, D. M., Kuiken, T., Packard, H., Serr, M. & Shiels, A. (2019) A potential new tool for the toolbox: Assessing gene drives for eradicating invasive rodent populations. In: Island invasives: Scaling up to meet the challenge, eds. C. R. Veitch, M. N. Clout, A. R. Martin, J. C. Russell & C. J. West, pp. 6-14. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Download | J. Royden Saah, John Godwin, Fred Gould, Jason Delborne, Todd Kuiken, Megan Serr | 2019 | The papers in this volume were, with a few exceptions, presented at the third Island Invasives conference, held in Dundee, Scotland in July 2017. The papers demonstrate up-scaling in several aspects of eradication operations – not least in ambition, land area, operational size, global reach and of course financial cost. In the space of a few decades, the size of islands treated for invasive species has increased by five orders of magnitude – from a few hectares to over 100,000 ha or 1,000 km2. Meanwhile, the diversity of species being tackled has increased, as has the range of countries now actively carrying out island restoration work. Inspired by pioneers from New Zealand and Australia, principally, today the movement has spread to islands in all oceans and off all continents. This expansion has been informed by, and has in turn produced, growing experience in all aspects of this field, from non-target impacts to ecological responses to factors affecting eradication success. A major aim of publishing these Proceedings is to inform people who are, or will in the future be, planning new projects to free islands of invasive species. Regardless of its location or the target species involved, each successive operation builds on the experience of those who have gone before, and the papers in this volume represent an invaluable wealth of such experience. | Invasive Species, Invasive Species Eradication, Islands, Species Management, Biological Diversity, Biological Invasions, Case Studies, Proceedings, IUCN, International Union For Conservation Of Nature | https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48358 | 0 | 3/9/2019 | |||||||
| Towards a genetic approach to invasive rodent eradications: assessing reproductive competitiveness between wild and laboratory mice | Serr, M., Heard, N. & Godwin, J. (2019) Towards a genetic approach to invasive rodent eradications: assessing reproductive competitiveness between wild and laboratory mice. In: Island invasives: Scaling up to meet the challenge, eds. C. R. Veitch, M. N. Clout, A. R. Martin, J. C. Russell & C. J. West, pp. 64-70. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Download | Megan Serr, John Godwin | 2019 | House mice are significant invasive pests, particularly on islands without native mammalian predators. As part of a multi-institutional project aimed at suppressing invasive mouse populations on islands, we aim to create heavily male-biased sex ratios with the goal of causing the populations to crash. Effective implementation of this approach will depend on engineered F1 wild-lab males being effective secondary invaders that can mate successfully. As a first step in assessing this possibility, we are characterising genetic and behavioural diff erences between Mus musculus strains in terms of mating and fecundity using wild house mice derived from an invasive population on the Farallon Islands (MmF), a laboratory strain C57BL/6/129 (tw2), and F1 wild-lab off spring. Mice with the ‘t allele’ (tw2) have a naturally occurring gene drive system. To assess fertility in F1 wild-lab crosses, tw2 males were paired with wild-derived females from the Farallon Islands (MmF). Results of these matings indicate litter sizes are comparable but that weaned pup and adult wild-lab mice are heavier in mass. Next, we initiated tests of male competitiveness using larger (3 m2) enclosures with enrichment. We introduced both an MmF and a tw2-bearing male to two MmF females to assess mating outcomes. Preliminary results of these experiments show none of the off spring carried the t-allele. However, performing the same experiment with F1 wildlab males instead of a full lab background resulted in 70% of off spring carrying the tw2 allele. This indicates that F1 wildlab males may be able to successfully compete and secondarily invade. It will be important in subsequent experiments to determine what characteristics contribute to secondary invasion success. More generally, a better understanding of characteristics contributing to overall success in increasingly complex and naturalistic environments will be critical in determining the potential of a gene drive-based eradication approach for invasive mice on islands. | Competition, Gene Drive, Invasive Rodents, Reproductive Fitness, Secondary Invasion | https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48358 | 0 | 3/9/2019 | |||||||
| Procedurally Robust Risk Assessment Framework for Novel Genetically Engineered Organisms and Gene Drives | Jennifer Kuzma (2019). Procedurally Robust Risk Assessment Framework for Novel Genetically Engineered Organisms and Gene Drives. Regulation and Governance doi: 10.1111/rego.12245. Download | Jennifer Kuzma | 2019 | Gene Drive, Gene Editing, GMO, Governance, Risk Analysis | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/rego.12245 | 10.1111/rego.12245. | 3/8/2019 | 10.1111/rego.12245. | |||||||
| Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication | S. Kathleen Barnhill, Megan Serr, Dimitri V. Blondel and John Godwin(2019). Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication. Sustainability. doi: 10.3390/su11051334 Download | Katie Barnhill, Megan Serr, John Godwin | 2019 | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/5/1334 | 10.3390/su11051334 | 3/4/2019 | 10.3390/su11051334 | ||||||||
| Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Gene Drive Mouse for Biodiversity Protection on Islands | Jason Delborne, Julie Shapiro, Mahmud Farooque, Tyler Ford, Dalton George, and Sonia Dermer. "Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on the Development of a Gene Drive Mouse for Biodiversity Protection on Islands." Summary Report of Stakeholder Interviews. February 2019. Available online at https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-gene-drive-landscape. Download PDF | Jason Delborne, Dalton George | 2019 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/2019/02/report-gene-drive-landscape/ | 0 | 2/19/2019 | |||||||||
| International news media framing of invasive rodent eradications | Valdez, R. X., Peterson, M. N., Pitts, E. A., & Delborne, J. A. (2019). International news media framing of invasive rodent eradications. Biological Invasions, First Online. doi: 10.1007/s10530-018-01911-9 Download | Rene Valdez, Elizabeth Pitts, Jason Delborne | 2019 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718315052?dgcid=author | 10.1007/s10530-018-01911-9 | 1/31/2019 | 10.1007/s10530-018-01911-9 | ||||||||
| The genetically engineered American chestnut tree as opportunity for reciprocal restoration in Haudenosaunee communities | S. Kathleen Barnhill, Jason A. Delborne. The genetically engineered American chestnut tree as opportunity for reciprocal restoration in Haudenosaunee communities Biological Conservation, Volume 232, 2019, Pages 1-7 doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.01.018 Download | Katie Barnhill, Jason Delborne | 2019 | Chestnut Restoration, Genetic Engineering | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718315052?dgcid=author | 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.01.018 | 1/31/2019 | 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.01.018 | |||||||
| Promises and Perils of Gene Drives: Navigating the Communication of Complex, Post-Normal Science | Dominique Brossard, Pam Belluck, Fred Gould, Christopher D. Wirz. Promises and Perils of Gene Drives: Navigating the Communication of Complex, Post-Normal Science Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1805874115 Download | Fred Gould | 2019 | https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/01/11/1805874115 | 10.1073/pnas.1805874115 | 1/14/2019 | 10.1073/pnas.1805874115 | ||||||||
| Report: Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/25221. Download Report and Highlights | Jason Delborne | 2019 | https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations | 10.17226/25221. | 1/8/2019 | 10.17226/25221. | ||||||||
| Regulating Gene-Edited Crops | Kuzma, Jennifer. Regulating Gene-Edited Crops. Issues in Science and Technology 35, no. 1 (Fall 2018). pp. 80-85. https://issues.org/regulating-gene-edited-crops. Download | Jennifer Kuzma | 2018 | https://issues.org/regulating-gene-edited-crops/ | 0 | 12/7/2018 | |||||||||
| The role of citizen science in addressing grand challenges in food and agriculture research | S. F. Ryan, N. L. Adamson, A. Aktipis, L. K. Andersen, R. Austin..., J. A. Delborne, et. al. (2018). The role of citizen science in addressing grand challenges in food and agriculture research. Proc. R. Soc. B 2018 285 20181977; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1977. Published 21 November 2018. Download | Jason Delborne | 2018 | http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1891/20181977 | 10.1098/rspb.2018.1977. | 1/21/2018 | 10.1098/rspb.2018.1977. | ||||||||
| Editing nature: Local roots of global governance | Natalie Kofler, James P. Collins, Jennifer Kuzma, Emma Marris, Kevin Esvelt, Michael Paul Nelson, et al. (2018). Editing nature: Local roots of global governance - Environmental gene editing demands collective oversight. Science 02 Nov 2018: Vol. 362, Issue 6414, pp. 527-529. DOI: 10.1126/science.aat4612. Download | Jennifer Kuzma | 2018 | http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6414/527 | 10.1126/science.aat4612. | 11/2/2018 | 10.1126/science.aat4612. | ||||||||
| Engaging community with humility | Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich, S. Kathleen Barnhill (2018). Engaging community with humility. Science 02 Nov 2018: Vol. 362, Issue 6414, pp. 532-33. DOI: 10.1126/science.aav4987. Download | Jason Delborne, Adam Kokotovich, Katie Barnhill | 2018 | http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6414/532.2 | 10.1126/science.aav4987. | 1/2/2018 | 10.1126/science.aav4987. | ||||||||
| Bt Resistance Implications for Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insecticide Resistance Management in the United States | Dominic D Reisig, Ryan Kurtz; Bt Resistance Implications for Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insecticide Resistance Management in the United States, Environmental Entomology, nvy142, DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvy142 Download | Dominic Reisig | 2018 | https://academic.oup.com/ee/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ee/nvy142/5096937 | 10.1093/ee/nvy142 | 10/2/2018 | 10.1093/ee/nvy142 | ||||||||
| Biotechnology, the American Chestnut Tree, and Public Engagement (Workshop Report) | Delborne, J.A., Binder, A.R., Rivers, L., Barnes, J.C., Barnhill, S.K., George, D., Kokotovich, A., and Sudweeks, J. (2018). Biotechnology, the American Chestnut Tree, and Public Engagement (Workshop Report). Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University. Download | Jason Delborne, Andrew Binder, Louie Rivers, Jessica Cavin Barnes, Katie Barnhill, Dalton George, Adam Kokotovich, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | Chestnut Restoration, Genetic Engineering | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-chestnut-report | 0 | 10/24/2018 | ||||||||
| Cataloguing the barriers facing RRI in innovation pathways: a response to the dilemma of societal alignment | Jennifer Kuzma and Pat Roberts (2018). Cataloguing the barriers facing RRI in innovation pathways: a response to the dilemma of societal alignment. Journal of Responsible Innovation, DOI: 10.1080/23299460.2018.1511329. Download | Jennifer Kuzma, Pat Roberts | 2018 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2018.1511329 | 10.1080/23299460.2018.1511329. | 8/30/2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2018.1511329. | ||||||||
| Potential Implications of New Synthetic Biology and Genomic Research Trajectories on the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture | Welch, Eric and Bagley, Margo A. and Kuiken, Todd and Louafi, Selim, Potential Implications of New Synthetic Biology and Genomic Research Trajectories on the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (October 1, 2017). Emory Legal Studies Research Paper. Available at SSRN https://ssrn.com/abstract=3173781 or Download | Todd Kuiken | 2017 | https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3173781 | 0 | 10/1/2017 | |||||||||
| An Introduction to the Proceedings of the Environmental Release of Engineered Pests: Building an International Governance Framework | Zachary S. Brown (2018) Introduction. Ed. Zachary S. Brown, Lucy Carter, and Fred Gould. An Introduction to the Proceedings of the Environmental Release of Engineered Pests: Building an International Governance Framework. BMC Proceedings 2018 12 (Suppl 8):10. doi: 10.1186/s12919-018-0105-1. Download | Zack Brown, Fred Gould | 2018 | https://bmcproc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12919-018-0105-1 | 10.1186/s12919-018-0105-1. | 7/19/2018 | 10.1186/s12919-018-0105-1. | ||||||||
| Towards Inclusive Social Appraisal: Risk, Participation and Democracy in Governance of Synthetic Biology | Stirling, A., Hayes, K. R., Delborne, J. A. (2018). Towards Inclusive Social Appraisal: Risk, Participation and Democracy in Governance of Synthetic Biology. Ed. Zachary S. Brown, Lucy Carter, and Fred Gould. An Introduction to the Proceedings of the Environmental Release of Engineered Pests: Building an International Governance Framework. BMC Proceedings 2018 12 (Suppl 8):15 doi: 10.1186/s12919-018-0111-3. Download | Jason Delborne | 2018 | https://bmcproc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12919-018-0111-3 | 10.1186/s12919-018-0111-3. | 7/19/2018 | 10.1186/s12919-018-0111-3. | ||||||||
| Genome Editing in Agriculture:Â Methods, Applications, and Governance | Adam J. Bogdanove, David M. Donovan, Estefania Elorriaga, Jennifer Kuzma, Katia Pauwels, Steven H. Stauus, Daniel F. Voytas. Genome Editing in Agriculture: Methods, Applications, and Governance - A paper in the series on The Need for Agricultural Innovation to Sustainably Feed the World by 2050. July 9, 2018, by Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), Issue Paper 60. CAST, Ames, Iowa. Download | Jennifer Kuzma | 2018 | http://cast-science.org/file.cfm/media/products/digitalproducts/CAST_IP60_Gene_Editing_D752224D52A53.pdf | 0 | 7/9/2018 | |||||||||
| Wicked evolution: Can we address the sociobiological dilemma of pesticide resistance? | Fred Gould, Zachary Brown and Jennifer Kuzma. Wicked evolution: Can we address the sociobiological dilemma of pesticide resistance? Science 18 May 2018: Vol. 360, Issue 6390, pp. 728-732. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar3780. Download | Fred Gould, Zack Brown, Jennifer Kuzma | 2018 | http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6390/728 | 10.1126/science.aar3780. | 5/18/2018 | 10.1126/science.aar3780. | ||||||||
| How social science should complement scientific discovery: lessons from nanoscience | Berube, David M. 2018. How social science should complement scientific discovery: lessons from nanoscience. J Nanopart Res 20:5 May 2018. doi: 10.1007/s11051-018-4210-x. Download | David Berube | 2018 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-018-4210-x | 10.1007/s11051-018-4210-x | 5/5/2018 | 10.1007/s11051-018-4210-x | ||||||||
| The Science Behind the News: Gene Drive | National Academy of Sciences. 2018. Fred Gould talk "The Science Behind the News: Gene Drive" summarized in The Science of Science Communication III: Inspiring Novel Collaborations and Building Capacity: Proceedings of a Colloquium, pp 63-65. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24958. Download | Fred Gould | 2018 | https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24958/the-science-of-science-communication-iii-inspiring-novel-collaborations-and | 10.17226/24958. | 6/1/2018 | 10.17226/24958. | ||||||||
| Comparative, collaborative, and integrative risk governance for emerging technologies | Igor Linkov, Benjamin D. Trump, Elke Anklam, David Berube, Patrick Boisseasu, Christopher Cummings, Scott Ferson, Marie-Valentine Florin, Jennifer Kuzma; et al. 2018. Comparative, collaborative, and integrative risk governance for emerging technologies, Environment Systems and Decisions, 1-7, doi: 10.1007/s10669-018-9686-5. Download | Jennifer Kuzma, David Berube | 2018 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-018-9686-5 | 10.1007/s10669-018-9686-5. | 5/4/2018 | 10.1007/s10669-018-9686-5. | ||||||||
| Voluntary Programs To Encourage Refuges for Pesticide Resistance Management: Lessons from a Quasi-Experiment | Zachary S Brown; Voluntary Programs To Encourage Refuges for Pesticide Resistance Management: Lessons from a Quasi-Experiment, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Volume 100, Issue 3, 1 April 2018, Pages 844–867, doi: 10.1093/ajae/aay004. Download | Zack Brown | 2018 | https://academic.oup.com/ajae/article/100/3/844/4954168 | 10.1093/ajae/aay004. | 3/26/2018 | 10.1093/ajae/aay004. | ||||||||
| Vigilante Environmentalism: Are Gene Drives Changing How We Value and Govern Ecosystems? | Kuiken, T. 2018. Vigilante Environmentalism: Are Gene Drives Changing How We Value and Govern Ecosystems? In Gene Editing, Law, and the Environment: Life beyond the human. Edited by Irus Braverman. Routledge. ISBN: 9781138051126. | Todd Kuiken | 2019 | https://www.routledge.com/gene-editing-law-and-the-environment-life-beyond-the-human/braverman/p/book/9781138051126 | 0 | 1/3/2019 | |||||||||
| Mapping research and governance needs for gene drives | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Emma Frow, Caroline Leitschuh and Jayce Sudweeks. 2018. Mapping research and governance needs for gene drives. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419413. [Introduction to Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Jason Delborne, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1419413 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419413. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419413. | ||||||||
| A roadmap for gene drives: using institutional analysis and development to frame research needs and governance in a systems context | J. Kuzma, F. Gould, Z. Brown, J. Collins, J. Delborne, E. Frow, K. Esvelt, D. Guston, C. Leitschuh, K. Oye and S. Stauffer. 2017. A roadmap for gene drives: using institutional analysis and development to frame research needs and governance in a systems context. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410344. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Zack Brown, Jason Delborne, Caroline Leitschuh, Sharon Stauffer, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1410344 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410344. | 2017 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410344. | ||||||||
| Harnessing gene drive | John Min, Andrea L. Smidler, Devora Najjar, and Kevin M. Esvelt. 2017. Harnessing gene drive. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415586. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1415586 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415586. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415586. | ||||||||
| Gene drive to reduce malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa | Austin Burt, Mamadou Coulibaly, Andrea Crisanti, Abdoulaye Diabate, and Jonathan K. Kayondo. 2018. Gene drive to reduce malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419410. [Special Issue edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1419410 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419410. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1419410. | ||||||||
| Anticipating complexity in the deployment of gene drive insects in agriculture | Jennifer Baltzegar, Jessica Cavin Barnes, Johanna E. Elsensohn, Nicole Gutzmann, Michael S. Jones, Sheron King, and Jayce Sudweeks. 2017. Anticipating complexity in the deployment of gene drive insects in agriculture. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407910. [Special Issue edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jennifer Baltzegar, Jessica Cavin Barnes, Johanna Elsensohn, Nicole Gutzmann, Michael S. Jones, Sheron King, Jayce Sudweeks, Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh | 2018 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1407910 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407910. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407910. | ||||||||
| Agricultural production: assessment of the potential use of Cas9-mediated gene drive systems for agricultural pest control | Maxwell J. Scott, Fred Gould, Marcé Lorenzen, Nathaniel Grubbs, Owain Edwards and David O’Brochta. 2017. Agricultural production: assessment of the potential use of Cas9-mediated gene drive systems for agricultural pest control. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410343. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Fred Gould, Maxwell Scott, Marce Lorenzen, Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2017.1410343 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410343. | 11/1/2017 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1410343. | ||||||||
| Developing gene drive technologies to eradicate invasive rodents from islands | Caroline M. Leitschuh, Dona Kanavy, Gregory A. Backus, Rene X. Valdez, Megan Serr, Elizabeth A. Pitts, David Threadgill and John Godwin. 2017. Developing gene drive technologies to eradicate invasive rodents from islands. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1365232. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Caroline Leitschuh, Gregory Backus, Rene Valdez, Megan Serr, Elizabeth Pitts, John Godwin, Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1365232 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1365232. | 2017 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1365232. | ||||||||
| Identifying and detecting potentially adverse ecological outcomes associated with the release of gene-drive modified organisms | K.R. Hayes, G.R. Hosack, G.V. Dana, S.D. Foster, J.H. Ford, R. Thresher, A. Ickowicz, D. Peel, M. Tizard, P. De Barro, T. Strive and J. M. Dambacher. 2018. Identifying and detecting potentially adverse ecological outcomes associated with the release of gene-drive modified organisms. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415585. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1415585 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415585. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415585. | ||||||||
| The roles of ethics in gene-drive research and governance | Paul B. Thompson. 2018. The roles of ethics in gene-drive research and governance. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415587. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1415587 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415587. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1415587. | ||||||||
| Economic issues to consider for gene drives | Paul D. Mitchell, Zachary Brown and Neil McRoberts. 2017. Economic issues to consider for gene drives. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407914. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Zack Brown, Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2017.1407914 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407914. | 2017 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407914. | ||||||||
| Anomaly handling and the politics of gene drives | Sam Weiss Evans and Megan J. Palmer. 2017. Anomaly handling and the politics of gene drives. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407911. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2018 | https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2017.1407911 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407911. | 2018 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407911. | ||||||||
| Gene drives and the management of agricultural pests | Raul F. Medina. 2017. Gene drives and the management of agricultural pests. Journal of Responsible Innovation. Vol. 5, Iss. sup1, 2018. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407913. [Special Issue: Roadmap to Gene Drives: Research and Governance Needs in Social, Political, and Ecological Context. Edited by J. Delborne, J. Kuzma, F. Gould, E. Frow, C. Leitschuh, and J. Sudweeks]. Download | Jason Delborne, Jennifer Kuzma, Fred Gould, Caroline Leitschuh, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2017.1407913 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407913 | 2017 | 10.1080/23299460.2017.1407913. | ||||||||
| A Cooperative Governance Network for Crops Produced by Genome Editing | Jordan, N., K.M. Dorn, K.E. Wolf, P.M. Ewing, A.L. Fernandez, B.C. Runck, A. Williams, Y. Lu and, J. Kuzma. (2017). A Cooperative Governance Network for Crops Produced by Genome Editing. EMBO Journal, DOI: 10.15252/Embr.201744394. Download | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.15252/embr.201744394/full | 10.15252/Embr.201744394 | 2017 | 10.15252/Embr.201744394. | ||||||||
| Society and Policy Makers' Responsibilities | Kuzma, J. (2017). "Society and Policy Makers' Responsibilities" In Consumer Perception of Product Risks and Benefits Eds: G. Emilien, R. Weitkunat and F. Luedicke. Springer: Dordrecht. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319505282 | 10.1007/978-3-319-50530-5 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Trails and Trials in Biotechnology Policy | Kuzma, J. (2017). Trails and Trials in Biotechnology Policy. Pp 85-95 In Women in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Biotechnology Ed. L. Privalle. Springer. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2017/11/Trails-and-Trials-Women-in-Sustainable-AgBiotech-Kuzma-Ch6.pdf | 0 | 11/1/2017 | |||||||||
| Risk, Environmental Governance, and Emerging Biotechnology | Kuzma J. (2017). "Risk, Environmental Governance, and Emerging Biotechnology" In Environmental Governance Reconsidered: Challenges, Choices, and Opportunities, 2nd Edition. Eds. R. Durant, DJ Fiorino, and R O'Leary. MIT Press | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262533317/environmental-governance-reconsidered/ | 0 | 6/30/2017 | |||||||||
| Forum: Biosecurity Governance for a Realistic New World | Kuzma J. (2017). Forum: Biosecurity Governance for a Realistic New World. Issues in Science and Technology 33: (2). | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | http://issues.org/33-2/forum-33/ | 0 | 12/20/2017 | |||||||||
| Societal Risk Evaluation Scheme (SRES): Scenario-based Multi-criteria Evaluation of Synthetic Biology Applications | Cummings C. and J. Kuzma (2017) Societal Risk Evaluation Scheme (SRES): Scenario-based Multi-criteria Evaluation of Synthetic Biology Applications. PLoS ONE 12(1): E0168564. doi: 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0168564 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0168564 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0168564 | 2017 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0168564 | ||||||||
| A Decision Analytic Model to Guide Early-Stage Government Regulatory Action: Applications for Synthetic Biology | Trump B., Cummings C, Kuzma, J. and I. Linkov (2017). A Decision Analytic Model to Guide Early-Stage Government Regulatory Action: Applications for Synthetic Biology. Regulation and Governance doi:10.1111/Rego.12142. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rego.12142/full | 10.1111/Rego.12142 | 2017 | 10.1111/Rego.12142. | ||||||||
| Preparing for the Future of Biotechnology | Jennifer Kuzma, Committee member and co-author. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/24605. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2017 | https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24605/preparing-for-future-products-of-biotechnology | 10.17226/24605. | 2017 | 10.17226/24605. | ||||||||
| Ethics and responsible innovation in biotechnology communities: A pedagogy of engaged scholarship | Herkert J., Kuzma, J. Roberts, P., Banks, E (2017). Ethics and responsible innovation in biotechnology communities: A pedagogy of engaged scholarship. Proceedings of the 2017 ASEE Annual Conference 18015: 1-20. | Jennifer Kuzma, Joseph Herkert, Erin Banks | 2017 | https://www.asee.org/public/conferences/78/papers/18015/view | 2017 | ||||||||||
| Evaluating strategies for reversing CRISPR-Cas9 gene drives | Michael R. Vella, Christian E. Gunning, Alun L. Lloyd & Fred Gould. 2017. Nature: Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 11038 (2017) doi:10.1038/S41598-017-10633-2 | Fred Gould, Michael Vella, Christian Gunning, Alun Lloyd | 2017 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10633-2 | 10.1038/S41598-017-10633-2 | 2017 | 10.1038/S41598-017-10633-2 | ||||||||
| Elevating the conversation about GE crops | Gould, F., Amasino, R.M., Brossard, D., Buell, C.R., Dixon, R.A., et al. (2017). Elevating the conversation about GE crops. Nature Biotechnology 35, 302-304 (2017) doi:10.1038/Nbt.3841 | Fred Gould | 2017 | https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.3841 | 10.1038/Nbt.3841 | 2017 | 10.1038/Nbt.3841 | ||||||||
| National Academies Report on Genetically Engineered Crops Guarded Against Bias | Letter to the Editor: National Academies Report on Genetically Engineered Crops Guarded Against Bias. Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops (Chair: Fred Gould), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In The Chronicle of Higher Education. June 12, 2017. | Fred Gould | 2017 | https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.3841 | 10.1038/nbt.3841 | 2017 | |||||||||
| The Economics, Regulation and International Implications of Gene Drives in Agriculture | Z. S. Brown (2017). The Economics, Regulation and International Implications of Gene Drives in Agriculture. Choices, Quarter 2. | Zack Brown | 2017 | http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/economic-regulatory-and-international-implications-of-gene-drives-in-agriculture | 0 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Spatial patterns of market participation and resource extraction: Fuelwood collection in northern Uganda | D. Miteva, R. A. Kramer, Z. S. Brown, M. D. Smith (2017). Spatial patterns of market participation and resource extraction: Fuelwood collection in northern Uganda. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Volume 99, Issue 4, 1 July 2017, Pages 1008-1026, doi: 10.1093/Ajae/aax027 | Zack Brown | 2017 | https://academic.oup.com/ajae/article/99/4/1008/3828074 | 10.1093/Ajae/aax027 | 2017 | 10.1093/Ajae/aax027 | ||||||||
| Preference Heterogeneity in the Structural Estimation of Efficient Pigovian Incentives for Insecticide Spraying to Reduce Malaria | Z. S. Brown, R. A. Kramer (2017). Preference Heterogeneity in the Structural Estimation of Efficient Pigovian Incentives for Insecticide Spraying to Reduce Malaria. Environmental and Resource Economics. doi: 10.1007/S10640-017-0115-x | Zack Brown | 2017 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10640-017-0115-x | 10.1007/S10640-017-0115-x | 2017 | 10.1007/S10640-017-0115-x | ||||||||
| The value of information in decision-analytic modeling for malaria control in east Africa | D. Kim, Z. S. Brown, et al. (2017). The value of information in decision-analytic modeling for malaria control in east Africa. Risk Analysis, 37(2): 231-244. | Zack Brown | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.12606/full | 10.1111/risa.12606 | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.12606/full | ||||||||
| DARPA's Synthetic Biology Initiatives Could Militarize the Environment | Todd Kuiken. "DARPA's Synthetic Biology Initiatives Could Militarize the Environment" in Slate series Future Tense: The Citizen's Guide to the Future. May 3, 2017. | Todd Kuiken | 2017 | http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/05/what_happens_if_darpa_uses_synthetic_biology_to_manipulate_mother_nature.html | 0 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Citizen health innovators: exploring stories of modern health | Eleonore Pauwels and Todd Kuiken. Citizen health innovators: exploring stories of modern health. Biocoder #12. O'Reilly Media. April 12, 2017. | Todd Kuiken | 2017 | https://www.oreilly.com/ideas/citizen-health-innovators-exploring-stories-of-modern-health | 0 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Economic Considerations in Vector-Borne Disease Management | Amanda (Clayton) Walsh. 2016. Economic Considerations in Vector-Borne Disease Management. Ph. D Thesis. [Under the direction of Melinda Morrill and Walter Thurman]. Download | Amanda Clayton Walsh | 2016 | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/11112 | 0 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Who is an Actor? Analyzing Agency in a Lab’s Social World. | Arina Loghin. 2013. Who is an Actor? Analyzing Agency in a Lab’s Social World. M.S. Thesis. [Under the direction of Nora Haenn]. Download | Nora Haenn, Arina Loghin | 2017 | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/9448 | 0 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Transgenic Pests and Human Health: a Short Overview of Social, Cultural, and Scientific Considerations. | Antonelli, T., Clayton, A., Hartzog, M., Webster, S., and Zilnik, G. 2016. Transgenic Pests and Human Health: a Short Overview of Social, Cultural, and Scientific Considerations. In Genetic Control of Malaria and Dengue. Edited by Zach N. Adelman. Academic Press. ISBN: 9780128002469. | Timothy Antonelli, Amanda Clayton Walsh, Molly Hartzog, Sophia Webster, Gabriel Zilnik | 2016 | https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genetic_Control_of_Malaria_and_Dengue/q-LIBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Genetic+Control+of+Malaria+and+Dengue&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false | 0 | 2016 | |||||||||
| CRISPR-based Gene Drive in Agriculture Will Face Technical and Governance Challenges | Nicole Gutzmann, Johanna E. Elsensohn, Jessica Cavin Barnes, Jennifer Baltzegar, Michael S. Jones, and Jayce Sudweeks. 2017. CRISPR-based Gene Drive in Agriculture Will Face Technical and Governance Challenges. EMBO Reports. doi: 10.15252/embr.201744661. Download | Nicole Gutzmann, Johanna Elsensohn, Jessica Cavin Barnes, Jennifer Baltzegar, Michael S. Jones, Jayce Sudweeks | 2017 | http://embor.embopress.org/content/early/2017/08/07/embr.201744661 | 10.15252/embr.201744661. | 2017 | 10.15252/embr.201744661. | ||||||||
| Repurposing CRISPR-Cas systems as DNA-based smart antimicrobials | Barrangou R, Ousterout DG. (2017) Repurposing CRISPR-Cas systems as DNA-based smart antimicrobials. Cell & Gene Therapy Insights. 3:63-72 DOI: 10.18609/Cgti.2017.003 | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | http://insights.bio/cell-and-gene-therapy-insights/?journal_issue=vol-3-issue-1 | 10.18609/Cgti.2017.003 | 2017 | 10.18609/Cgti.2017.003 | ||||||||
| Deletion of Lipoteichoic Acid Synthase Impacts Expression of Genes Encoding Cell Surface Proteins in Lactobacillus acidophilus | Selle K, Goh YJ, Johnson BR, O'Flaherty S, Andersen JM, Barrangou R, Klaenhammer TR. (2017) Deletion of Lipoteichoic Acid Synthase Impacts Expression of Genes Encoding Cell Surface Proteins in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Front Microbiol. 8:553. doi: 10.3389/Fmicb.2017.00553. | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00553/full | 10.3389/Fmicb.2017.00553. | 2017 | 10.3389/Fmicb.2017.00553. | ||||||||
| Expanding the CRISPR Toolbox: Targeting RNA with Cas13b | Barrangou R, Gersbach CA. (2017) Expanding the CRISPR Toolbox: Targeting RNA with Cas13b. Mol Cell. 65:582-584. doi: 10.1016/J.Molcel.2017.02.002 | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s1097276517300941 | 10.1016/J.Molcel.2017.02.002 | 2017 | 10.1016/J.Molcel.2017.02.002 | ||||||||
| CRISPR-Cas Technologies and Applications in Food Bacteria | Stout E, Klaenhammer T, Barrangou R. (2017) CRISPR-Cas Technologies and Applications in Food Bacteria. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 8:413-437. doi: 10.1146/Annurev-food-072816-024723. | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-food-072816-024723 | 10.1146/Annurev-food-072816-024723 | 2017 | 10.1146/Annurev-food-072816-024723. | ||||||||
| CRISPR-based engineering of next-generation lactic acid bacteria | Hidalgo-Cantabrana C, O'Flaherty S, Barrangou R. (2017) CRISPR-based engineering of next-generation lactic acid bacteria. Curr Opin Microbiol. 37:79-87. doi: 10.1016/J.Mib.2017.05.015 | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s1369527417300437?via=ihub | 10.1016/J.Mib.2017.05.015 | 2017 | 10.1016/J.Mib.2017.05.015 | ||||||||
| The S-layer Associated Serine Protease Homolog PrtX Impacts Cell Surface-Mediated Microbe-Host Interactions of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM | Johnson BR, O'Flaherty SJ, Goh YJ, Carroll I, Barrangou R, Klaenhammer TR. (2017) The S-layer associated serine protease homolog PrtX impacts cell surface-mediated microbe-host interactions of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Front. Microbiol. doi:10.3389/Fmicb.2017.01185 | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01185/full | 10.3389/Fmicb.2017.01185 | 2017 | 10.3389/Fmicb.2017.01185 | ||||||||
| A decade of discovery: CRISPR functions and applications | Barrangou R, Horvath P. (2017) A decade of discovery: CRISPR functions and applications. Nat Microbiol. 2:17092. doi: 10.1038/Nmicrobiol.2017.92 | Rodolphe Barrangou | 2017 | https://doi.org/10.1038/Nmicrobiol.2017.92 | 10.1038/Nmicrobiol.2017.92 | 2017 | 10.1038/Nmicrobiol.2017.92 | ||||||||
| Short DNA containing X sites enhances DNA stability and gene expression in e. Coli cell-free transcription-translation systems | Marshall, R., Maxwell, C. S., Collins, S. P., Beisel, C. L. and Noireaux, V. (2017), Short DNA containing X sites enhances DNA stability and gene expression in e. Coli cell-free transcription-translation systems. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 114: 2137-2141. doi:10.1002/Bit.26333 | Chase Beisel | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.26333/abstract | 10.1002/Bit.26333 | 2017 | 10.1002/Bit.26333 | ||||||||
| Deciphering, communicating, and engineering the CRISPR PAM | Leenay RT & Beisel, C.L. (2017) Deciphering, communicating, and engineering the CRISPR PAM. J Mol Biol 429(2):177-91 | Chase Beisel | 2017 | 0 | 2017 | ||||||||||
| Effectiveness of Mediation in the State Agency Grievance Process | Jameson, J. K., Berry-James, R. M., Daley, D. M., & Coggburn, J. C. (2017). Effectiveness of Mediation in the State Agency Grievance Process. In The Handbook of Mediation: Theory, Research and Practice. New York, NY:Routledge/Taylor & Francis, pp.164-169. ISBN 987-1-138-12421-9 | Jade Berry-James | 2017 | 0 | 2017 | ||||||||||
| An Empirical Agent-Based Model to Simulate the Adoption of Water Reuse Using the Social Amplification of Risk Framework | Kandiah, V., Binder, A. R., & Berglund, E. Z. 2017. An Empirical agent-based model to simulate the adoption of water reuse using the social amplification of risk framework. Risk Analysis. doi:10.1111/Risa.12760 | Andrew Binder | 2017 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.12760/full | 10.1111/Risa.12760 | 2017 | 10.1111/Risa.12760 | ||||||||
| Do farmers with less education realize higher yield gains from GM maize in developing countries? Evidence from the Philippines | Jones, M.S., Roderick, R.M., Brown, Z.S. & Yorobe, J.M., (2017). "Do farmers with less education realize higher yield gains from GM maize in developing countries? Evidence from the Philippines," 2017 Annual Meeting, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, February 4-7, 2017, Mobile, Alabama 252822. | Zack Brown, Michael S. Jones, Roderick Rejesus | 2017 | http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/252822 | 10.22004/ag.econ.252822 | 2017 | 10.22004/ag.econ.252822 | ||||||||
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| SBe Supplement: Synthetic Biology - Engineering Genes with CRISPR-Cas9 | Luo ML, Beisel, C.L. (2016) SBe Supplement: Synthetic Biology - Engineering Genes with CRISPR-Cas9. Chemical Engineering Progress September 2016 issue. | Chase Beisel | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Convergence, Interdisciplinarity, and the Public and Expert Sphere, Handbook of Science and Technology Convergence | Berube D, Cumming CL. 2016. Convergence in Ethical Implications and Communication of Emerging Technologies. In book: Handbook of Science and Technology Convergence, pp.755-766. DOI10.1007/978-3-319-07052-0_64 | David Berube | 2016 | http://www.academia.edu/15338686/convergence_in_ethical_implications_and_communication_of_emerging_technologies | 10.1007/978-3-319-07052-0_64 | 2016 | 10.1007/978-3-319-07052-0_64 | ||||||||
| Conflict or Caveats? Effects of Media Portrayals of Scientific Uncertainty on Audience Perceptions of New Technologies | Binder, A. R., Hillback, E. D. and Brossard, D. (2016), Conflict or Caveats? Effects of Media Portrayals of Scientific Uncertainty on Audience Perceptions of New Technologies. Risk Analysis, 36: 831-846. doi:10.1111/Risa.12462 | Andrew Binder | 2016 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.12462/full | 10.1111/Risa.12462 | 2016 | 10.1111/Risa.12462 | ||||||||
| Using bioassays with the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) to determine residual activity of two systemically applied neonicotinoid insecticides in field-grown tobacco | Merchan, H.A. and H.J. Burrack. 2016. Using bioassays with the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) to determine residual activity of two systemically applied neonicotinoid insecticides in field-grown tobacco. International Journal of Pest Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2016.1261202 | Hannah Burrack | 2016 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2016.1261202 | 10.1080/09670874.2016.1261202 | 2016 | 10.1080/09670874.2016.1261202 | ||||||||
| Integrated pest management practices reduce insecticide applications, preserve beneficial insects, and decrease pesticide residues in flue cured tobacco production | Slone, J.D. and H.J. Burrack. 2016. Integrated pest management practices reduce insecticide applications, preserve beneficial insects, and decrease pesticide residues in flue cured tobacco production. Journal of Economic Entomology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/Jee/tow191 | Hannah Burrack | 2016 | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/tow191 | 10.1093/Jee/tow191 | 2016 | 10.1093/Jee/tow191 | ||||||||
| Effects of microbial, organically acceptable, and reduced risk insecticides on Anthonomus signatus (Curculionidae: Coleoptera) in strawberries | McPhie. D.R. and H.J. Burrack. 2016. Effects of microbial, organically acceptable, and reduced risk insecticides on Anthonomus signatus (Curculionidae: Coleoptera) in strawberries (Fragaria - ananassa). Crop Protection. Volume 89, November 2016, Pages 255-258. doi: 10.1016/J.Cropro.2016.07.034 | Hannah Burrack | 2016 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0261219416301880 | 10.1016/J.Cropro.2016.07.034 | 2016 | 10.1016/J.Cropro.2016.07.034 | ||||||||
| Cognitive Enhancement: Ethical and Policy Implications | Jotterand, F. and Dubljevic, V. (Eds.) (2016): Cognitive Enhancement: Ethical and Policy Implications in International Perspectives, New York: Oxford University Press. | Veljko Dubljevic | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| The Bright Future of Neuroethics | Dubljevic, V., Saigle, V. & Racine E. (2016). The Bright Future of Neuroethics. Neuroethics. DOI 10.1007/S12152-016-9263-x | Veljko Dubljevic | 2016 | http://www.academia.edu/25033343/the_bright_future_of_neuroethics | 10.1007/S12152-016-9263-x | 2016 | 10.1007/S12152-016-9263-x | ||||||||
| Sexual plasticity: a fishy tale | Liu H., Erica V. Todd, Mark P. Lokman, Melissa S. Lamm, John R. Godwin, Neil J. Gemmell (in press). Sexual plasticity: a fishy tale. Molecular Reproduction and Development. | John Godwin | 2016 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mrd.22691/full | 10.1002/mrd.22691 | 2016 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mrd.22691/full | ||||||||
| Correlated evolution of personality, morphology, and performance | Kern, E.M.A., D. Robinson, E. Gass, Godwin, J., R.B. Langerhans (2016) Correlated evolution of personality, morphology, and performance. Animal Behavior 117: 79-86. | John Godwin | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Genetic engineering to eradicate invasive mice on islands: modeling the efficiency and ecological impacts | Backus, G. A., and Gross, K.. 2016. Genetic engineering to eradicate invasive mice on islands: modeling the efficiency and ecological impacts. Ecosphere 7(12):e01589. 10.1002/Ecs2.1589 | Kevin Gross, Gregory Backus | 2016 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.1589/full | 10.1002/Ecs2.1589 | 2016 | 10.1002/Ecs2.1589 | ||||||||
| The Gender Dynamics of Conditional Cash Transfers and Smallholder Farming in Calakmul, Mexico | Radel, C., B. Schmook, N. Haenn, and L. Green (2016) The Gender Dynamics of Conditional Cash Transfers and Smallholder Farming in Calakmul, Mexico. Women's Studies International Forum. DOI:10.1016/J.Wsif.2016.06.004. | Nora Haenn | 2016 | https://www.researchgate.net/profile/nora_haenn/publication/305452577_the_gender_dynamics_of_conditional_cash_transfers_and_smallholder_farming_in_calakmul_mexico/links/59b2e6a10f7e9b37434ea946/the-gender-dynamics-of-conditional-cash-transfers-and-smallholder-farming-in-calakmul-mexico.pdf | 10.1016/J.Wsif.2016.06.004. | 2016 | 10.1016/J.Wsif.2016.06.004. | ||||||||
| Teachers' Pedagogical Perceptions of Novel 3-D, Haptic-enabled, Virtual Reality Technology | Hite, R., Jones, M.G., Childers, G., Chesnutt, K., Corin, E. N., & Pereyra, M. (2017). Teachers' Pedagogical Perceptions of Novel 3-D, Haptic-enabled, Virtual Reality Technology. | Gail Jones | 2016 | http://www.naun.org/main/naun/educationinformation/2016/a222008-169.pdf | |||||||||||
| Instructional representations as tools to teach systems thinking. | Jones, M. G., Childers, G.,Emig, B., Chevrier, J., Stevens, V., & Tan, H. (2016), The efficacy of visuohaptic simulations in teaching concepts of thermal energy, pressure and random motion, In N. Papadouris, A. Hadjigeorgiou, & C. Constantinou (eds), Insights from research in science teaching and learning (pp.73-86), Springer, Neatherlands. | Gail Jones | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Factors Influencing Postsecondary STeM Students' Views of the Public Communication of an Emergent Technology: a Cross-National Study from Five Universities | Gardner, G., Jones, M. G., Albe, V., Blonder, R., Laherto, A., & Paechter, M. (2016). Factors Influencing Postsecondary STeM Students' Views of the Public Communication of an Emergent Technology: A Cross-National Study from Five Universities. Research in Science Education, 1-19. | Gail Jones | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Perceptions of presence in 3-D, haptic-enabled virtual reality instruction | Jones, M. G., Hite, R., Childers, G., Corin, E., Pereyra, M., & Chesnutt, K., (2016). Perceptions of presence in 3-D, haptic-enabled virtual reality instruction. International Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 16, 73- 81. | Gail Jones | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Engineering imagination with ideation | Hite, R., Jones, M. G., & Jur, J. S. (2016). Engineering imagination with ideation. Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership, 1(1). | Gail Jones | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Citizen scientists and science hobbyists: Educating the life-long learner | Jones, M. G., Childers, G., andre, T., Corin, E., & Hite, R. (2016). Citizen scientists and science hobbyists: Educating the life-long learner. In J. Lavonen, K. Juuti, J. Lampiselk, A. Uitto & K. Hahl (eds.), Electronic Proceedings of the ESeRA 2015 Conference. Science Education research: Engaging learners for a sustainable future, Part 8, (pp. 150-159). Helsinki, Finland: University of Helsinki. ISBN 978-951-51-1541-6 | Gail Jones | 2016 | 2016 | |||||||||||
| Multifaceted biological insights from a draft genome sequence of the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta | Kanost, M.R., Arrese, E.L., Cao, X., Lorenzen, M.D., Et al (2016) Multifaceted biological insights from a draft genome sequence of the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2016 Aug 12. Pii: S0965-1748(16)30094-7. doi: 10.1016/J.Ibmb.2016.07.005. | Marce Lorenzen | 2016 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0965174816300947 | 10.1016/J.Ibmb.2016.07.005. | 2016 | 10.1016/J.Ibmb.2016.07.005. | ||||||||
| Promoting Ontological Insecurity to Transform the Governance of Science | Pitts EA, Jameson JK. 2016. Promoting ontological insecurity to transform the governance of science. In Transforming Conflict through Communication in Personal, Family, and Working Relationships. October 2016. Lexington Books. | Elizabeth Pitts | 2016 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2015/06/Pitts-and-Jameson-2016.pdf | 2016 | ||||||||||
| A transgenic male-only strain of the New World screwworm for an improved control program using the sterile insect technique | Concha, C., Palavesam, A., Guerrero, F.D., Sagel, A., Li, F., Hernandez, Y., Pardo, T., Quintero, G., Vasquez, M., Phillips, P.L., McMillan, W.O., Skoda, S.R. and Scott, M.J. (2016) A transgenic male-only strain of the New World screwworm for an improved control program using the sterile insect technique. BMC Biology, 14: 72. DOI: 10.1186/S12915-016-0296-8 | Maxwell Scott | 2016 | https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-016-0296-8 | 10.1186/S12915-016-0296-8 | 2016 | 10.1186/S12915-016-0296-8 | ||||||||
| Long-Term Memory in Drosophila Is Influenced by Histone Deacetylase HDAC4 Interacting with SUMO-Conjugating Enzyme Ubc9 | Schwartz, S., Truglio, M., Scott, M.J., and Fitzsimons, H.L. (2016) Long-term Memory in Drosophila Is Influenced by the Histone Deacetylase HDAC4 Interacting with the SUMO-Conjugating Enzyme Ubc9. GeNeTICS July 1, 2016 vol. 203 No. 3 1249-1264; doi: 10.1534/Genetics.115.183194 | Maxwell Scott | 2016 | http://www.genetics.org/content/203/3/1249 | 10.1534/Genetics.115.183194 | 2016 | 10.1534/Genetics.115.183194 | ||||||||
| A blow to the fly - Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology | Anstead, C. A., Batterham, P., Korhonen, P. K., Young, N. D., Hall, R. S., Bowles, V. M., Richards, S., Scott, M. J. and Gasser, R. B. (2016) A blow to the fly - Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv. 34: 605-620. doi: 10.1016/J.Biotechadv.2016.02.009. PubMed PMID: 26944522. | Maxwell Scott | 2016 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0734975016300167 | 10.1016/J.Biotechadv.2016.02.009. | 2016 | 10.1016/J.Biotechadv.2016.02.009. | ||||||||
| A proteomic based quantitative analysis of the relationship between monolignol biosynthetic protein abundance and lignin content using transgenic Populus trichocarpa | Tunlaya-Anukit, S., Et al, Sederoff, R.R. 2016. A proteomic based quantitative analysis of the relationship between monolignol biosynthetic protein abundance and lignin content using transgenic Populus trichocarpa. In Recent Advances in Polyphenols Research. DOI: 10.1002/9781118883303.Ch4 | Ronald Sederoff | 2016 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118883303.ch4/summary | 10.1002/9781118883303.Ch4 | 2016 | 10.1002/9781118883303.Ch4 | ||||||||
| Technology Governance Alternatives | Kuzma J. (2015) Technology Governance Alternatives. Issues in Science and Technology 32(1): 10-11 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | http://www.jstor.org/stable/24726988 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Investigating Factors Influencing Consumer Willingness to Buy GM Food and Nano-food: An Application of Structural Equation Modeling | Yue, C. Shuoli, Z, Cummings, C. and J. Kuzma. (2015) Investigating Factors Influencing Consumer Willingness to Buy GM Food and Nano-food: An Application of Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 17:283-302. doi: 10.1007/S11051-015-3084-4 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-015-3084-4 | 10.1007/S11051-015-3084-4 | 2015 | 10.1007/S11051-015-3084-4 | ||||||||
| Altruism and Skepticism in public attitudes toward food nanotechnology | Brown, J, Fatehi, L, and J. Kuzma. (2015) Altruism and Skepticism in public attitudes toward food nanotechnology. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 17:122-140. doi:10.1007/S11051-015-2926-4 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2015/03/alt-skept-final-2015.pdf | 10.1007/S11051-015-2926-4 | 2015 | 10.1007/S11051-015-2926-4 | ||||||||
| Translational Governance Research for Synthetic Biology | Kuzma, J. (2015) Translational Governance Research for Synthetic Biology. Journal of Responsible Innovation. DOI: 10.1080/23299460.2014.1002055 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23299460.2014.1002055 | 10.1080/23299460.2014.1002055 | 2015 | 10.1080/23299460.2014.1002055 | ||||||||
| Heterogeneous Consumer Preferences for Nanotechnology and Genetic-Modification Technology in Food Products | Yue, C. Shuoli, Z, and J. Kuzma. (2015) Heterogeneous Consumer Preferences for Nanotechnology and Genetic-Modification Technology in Food Products. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66(2), 308-328. DOI: 10.1111/1477-9552.12090 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1477-9552.12090/full | 10.1111/1477-9552.12090 | 2015 | 10.1111/1477-9552.12090 | ||||||||
| Synthetic Biology Governance: Delphi Study Workshop Report | Roberts JP, Stauffer S, Cummings C and J. Kuzma. (2015) Synthetic Biology Governance: Delphi Study Workshop Report. GeS Center Report #2015.2. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2014/04/Sloan-Workshop-Report-final-ss-081315-1.pdf | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Deextinction | GeS Center Issue Brief #2015.1. Deextinction. K. Sears, S Stauffer, J. Kuzma. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2015 | https://research.ncsu.edu/ges/files/2015/08/Deextinction-Issue-Brief-072115-Final.pdf | 2015 | ||||||||||
| SynBio 101 | Siplon, G., Herring, B., Kuzma, J., and Delborne, J. (2015) SynBio 101 [screenplay]. Written as part of the "Multi-Site Public Engagement with Science (MSPeS) - Synthetic Biology" (NSF Award #1421179). | Jennifer Kuzma, Jason Delborne | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| A Critical Assessment of Vector Control for Dengue Prevention | Achee NL, Gould F, Perkins TA, Reiner RC Jr., Morrison AC, Ritchie SA, Gubler, DJ, Teyssou, R, Scott, TW. 2015. A Critical Assessment of Vector Control for Dengue Prevention. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 9(5): E0003655. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0003655. | Fred Gould | 2015 | http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0003655 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0003655. | 2015 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0003655. | ||||||||
| Generation of a Transcriptome in a Model Lepidopteran Pest, Heliothis virescens, Using Multiple Sequencing Strategies for Profiling Midgut Gene Expression | Perera OP, Shelby KS, Popham HJR, Gould F, Adang MJ, Jurat-Fuentes JL. 2015. Generation of a Transcriptome in a Model Lepidopteran Pest, Heliothis virescens, Using Multiple Sequencing Strategies for Profiling Midgut Gene Expression. PLoS ONE 10(6): E0128563. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pone.0128563 | Fred Gould | 2015 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0133948 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0128563 | 2015 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0128563 | ||||||||
| Monitoring cotton bollworm resistance to Cry1Ac in two counties of northern China during 2009-2013 | An J, Gao Y, Lei C, Gould F, Wu K. 2015. Monitoring cotton bollworm resistance to Cry1Ac in two counties of northern China during 2009-2013. Pest Manag. Sci. 71:377-382 doi:10.1002/Ps.3807. | Fred Gould | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.3807/abstract | 10.1002/Ps.3807 | 2015 | 10.1002/Ps.3807. | ||||||||
| The next generation of rodent eradications: Innovative technologies and tools to improve species specificity and increase their feasibility on islands | Campbell, K. J., J. Beek, C. T. Eason, A. S. Glen, J. Godwin, F. Gould, N. D. Holmes, G. R. Howald, F. M. Madden, J. B. Ponder, D. W. Threadgill, A. Wegmann, and G. S. Baxter. 2015. The next generation of rodent eradications: Innovative technologies and tools to improve species specificity and increase their feasibility on islands. Biological Conservation 185:47-58. | Fred Gould, John Godwin | 2015 | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268157120_the_next_generation_of_rodent_eradications_innovative_technologies_and_tools_to_improve_species_specificity_and_increase_their_feasibility_on_islands | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Tender instruments: programme participation and impact in australian conservation tenders, grants and volunteer organisations | Z. S. Brown, B. Alvarez, N. Johnstone (2015). Tender instruments: programme participation and impact in australian conservation tenders, grants and volunteer organisations. OECD environment Working Papers, No. 85. OECD Publishing. | Zack Brown | 2015 | https://ideas.repec.org/p/oec/envaaa/85-en.html | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Addressing environmental risks for child health, in promoting health, preventing disease: the economic case | L. Trasande, Z. S. Brown (2015). Addressing environmental risks for child health, in promoting health, preventing disease: the economic case. Eds: D. McDaid, F. Sassi, S. Merkur. World Health Organization, Open University Press, Maidenhead, UK. | Zack Brown | 2015 | https://books.google.com/books?id=corscgaaqbaj&lpg=pa169&ots=cauzbbcuil&lr&pg=pa169#v=onepage&q&f=false | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Innovation at the Crossroads: Exploring the Intersection of Innovation Adoption and Specification Reform in Public Highway Construction | Kimmel, Shawn , Toohey, Nathan , & Delborne, Jason. (2015) Innovation at the Crossroads: Exploring the Intersection of Innovation Adoption and Specification Reform in Public Highway Construction. Transportation Research Circular (Vol. E-C199, pp. 9-18). Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. | Jason Delborne | 2015 | http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec199.pdf | 2015 | ||||||||||
| HeLa Cells | Hoopes, Joyce , & Delborne, Jason. (2015) "HeLa Cells," in J. B. Holbrook (ed.), Ethics, Science, Technology, and Engineering: A Global Resource (2nd Ed., Vol. 2, Pp. 446-448). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. | Jason Delborne | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Precautionary Principle | Harremos, Paul and revised by Delborne, Jason. (2015) "Precautionary Principle," in J. B. Holbrook (ed.), Ethics, Science, Technology, and Engineering: A Global Resource (2nd Ed., Vol. 3, Pp. 449-455). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. | Jason Delborne | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Public Understanding, Perceptions, and Acceptance of Nanotechnology through the Lens of Consumer Products | Kuiken, T., Quadros, M., McGinnis, S., Hull, M. 2015. Public"s Understanding, Perceptions, and Acceptance of Nanotechnology through the Lens of Consumer Products. In: Nanoengineering: Global Approaches to Health and Safety Issues, Edited by Patricia I. Dolez. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780444627476. | Todd Kuiken | 2015 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/b9780444627476000063 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Nanomedicine: Ethical Considerations | Kuiken, T. 2015. Nanomedicine: Ethical Considerations. In: Handbook of Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials. Edited by Bengt Fadeel. Pan Stanford., ISBN: 9789814463362. | Todd Kuiken | 2015 | https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9789814463379 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Nanotechnology in the real world: Redeveloping the nanomaterial consumer products inventory | Marina E., Todd Kuiken, Eric P. Vejerano, Sean P. McGinnis, Michael F. Hochella Jr., David Rejeski and Matthew S. Hull. Nanotechnology in the real world: Redeveloping the nanomaterial consumer products inventory. Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1769-1780. | Todd Kuiken | 2015 | https://www.beilstein-journals.org/bjnano/articles/6/181 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Report: U.S Trends in Synthetic Biology Research Funding | Todd Kuiken. 2015. Report: U.S Trends in Synthetic Biology Research Funding. Woodrow Wilson Center. | Todd Kuiken | 2015 | https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/us-trends-synthetic-biology-research-funding | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Population Dynamics Models for Wolbachia and its Host, the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti | Population Dynamics Models for Wolbachia and its Host, the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti | Timothy Antonelli | 2015 | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/10766 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Diet quality mitigates intraspecific larval competition in Drosophila | Hardin, J. A., Kraus, D. A. and Burrack, H. J. (2015), Diet quality mitigates intraspecific larval competition in Drosophila Suzukii. Entomol ExpAppl, 156: 59-65. doi:10.1111/Eea.12311 | Hannah Burrack | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eea.12311/abstract | 10.1111/Eea.12311 | 2015 | 10.1111/Eea.12311 | ||||||||
| Multistate Comparison of Attractants for Monitoring Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Blueberries and Caneberries | Hannah J. Burack et al. 2015. Multistate Comparison of Attractants for Monitoring Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Blueberries and Caneberries. Environ. Entomol. 1-9 (2015); DOI: 10.1093/Ee/nvv022 | Hannah Burrack | 2015 | http://pemaruccicenter.rutgers.edu/assets/pdf/publications/15-burrack-et-al-2015.pdf | 10.1093/Ee/nvv022 | 2015 | 10.1093/Ee/nvv022 | ||||||||
| Genetically Engineered trees: Paralysis from good intentions | Steven H. Strauss, Adam Costanza, Armand Seguin. Genetically Engineered trees: Paralysis from good intentions. Science 21 Aug 2015: Vol. 349, Issue 6250, pp. 794-795. DOI: 10.1126/Science.Aab0493 | Adam Costanza | 2015 | http://www.adamcostanza.com/docs/science-ge-trees-794-5.pdf | 10.1126/Science.Aab0493 | 2015 | 10.1126/Science.Aab0493 | ||||||||
| Eighteen New Candidate Effectors of the Phytonematode Heterodera glycines Produced Specifically in the Secretory Esophageal Gland Cells During Parasitism | Noon JB, Davis EL, Et. Al. 2015. Eighteen New Candidate Effectors of the Phytonematode Heterodera glycines Produced Specifically in the Secretory Esophageal Gland Cells During Parasitism. Phytopathology. 2015 Oct;105(10):1362-72. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-02-15-0049-R | Eric Davis | 2015 | https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/phyto-02-15-0049-r | 10.1094/PHYTO-02-15-0049-R | 2015 | 10.1094/PHYTO-02-15-0049-R | ||||||||
| Sequence and Spatiotemporal expression Analysis of CLE-Motif Containing Genes from the Reniform Nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveira) | Wubben MJ, Gavilano L, Baum TJ, Davis eL. Sequence and Spatiotemporal expression Analysis of CLE-Motif Containing Genes from the Reniform Nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveira). J Nematol. 2015 Jun;47(2):159-65. | Eric Davis | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26170479 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| The Cyst Nematode effector Protein 10A07 Targets and Recruits Host Posttranslational Machinery to Mediate Its Nuclear Trafficking and to Promote Parasitism in Arabidopsis | Hewezi T, Juvale PS, Piya S, Maier TR, Rambani A, Rice JH, Mitchum MG, Davis eL, Hussey RS, Baum TJ. 2015. The cyst nematode effector protein 10A07 targets and recruits host posttranslational machinery to mediate its nuclear trafficking and to promote parasitism in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2015 Mar;27(3):891-907. doi: 10.1105/Tpc.114.135327. | Eric Davis | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25715285 | 10.1105/Tpc.114.135327. | 2015 | 10.1105/Tpc.114.135327. | ||||||||
| The ecology of microscopic life in household dust | The ecology of microscopic life in household dust | Rob Dunn | 2015 | We spend the majority of our lives indoors; yet, we currently lack a comprehensive understanding of how the microbial communities found in homes vary across broad geographical regions and what factors are most important in shaping the types of microorganisms found inside homes. Here, we investigated the fungal and bacterial communities found in settled dust collected from inside and outside approximately 1200 homes located across the continental US, homes that represent a broad range of home designs and span many climatic zones. Indoor and outdoor dust samples harboured distinct microbial communities, but these differences were larger for bacteria than for fungi with most indoor fungi originating outside the home. Indoor fungal communities and the distribution of potential allergens varied predictably across climate and geographical regions; where you live determines what fungi live with you inside your home. By contrast, bacterial communities in indoor dust were more strongly influenced by the number and types of occupants living in the homes. In particular, the female : male ratio and whether a house had pets had a significant influence on the types of bacteria found inside our homes highlighting that who you live with determines what bacteria are found inside your home. | As humans become increasingly urban and spend the majority of their lives indoors, the time we spend with microbial taxa found inside homes is increasing. Some of these taxa may have negative effects on human health, while others may even be beneficial. | Built environment, Bacteria, Allergens, Fungi, Microbial ecology, Dust | http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1814/20151139 | 2015 | |||||||
| Temperature alone does not explain phenological variation of diverse temperate plants under experimental warming | Temperature alone does not explain phenological variation of diverse temperate plants under experimental warming | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25736981 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Climate mediates the effects of disturbance on ant assemblage structure | Climate mediates the effects of disturbance on ant assemblage structure | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1808/20150418 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| High diversity in an urban habitat: are some animal assemblages resilient to long-term anthropogenic change? | High diversity in an urban habitat: are some animal assemblages resilient to long-term anthropogenic change? | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-014-0406-8#/page-1 | 10.1007/s11252-014-0406-8 | 2015 | 10.1007/s11252-014-0406-8 | ||||||||
| Stable isotopes reveal links between human food inputs and urban ant diets | Stable isotopes reveal links between human food inputs and urban ant diets | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1806/20142608 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Continental-scale distributions of dust-associated bacteria and fungi | Continental-scale distributions of dust-associated bacteria and fungi | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25902536 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Fine scale heterogeneity across Manhattan's urban habitat mosaic is associated with variation in ant composition and richness | Fine scale heterogeneity across Manhattan's urban habitat mosaic is associated with variation in ant composition and richness | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/icad.12098/abstract | 10.1111/icad.12098 | 2015 | 10.1111/icad.12098/abstract | ||||||||
| Fungi Identify the Geographic Origin of Dust Samples | Fungi Identify the Geographic Origin of Dust Samples | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122605 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122605 | 2015 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122605 | ||||||||
| Evolution of the indoor biome | Evolution of the indoor biome | Rob Dunn | 2015 | http://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/abstract/s0169-5347(15)00038-5 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| The Need for Speed: Neuroendocrine Regulation of Socially-controlled Sex Change | The Need for Speed: Neuroendocrine Regulation of Socially-controlled Sex Change | John Godwin | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25980565 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Controls over native perennial grass exclusion and persistence in California grasslands invaded by annuals | Controls over native perennial grass exclusion and persistence in California grasslands invaded by annuals | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/14-2023.1/abstract | 10.1890/14-2023.1 | 2015 | 10.1890/14-2023.1/abstract | ||||||||
| The differential effects of increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme events on coral populations | The differential effects of increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme events on coral populations | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/14-0273.1/abstract | 10.1890/14-0273.1 | 2015 | 10.1890/14-0273.1/abstract | ||||||||
| Stability of Caribbean coral communities quantified by long-term monitoring and autoregression models | Stability of Caribbean coral communities quantified by long-term monitoring and autoregression models | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/14-0941.1/abstract | 10.1890/14-0941.1 | 2015 | 10.1890/14-0941.1/abstract | ||||||||
| Do growing degree days predict phenology across butterfly species? | Do growing degree days predict phenology across butterfly species? | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/15-0131.1/abstract | 10.1890/15-0131.1 | 2015 | 10.1890/15-0131.1/abstract | ||||||||
| Species richness, but not phylogenetic diversity, influences community biomass production and temporal stability in a re-examination of 16 grassland biodiversity studies | Species richness, but not phylogenetic diversity, influences community biomass production and temporal stability in a re-examination of 16 grassland biodiversity studies | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12432/abstract | 10.1111/1365-2435.12432 | 2015 | 10.1111/1365-2435.12432/abstract | ||||||||
| The community ecology of pathogens: coinfection, coexistence and community composition | The community ecology of pathogens: coinfection, coexistence and community composition | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.12418/abstract | 10.1111/ele.12418 | 2015 | 10.1111/ele.12418/abstract | ||||||||
| Evaluating Deer Hunters' Support for Hunting Deer with Dogs | Evaluating Deer Hunters' Support for Hunting Deer with Dogs | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10871209.2014.997328?journalcode=uhdw20 | 10.1080/10871209.2014.997328 | 2015 | 10.1080/10871209.2014.997328 | ||||||||
| Nondestructive evaluation of aircraft coatings with infrared diffuse reflectance spectra | Nondestructive evaluation of aircraft coatings with infrared diffuse reflectance spectra | Kevin Gross | 2015 | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015spie.9485e..03k | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Sucrose Improves Insecticide Activity Against Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) | Sucrose Improves Insecticide Activity Against Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) | Johanna Elsensohn | 2015 | http://jee.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/02/04/jee.tou100 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Treatment Efficacy of Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Slow Transit Constipation: A Two-Phase, Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Crossover Study | Treatment Efficacy of Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Slow Transit Constipation: A Two-Phase, Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Crossover Study | Michael S. Jones | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25895520 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| The Death and Life of the Music Industry in the Digital Age | The Death and Life of the Music Industry in the Digital Age | Michael S. Jones | 2015 | http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayabstract?frompage=online&aid=9682504&fileid=s0261143015000185 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Devices and methods for treating restless leg syndrome | Devices and methods for treating restless leg syndrome | Michael S. Jones | 2015 | http://www.google.com/patents/us9017273 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Rearticulating Nuclear Power: Energy Activism and Contested Common Sense | Rearticulating Nuclear Power: Energy Activism and Contested Common Sense | William Kinsella | 2015 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17524032.2014.978348?journalcode=renc20 | 10.1080/17524032.2014.978348 | 2015 | 10.1080/17524032.2014.978348 | ||||||||
| The ABCs of Eye Color in Tribolium castaneum: Orthologs of the Drosophila white, scarlet, and brown Genes | The ABCs of Eye Color in Tribolium castaneum: Orthologs of the Drosophila white, scarlet, and brown Genes | Marce Lorenzen | 2015 | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25555987 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Shaping Emerging Technologies: Governance, Innovation, Discourse | Elizabeth A. Pitts. 2016. Shaping Emerging Technologies: Governance, Innovation, Discourse. Nanoethics (2015) 9: 85. doi: 10.1007/S11569-015-0221-6 | Elizabeth Pitts | 2016 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11569-015-0221-6#citeas | 10.1007/S11569-015-0221-6 | 2016 | 10.1007/S11569-015-0221-6 | ||||||||
| The New Global Urban Realm: Complex, Connected, Diffuse, and Diverse Social-ecological Systems | The New Global Urban Realm: Complex, Connected, Diffuse, and Diverse Social-ecological Systems | Louie Rivers | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Pleistocene rainforests: barriers or attractive environments for early human foragers? | Pleistocene rainforests: barriers or attractive environments for early human foragers? | Pat Roberts | 2015 | https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2015.1073119 | 10.1080/00438243.2015.1073119 | 2015 | 10.1080/00438243.2015.1073119 | ||||||||
| The Sri Lankan 'Microlithic' Tradition c. 38,000 To 3,000 Years Ago: Tropical Technologies and Adaptations of Homo sapiens at the Southern Edge of Asia | The Sri Lankan 'Microlithic' Tradition c. 38,000 To 3,000 Years Ago: Tropical Technologies and Adaptations of Homo sapiens at the Southern Edge of Asia | Pat Roberts | 2015 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-015-9085-5 | 10.1007/s10963-015-9085-5 | 2015 | 10.1007/s10963-015-9085-5 | ||||||||
| Fallout: Nuclear Diplomacy in an Age of Global Fracture | Fallout: Nuclear Diplomacy in an Age of Global Fracture | Pat Roberts | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Understanding responder neurobiology in schizophrenia using a quantitative systems pharmacology model: Application to iloperidone | Understanding responder neurobiology in schizophrenia using a quantitative systems pharmacology model: Application to iloperidone | Pat Roberts | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Direct evidence for human reliance on rainforest resources in late Pleistocene Sri Lanka | Direct evidence for human reliance on rainforest resources in late Pleistocene Sri Lanka | Pat Roberts | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Assessing the synergy between cholinomimetics and memantine as augmentation therapy in cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. A virtual human patient trial using quantitative systems pharmacology. | Assessing the synergy between cholinomimetics and memantine as augmentation therapy in cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. A virtual human patient trial using quantitative systems pharmacology. | Pat Roberts | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| It's a Boy: Modified Male Flies Could More Efficiently Control Screwworm Population | It's a Boy: Modified Male Flies Could More Efficiently Control Screwworm Population | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Towards next generation maggot debridement therapy: transgenic Lucilia sericata larvae that produce and secrete a human growth factor | Towards next generation maggot debridement therapy: transgenic Lucilia sericata larvae that produce and secrete a human growth factor | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12896-016-0263-z | 10.1186/s12896-016-0263-z | 2015 | 10.1186/s12896-016-0263-z | ||||||||
| Functional characterization of calliphorid cell death genes and cellularization gene promoters for controlling gene expression and cell viability in early embryos | Functional characterization of calliphorid cell death genes and cellularization gene promoters for controlling gene expression and cell viability in early embryos | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12135/abstract | 10.1111/imb.12135 | 2015 | 10.1111/imb.12135/abstract | ||||||||
| Genome Sequence of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina morsitans): Vector of African Trypanosomiasis | Genome Sequence of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina morsitans): Vector of African Trypanosomiasis | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Transgenic sexing system for genetic control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina | Transgenic sexing system for genetic control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Development and Evaluation of male-only strains of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina | Development and Evaluation of male-only strains of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Control of the Sheep Blowfly - are we there yet? | Control of the Sheep Blowfly - are we there yet? | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Sex determination mechanisms in Calliphoridae (blow flies), Sexual Development | Sex determination mechanisms in Calliphoridae (blow flies), Sexual Development | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Transgenic approaches for sterile insect control of dipteran livestock pests and lepidopteran crop pests | Transgenic approaches for sterile insect control of dipteran livestock pests and lepidopteran crop pests | Maxwell Scott | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Elucidation of Xylem-Specific Transcription Factors and Absolute Quantification of Enzymes Regulating Cellulose Biosynthesis in Populus trichocarpa | Elucidation of Xylem-Specific Transcription Factors and Absolute Quantification of Enzymes Regulating Cellulose Biosynthesis in Populus trichocarpa | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Phosphorylation is an on/off switch for 5 hydroxyconiferaldehyde O-methyltransferase activity in poplar monolignol biosynthesis | Phosphorylation is an on/off switch for 5 hydroxyconiferaldehyde O-methyltransferase activity in poplar monolignol biosynthesis | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| 4-Coumaroyl and Caffeoyl Shikimic Acids Inhibit 4-Coumaric Acid: Coenzyme A Ligases and Modulate Metabolic Flux for 3-Hydroxylation in Monolignol Biosynthesis of Populus trichocarpa | 4-Coumaroyl and Caffeoyl Shikimic Acids Inhibit 4-Coumaric Acid: Coenzyme A Ligases and Modulate Metabolic Flux for 3-Hydroxylation in Monolignol Biosynthesis of Populus trichocarpa | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Decoding the massive genome of loblolly pine using haploid DNA and novel assembly strategies | Decoding the massive genome of loblolly pine using haploid DNA and novel assembly strategies | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Complete proteomic based enzyme reaction and inhibition kinetics reveal how monolignol biosynthetic pathway enzyme families affect metabolic-flux and lignin in Populus trichocarpa | Complete proteomic based enzyme reaction and inhibition kinetics reveal how monolignol biosynthetic pathway enzyme families affect metabolic-flux and lignin in Populus trichocarpa | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Systems Biology of Lignin Biosynthesis in Populus trichocarpa: Heteromeric 4-Coumaric acid: CoA Ligase (4CL) Protein Complex Formation, Regulation and Numerical Modeling | Systems Biology of Lignin Biosynthesis in Populus trichocarpa: Heteromeric 4-Coumaric acid: CoA Ligase (4CL) Protein Complex Formation, Regulation and Numerical Modeling | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| A simple high throughput xylem protoplast system for studying wood formation | A simple high throughput xylem protoplast system for studying wood formation | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| A robust chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) protocol for studying transcription factor (TF)-DNA interactions and histone modifications in wood forming tissue | A robust chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) protocol for studying transcription factor (TF)-DNA interactions and histone modifications in wood forming tissue | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Establishing ion ratio thresholds based on absolute peak area for absolute protein quantification using protein cleavage isotope dilution mass spectrometry | Establishing ion ratio thresholds based on absolute peak area for absolute protein quantification using protein cleavage isotope dilution mass spectrometry | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Plant biotechnology for lignocellulosic biofuel production | Plant biotechnology for lignocellulosic biofuel production | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.12273 | 10.1111/pbi.12273 | 2015 | 10.1111/pbi.12273/full | ||||||||
| 4-Coumaroyl and Caffeoyl Shikimic Acids Inhibit 4-Coumaric Acid: Coenzyme A Ligases and Modulate Metabolic Flux for 3-Hydroxylation in Monolignol Biosynthesis of Populus trichocarpa | 4-Coumaroyl and Caffeoyl Shikimic Acids Inhibit 4-Coumaric Acid: Coenzyme A Ligases and Modulate Metabolic Flux for 3-Hydroxylation in Monolignol Biosynthesis of Populus trichocarpa | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| A Proteomic Based Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship Between Monolignol Biosynthetic Protein Abundance and Lignin Content Using Transgenic Populus trichocarpa | A Proteomic Based Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship Between Monolignol Biosynthetic Protein Abundance and Lignin Content Using Transgenic Populus trichocarpa | Ronald Sederoff | 2015 | 2015 | |||||||||||
| Anticipatory governance and contested futures: Insights from the next generation of genetic engineering | Kokotovich, A. and J. Kuzma J (2014). Anticipatory governance and contested futures: Insights from the next generation of genetic engineering. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society 34(4): 108-120. doi: 10.1177/0270467614565695 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0270467614565695 | 10.1177/0270467614565695 | 2014 | 10.1177/0270467614565695 | ||||||||
| Properly Paced or Problematic?: Examining Governance of GMOs | Kuzma, J. (2014) "Properly Paced or Problematic?: Examining Governance of GMOs in Innovative Governance Models for Emerging Technologies Editors Gary Marchant, Kenneth Abbott and Braden Allenby. Edward Elgar (editorial peer review) | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/innovative-governance-models-for-emerging-technologies | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Mapping the Emerging Field of Genome Editing | Kuzhabekova, A. and J. Kuzma (2014) Mapping the Emerging Field of Genome Editing. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management 26(3): 321-352. doi:10.1080/09537325.2013.850657 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09537325.2013.850657 | 10.1080/09537325.2013.850657 | 2014 | 10.1080/09537325.2013.850657 | ||||||||
| Governance for Genetic Biocontrol Technologies for Invasive Species | Gilna, B., Kuzma J., and Showwalter, S. (2014) "Governance for Genetic Biocontrol Technologies for Invasive Species." Biological Invasions 16: 1299. doi: 10.1007/S10530-012-0367-x | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-012-0367-x | 10.1007/S10530-012-0367-x | 2014 | 10.1007/S10530-012-0367-x | ||||||||
| Translational risk governance research | Kuzma, J. (2014). Translational risk governance rsearch. Paper for the Workshop on Research Agenda in the Societal Aspects of Syntehtic Biology. Arizona State University. http://cns.Asu.edu/synbio/papers. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | http://cns.asu.edu/sites/default/files/kuzmaj_synbiopaper_2014.pdf | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Synthetic Biology: Missing the Point | Weiss Evans, S., Kuzma, J., et al. Synthetic Biology: Missing the Point. Letter to Nature 510: 218 (2014) doi:10.1038/510218B | Jennifer Kuzma | 2014 | https://www.nature.com/articles/510218b | 10.1038/510218B | 2014 | 10.1038/510218B | ||||||||
| Genetic control of invasive fish: technological options and its role in Integrated Pest Management | Thresher, R. E., K. Hayes, N. J. Bax, J. Teem, T. J. Benfey, F. Gould. 2014. Genetic control of invasive fish: technological options and its role in Integrated Pest Management. Biological Invasions. Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Special Issue: SI Pages: 1201-1216. DOI 10.1007/S10530-013-0477-0 | Fred Gould | 2014 | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-013-0477-0 | 10.1007/S10530-013-0477-0 | 2014 | 10.1007/S10530-013-0477-0 | ||||||||
| Within-population variability in a moth sex pheromone blend: genetic basis and behavioural consequences | Groot, A. T., G. Schofl, O. Inglis, S. Donnerhacke, A. Classen, A. Schmalz, R. G. Santangelo, J. Emerson, F. Gould, C. Schal, and D. G. Heckel. 2014. Within-population variability in a moth sex pheromone blend: genetic basis and behavioural consequences. Proc. R. Soc. B 281:20133054. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/Rspb.2013.3054 | Fred Gould | 2014 | http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1779/20133054 | 10.1098/Rspb.2013.3054 | 2014 | 10.1098/Rspb.2013.3054 | ||||||||
| Feasible Introgression of an Anti-pathogen Transgene into an Urban Mosquito Population without Using Gene-Drive | Okamoto KW, Robert MA, Gould F, Lloyd AL (2014) Feasible Introgression of an Anti-pathogen Transgene into an Urban Mosquito Population without Using Gene-Drive. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(7): E2827. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002827 | Fred Gould, Alun Lloyd | 2014 | http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0002827 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002827 | 2014 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002827 | ||||||||
| Antipathogen genes and the replacement of disease-vectoring mosquito populations: a model-based Evaluation | Robert, M. A., K. W. Okamoto, F. Gould and A. L. Lloyd. 2014. Antipathogen genes and the replacement of disease-vectoring mosquito populations: a model-based Evaluation. Evol. Appl. 7:1238-1251. DOI: 10.1111/Eva.12219. | Fred Gould, Alun Lloyd | 2014 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.12219/full | 10.1111/Eva.12219 | 2014 | 10.1111/Eva.12219. | ||||||||
| Better the devil you throw: Experience and support for pay-as-you-throw waste charges | Z. S. Brown and N. Johnstone (2014). Better the devil you throw: Experience and support for pay-as-you-throw waste charges. Environmental Science & Policy, 38: 132-142. | Zack Brown | 2014 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s146290111300275x | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Greening Household Behaviour: Cross-Domain comparisons in environmental attitudes and behaviours using spatial effects | Z. S. Brown (2014). Greening Household Behaviour: Cross-Domain comparisons in environmental attitudes and behaviours using spatial effects. OECD environment Working Papers, 70. OECD Publishing. | Zack Brown | 2014 | https://ideas.repec.org/p/oec/envaaa/68-en.html | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Navigating Controversies in Search of Neutrality: Analyzing Efforts by Public Think Tanks to Inform Climate Change Policy | Delborne, Jason A. Navigating Controversies in Search of Neutrality: Analyzing Efforts by Public Think Tanks to Inform Climate Change Policy. In D. A. Crow & M. Boykoff (eds.), (2014). Culture, Politics, and Climate Change: How Information Shapes our Common Future (pp. 163-179). New York, NY: Routledge/earthscan. | Jason Delborne | 2014 | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261948004_navigating_controversies_in_search_of_neutrality_analyzing_efforts_by_public_think_tanks_to_inform_climate_change_policy | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Redefining safety in commercial space: Understanding debates over the safety of private human spaceflight initiatives in the United States | Bouchey, Michael , & Delborne, Jason. (2014). Redefining safety in commercial space: Understanding debates over the safety of private human spaceflight initiatives in the United States. Space Policy, 30(2), 53-61. doi:10.1016/J.Spacepol.2014.03.002 | Jason Delborne | 2014 | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261674424_redefining_safety_in_commercial_space_understanding_debates_over_the_safety_of_private_human_spaceflight_initiatives_in_the_united_states | 10.1016/J.Spacepol.2014.03.002 | 2014 | 10.1016/J.Spacepol.2014.03.002 | ||||||||
| Synthetic biology: Missing the point | Evans, S. W., Jasanoff, S., Calvert, J., Delborne, J., Doubleday, R., Frow, E., Funtowicz, S., Green, B., Guston, D.H., Hurlburt, B., Irwin, A., Joly, P., Kuzma, J., Palmer, M., Race, M., Stilgoe, J., Stirling, A., Wilsdon, J., Winickoff, D., Wynne, B., and Zoloth, L. CORReSPONDeNCe: Synthetic biology: Missing the point. Nature, 510(7504), 218. (June 12, 2014). doi:10.1038/510218B. | Jason Delborne | 2014 | https://www.nature.com/articles/510218b | 10.1038/510218B. | 2014 | 10.1038/510218B. | ||||||||
| Grasping Synthetic Biology | Delborne, Jason. (2014) "Grasping Synthetic Biology." Invited paper for circulation prior to the Workshop on Research Agendas in the Societal Aspects of Synthetic Biology. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. November 4-6, 2014. Available: https://cns.Asu.edu/synbio/papers | Jason Delborne | 2014 | https://cns.asu.edu/synbio/papers | 2014 | ||||||||||
| What's that hiding behind the poll? Perceiving public perceptions of biotechnology | Delborne, Jason. (2014) "What"s that hiding behind the poll? Perceiving public perceptions of biotechnology". The Cultural Cognition Project at Yale Law School, D. Kahan (ed.). June 24, 2014. Available: http://www.Culturalcognition.net/blog/2014/6/24/whats-that-hiding-behind-the-poll-perceiving-public-percepti.html | Jason Delborne | 2014 | http://www.culturalcognition.net/blog/2014/6/24/whats-that-hiding-behind-the-poll-perceiving-public-percepti.html | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Regulating Gene Drives | Kenneth A Oye, Kevin Esvelt, Evan Appleton, Flaminia Catteruccia, George Church, Todd Kuiken, Shlomiya Bar-Yam Lightfoot, Julie McNamara, andrea Smidler, James P Collins. 2014. Regulating Gene Drives. Science. 08 Aug 2014: Vol. 345, Issue 6197, pp. 626-628. DOI: 10.1126/Science.1254287 | Todd Kuiken | 2014 | http://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6197/626.full | 10.1126/Science.1254287 | 2014 | 10.1126/Science.1254287 | ||||||||
| Shaping Ecological Risk Research for Synthetic Biology | Kuiken, T., Dana, G.V., Oye, K., Rejeski, D. 2014. Shaping Ecological Risk Research for Synthetic Biology. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. Volume 4, Issue 3, pp 191-199. | Todd Kuiken | 2014 | https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/shaping-ecological-risk-research-for-synthetic-biology-aucxrmwruo | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Report: Creating a Research Agenda for the Ecological Implications of Synthetic Biology | Todd Kuiken, Kelly Drinkwater, Shlomiya Lightfoot, Julie McNamara, Kenneth Oye. 2014. Report: Creating a Research Agenda for the Ecological Implications of Synthetic Biology. Woodrow Wilson Center. | Todd Kuiken | 2014 | https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/creating-research-agenda-for-the-ecological-implications-synthetic-biology | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Seven challenges for modelling indirect transmission: vector-borne diseases, macroparasites and neglected tropical diseases | Hollingsworth TD, Pulliam JR, Funk S, Truscott Je, Isham V, Lloyd AL. Seven | Alun Lloyd | 2014 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s1755436514000425 | |||||||||||
| An assembly of adult female mosquito mark-release-recapture data to inform vector-borne pathogen transmission models | Guerra, Lloyd, et al.: A global assembly of adult female | Alun Lloyd | 2014 | https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1756-3305-7-276?site=parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com | |||||||||||
| Time-varying, serotype-specific force of infection estimates for dengue virus | Reiner, R., Lloyd, A., et al. 2013. Time-varying, serotype-specific force of infection of dengue virus. PNAS July 1, 2014 vol. 111 No. 26. doi: 10.1073/Pnas.1314933111 | Alun Lloyd | 2014 | http://www.pnas.org/content/111/26/e2694.abstract | 10.1073/Pnas.1314933111 | 2014 | 10.1073/Pnas.1314933111 | ||||||||
| Recasting the Theory of Mosquito-Borne Pathogen Transmission Dynamics and Control | Smith, DL, Lloyd, A, et. Al. 2014. Recasting the theory of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission dynamics and control. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 108, Issue 4, 1 April 2014, Pages 185-197. doi: 10.1093/Trstmh/tru026 | Alun Lloyd | 2014 | https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article/108/4/185/1924536 | 10.1093/Trstmh/tru026 | 2014 | 10.1093/Trstmh/tru026 | ||||||||
| Innovation in Emerging Energy Technologies: A case study analysis to inform the path forward for algal biofuels | Haase, R., J. Bielicki, and J. Kuzma. (2013) Innovation in Emerging Energy Technologies: A case study analysis to inform the path forward for algal biofuels. Energy Policy, 61:1595-1607. doi: 10.1016/J.Enpol.2013.06.029 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0301421513005144 | 10.1016/J.Enpol.2013.06.029 | 2013 | 10.1016/J.Enpol.2013.06.029 | ||||||||
| Hungry for Information: Public Attitudes toward Food Nanotechnology and Labeling Review of Policy Research 30: 512-548 | Brown, J., and J. Kuzma. (2013) "Hungry for Information: Public Attitudes toward Food Nanotechnology and Labeling" Review of Policy Research 30: 512-548. DOI: 10.1111/Ropr.12035 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ropr.12035/full | 10.1111/Ropr.12035 | 2013 | 10.1111/Ropr.12035 | ||||||||
| Consumer Knowledge of Genetically Engineered Organisms (GeOs) | Korslund, K., Stephenson, S., Victor, A., Laird, A.,and J. Kuzma. (2013) Consumer Knowledge of Genetically Engineered Organisms (GeOs). Journal of Science Policy and Governance 3(1): 1-39. | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | https://issuu.com/jofspg/docs/consumer_knowledge_of_genetically_e | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Envisioning Future Governance of the Bioeconomy | Kuzma, J. (2013). "Envisioning Future Governance of the Bioeconomy" The Environmental Forum 30(3): 49. Pp 66-75. ISBN: 978-0-9803882-4-0 | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | https://www.eli.org/the-environmental-forum/responses-white-houses-groundbreaking-report-emerging-bioeconomy-0 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Should Citizens Have a Say About Emerging Technologies? | Kuzma, J. Should Citizens Have a Say About Emerging Technologies? (2013) Scholar"s Strategy Network, Policy Brief. Available at http://www.Scholarsstrategynetwork.org/brief/should-citizens-have-say-about-emerging-technologies | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/brief/should-citizens-have-say-about-emerging-technologies | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Examining the Oversight Challenges of Plant TagMo | Korslund, K., Victor, A., Brown, J., and J. Kuzma. (2013) Examining the Oversight Challenges of Plant TagMo.: Workshop Report. U of MN, https://sites.Google.com/a/umn.edu/igets/ | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | https://drive.google.com/file/d/0b7ghbtmzicwiwxrvvdvvofr5oun4rejwzlnwyv9oswfsz1bf/edit | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Social Robotics and Governance Challenges | Victor, A. Fatehi, L, and J. Kuzma. Social Robotics and Governance Challenges. Workshop Report. (2013) Published by U of MN Initiative on Governance and Emerging Technological Systems. Www.Igets.Umn.edu | Jennifer Kuzma | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Field Cage Studies and Progressive Evaluation of Genetically- Engineered Mosquitoes | Facchinelli, L., L. Valerio, J.M. Ramsey, F. Gould, R. K. Walsh, G. Bond, M. A. Robert, A. L. Lloyd, A. A. James, L. Alphey, and T. W. Scott. 2013. Field Cage Studies and Progressive Evaluation of Genetically- Engineered Mosquitoes. PLoS NTD. 7(1): E2001. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002001 | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0002001 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002001 | 2013 | 10.1371/Journal.Pntd.0002001 | ||||||||
| The Importance of Mosquito Behavioural Adaptations to Malaria Control in Africa | Gatton, M.L., N. Chitnis, T. Churcher, M. J. Donnelly, A. C . Ghani, H. C. J. Godfray, F. Gould, I. Hastings, J. Marshall, H. Ranson, M. Rowland, J. Shaman, S. W. Lindsay. 2013. The Importance of Mosquito Behavioural Adaptations to Malaria Control in Africa. Evolution. 67:1218-1230. | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evo.12063/abstract | 10.1111/evo.12063 | 2013 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evo.12063/abstract | ||||||||
| Assessing the Impact of Direct and Delayed Density Dependence in Natural Larval Populations of Aedes aeygpti | Walsh, R.K. , C.L. Aguilar, L. Facchinelli, L. Valerio, J.M. Ramsey, T.W. Scott, A. L. Lloyd and F. Gould. 2013. Assessing the Impact of Direct and Delayed Density Dependence in Natural Larval Populations of Aedes aeygpti. Amer. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 89:68-77. | Fred Gould | 2013 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3748491/ | 2013 | ||||||||||
| One quantitative trait locus for intra- and interspecific variation in a sex pheromone | Groot, A. T., H. Staudacher, A. Barthel, O. Inglis, G. Schofl, R. G. Santangelo, S. Gebauer-Jung, H. Vogel, J. Emerson, C. Schal, D. G. Heckel, F. Gould. 2013. One quantitative trait locus for intra- and interspecific variation in a sex pheromone Molecular Ecology. 22:1065-1080 DOI: 10.1111/Mec.12171 | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.12171/abstract | 10.1111/Mec.12171 | 2013 | 10.1111/Mec.12171 | ||||||||
| Reduce and replace strategy for suppressing vector-borne diseases: Insights from a deterministic model | Robert, M. A., K. Okamoto, A. L. Lloyd, F. Gould. 2013. Reduce and replace strategy for suppressing vector-borne diseases: Insights from a deterministic model. PLoS ONE 8(9) e73233. DOI: 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0073233. | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0073233 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0073233. | 2013 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0073233. | ||||||||
| Diminishing returns from increased percent Bt cotton: The case of pink bollworm | Huang, Y., P. Wan, H. N. Zhang, M. S. Huang, Z. H. Li, F. Gould. 2013. Diminishing returns from increased percent Bt cotton: The case of pink bollworm. PLoS ONE 8(7): E68573. DOI: 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0068573. | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0068573 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0068573. | 2013 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0068573. | ||||||||
| Modeling the dynamics of a non-limited and a self-limited gene drive system in structured Aedes aegypti populations | Legros M, C. Xu, A. Morrison, T. W. Scott, A. L. Lloyd, F. Gould. 2013. Modeling the dynamics of a non-limited and a self-limited gene drive system in structured Aedes aegypti populations. PLoS ONE 8(12): E83354. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pone.0083354 | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0083354 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0083354 | 2013 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0083354 | ||||||||
| A reduce and replace strategy for suppressing vector-borne diseases: Insights from a stochastic, spatial model | Okamoto K. W., M. A. Robert, A. L. Lloyd, F. Gould. 2013. A reduce and replace strategy for suppressing vector- borne diseases: Insights from a stochastic, spatial model. PLoS ONE 8(12): e81860. doi:10.1371/Journal.Pone.0081860 | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0081860 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0081860 | 2013 | 10.1371/Journal.Pone.0081860 | ||||||||
| Specificity of the receptor for the major sex pheromone component in Heliothis virescens | Vasquez GM, Syed Z, estes PA, Leal WS, Gould F. 2013. Specificity of the receptor for the major sex pheromone component in Heliothis virescens. Journal of Insect Science 13:160. Available online: http://www.Insectscience.org/13.160 | Fred Gould | 2013 | http://www.insectscience.org/13.160 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Testing the effect of defaults on the thermostat settings of OECD employees | Z. S. Brown, N. Johnstone, I. Hascic , L. Vong, F. Barascud (2013). Testing the effect of defaults on the thermostat settings of OECD employees. Energy Economics, 39: 128-134. | Zack Brown | 2013 | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0140988313000753 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Insecticide resistance and malaria vector control: The importance of fitness cost mechanisms in determining economically optimal control trajectories | Z. S. Brown, K. Dickinson, and R. A. Kramer (2013). Insecticide resistance and malaria vector control: The importance of fitness cost mechanisms in determining Economically optimal control trajectories. Journal of Economic Entomology, 106(1): 366-374. | Zack Brown | 2013 | http://jee.oxfordjournals.org/content/106/1/366.abstract | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Greening Household Behaviour: Overview from the 2011 Survey | Y. Serret, Z. S. Brown, N. Johnstone (2013). Greening Household Behaviour: Overview from the 2011 Survey. OECD Studies on Environmental Policy and Household Behaviour, OECD Publishing. [Edited book, authored three chapters.] | Zack Brown | 2013 | https://ideas.repec.org/p/oec/envaaa/79-en.html | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Background information on the assessment of alternatives to DDT | Z. S. Brown (2013). Background information on the assessment of alternatives to DDT. Technical report for the Stockholm Convention Secretariat. UNeP/POPS/POPRC.7/INF/19 | Zack Brown | 2013 | http://chm.pops.int/theconvention/popsreviewcommittee/meetings/poprc7/poprc7documents/tabid/2267/ctl/download/mid/7443/default.aspx?id=23&objid=12892 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| More than the Sum of their Parts: Valuing Environmental Quality by Combining Life Satisfaction Surveys and GIS Data | J. Silva, Z. S. Brown (2013). More than the Sum of their Parts: Valuing Environmental Quality by Combining Life Satisfaction Surveys and GIS Data. OECD Statistics Working Papers, 2013/1, OECD Publishing. | Zack Brown | 2013 | http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/more-than-the-sum-of-their-parts-valuing-environmental-quality-by-combining-life-satisfaction-surveys-and-gis-data_5k4840hfpwkb-en | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Policy Pathways, Policy Networks, and Citizen Deliberation: Disseminating the Results of World Wide Views on Global Warming in the United States | Delborne, Jason, Schneider, Jen, Bal, Ravtosh , Cozzens, Susan, and Worthington, Richard. (2013) "Policy Pathways, Policy Networks, and Citizen Deliberation: Disseminating the Results of World Wide Views on Global Warming in the United States." Science and Public Policy 40 (3): 378-92. doi: 10.1093/Scipol/scs124. | Jason Delborne | 2013 | https://academic.oup.com/spp/article-abstract/40/3/378/1633453 | 10.1093/Scipol/scs124. | 2013 | 10.1093/Scipol/scs124. | ||||||||
| Information beyond the forum: Motivations, strategies, and impacts of citizen participants seeking information during a consensus conference | Anderson, Ashley A., Delborne, Jason, & Kleinman, Daniel Lee. (2013) Information beyond the forum: Motivations, strategies, and impacts of citizen participants seeking information during a consensus conference. Public Understanding of Science, 22(8), 955-970. doi:10.1177/0963662512447173 | Jason Delborne | 2013 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963662512447173 | 10.1177/0963662512447173 | 2013 | 10.1177/0963662512447173 | ||||||||
| Converging Technologies for a Smarter Health and Wellness Future | Kuiken, T. 2013. Converging Technologies for a Smarter Health and Wellness Future. In OECD ICTs and the Health Sector: Towards Smarter Health and Wellness Models. OECD Publishing. Pp 159-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264202863-En | Todd Kuiken | 2013 | http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/science-and-technology/icts-and-the-health-sector/converging-technologies-for-a-smarter-health-and-wellness-future_9789264202863-12-en | 10.1787/9789264202863-En | 2013 | 10.1787/9789264202863-En | ||||||||
| Report: Seven Myths and Realities about Do-It-Yourself Biology | Grushkin, D. Kuiken, T., Millet, P. 2013. Report: Seven Myths and Realities about Do-It-Yourself Biology. Synthetic Biology Project/Woodrow Wilson Center. | Todd Kuiken | 2013 | https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/seven-myths-and-realities-about-do-it-yourself-biology-0 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Policy Innovation in Synthetic Biology Governance | L. Fatehi and Kuzma, J. (2012) "Policy Innovation in Synthetic Biology Governance" 21st Century Borders/Synthetic Biology: Focus on Responsibility & Governance, Institute on Science for Global Policy (ISGP). | Jennifer Kuzma | 2012 | https://www.eli.org/the-environmental-forum/responses-white-houses-groundbreaking-report-emerging-bioeconomy-0 | 2012 | ||||||||||
| Genetically Modified Foods: Policy Context and Safety | Kuzma, J. and R. Haase. Genetically Modified Foods: Policy Context and Safety. Food Policy Research Center: Policy Brief #1. (2012) | Jennifer Kuzma | 2012 | 2012 | |||||||||||
| Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Biosafety Technical Series 02: Summary and Comparative Analysis of Nine National Approaches to Ecological Risk Assessment of Living Modified Organisms in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, annex III | Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Biosafety Technical Series 02: Summary and Comparative Analysis of Nine National Approaches to Ecological Risk Assessment of Living Modified Organisms in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, annex III. (2012) Shelby Flint, Thelma Heidel, Scott Loss, Jacob Osborne, Kristina PreScott, David Smith. Jennifer Kuzma and Dave andow, faculty advisers. Available at http://bch.Cbd.Int/database/record.Shtml?Documentid 103869. Peer reviewed | Jennifer Kuzma | 2012 | 2012 | |||||||||||
| Title | Citation | Affiliate | Year | Abstract | Significance | Keywords | Link | AltMetric | Date | DOI | Graphic | ||||
| A simple definition of food resources for the highly polyphagous Lygus lineolaris enables prediction of adult abundance | Andow, D. A. 2023. A simple definition of food resources for the highly polyphagous Lygus lineolaris enables prediction of adult abundance. Environmental Entomology 52(3): 521-526. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvad032 | David Andow | 2023 | Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) is a highly polyphagous herbivore with more than 300 known host plants. The high polyphagy has created logistical challenges for understanding its population dynamics. I hypothesized that the primary food resource of this species can be characterized simply, cutting across the multiple host plant species, and enabling a simpler understanding of its population dynamics. The food resource was defined as the apical buds and meristematic tissue and terminal flowers and young seeds. Adult abundance in a habitat was related to the relative abundance of food in the habitat, abundance on a host plant stem was related to the amount of food resource on the stem, and the rate of emigration was lower from host plant patches with higher amounts of food resources. These results suggest that the population dynamics of L. lineolaris depends less on the identity of the host plants and more on the amount of food resource the various host plant species provide. | Defines the niche dimensions of a highly polyphagous species into a signle dimension. | Lygus lineolaris, polyphagous herbivore, food niche, emigration rate | 0 | 10.1093/ee/nvad032 | |||||||
| Deconstructing insect herbivore trivial movement in a monoculture and triculture: Limitations of emigration | Andow, D. A. 2023. Deconstructing insect herbivore trivial movement in a monoculture and triculture: Limitations of emigration. Population Ecology 65(3): 183-191. http://doi.org/10.1002/1438-390X.12150 | David Andow | 2023 | Significantly higher population densities of a squash pest beetle, Acalymma vittatum, were observed in a squash monoculture than a triculture of squash, maize, and beans. One hypothesis for such differences is that non-host plants in the triculture cause the herbivore to move more frequently resulting in higher emigration rates from the tricultures. Plant to plant movement of the beetle was studied in vegetative winter squash to evaluate if differences in components of trivial movement would generate a higher emigration rate from the triculture. Tenure times were shorter on plants in the triculture than on plants in the squash monoculture, there was no movement directionality, movement distances were greater in squash monocultures than in tricultures and were greater during July than August. In the tricultures, plant-to-plant transitions were primarily to maize from non-host plants and to beans or squash from host plants during July, but during August, movement from any plant was primarily to maize. We integrated the values of the movement components from vegetative winter squash into a simple Markov model, and found that during July, emigration was estimated to be faster from the triculture than the monoculture, supporting the hypothesis. However, in August, emigration was estimated to be slower from the triculture. In August, maize plants were tall and, by acting like a fence, greatly reduced the movement distance of beetles. The effect of the differences in emigration rate on beetle population density was greatest for small patches, indicating that emigration may be important only in small-scale production systems. | Differential emigration rates from habitats have frequently been suggested to account for differences in population density across a landscape. This paper suggests that there are significant limits to this process as driving differences in population density. | emigration, patch size, striped cucumber beetle, trivial movement, vegetational diversity | 1 | 10.1002/1438-390X.12150 | |||||||
| Detecting population responses to temperature in 12-year insect time series | Andow, D. A. 2024. Detecting population responses to temperature in 12-year insect time series. Ecological Entomology 49(2): 205-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13294. | David Andow | 2024 | 1. Considerable work has examined the distribution of species under projected climate change, but empirical data are needed to support predicting change in abundance. 2. I analysed populations of 17 saproxylic beetle species collected twice nightly from mid- May to mid-October from 2004 to 2015 at lights in Shizuoka, Japan, to investigate effects of two 100-year hot summers (2010 and 2013) and correlated changes with June, July and August maximum temperatures. The first analysis examined the effect of heat stress and the second examined how populations tracked changes in temperature. 3. I hypothesised that the responses would be species-specific and could be related to interspecific variation in body size, voltinism, primary food source and the strength of density dependence. 4. Heat stress was associated with population declines of five species during the same year and five other species in the following year. Conifer feeders were more likely to decline during the same year as the heat stress. Only one species tracked variation in maximum June temperature. Larger, later emerging species were more strongly detrimentally affected by high June temperatures than smaller, early emerging species. There was no relation between the response to heat stress and tracking June temperatures across species. 5. The influence of summer temperature on saproxylic beetles was detectable from relatively short time series and occurred in a species-specific manner. The effect of heat stress was more readily detected than correlated changes in abundance and temperature. Short time series may help reveal the response of insect populations to changing temperatures. | Able to detect a population signal from climate change from short time series. | Body size, Climate change, Emergence time, Heat stress, Saproxylic Coleoptera, Temperature variation | https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/een.13294 | 9 | 11/22/23 | 10.1111/een.13294. | https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/een.13294 | ||||
| Estimating predation rates from molecular gut content analysis | Andow, D. A. and D. P. Paula. 2023. Estimating predation rates from molecular gut content analysis. Molecular Ecology Resources 23(5): 1023-1033. DOI 10.1111/1755-0998.13769. | David Andow | 2023 | Several methods have been published to estimate per capita predation rates from molecular gut content analysis relying on intuitive understanding of predation, but none have been formally derived. We provide a theoretical framework for estimating predation rates to identify an accurate method and lay bare its assumptions. Per capita predation can be estimated by multiplying the prey decay rate and the prey quantity in the predators. This assumes that variation in per capita predation rate is approximately normally distributed, prey decay occurs exponentially, and predation is in steady state. We described several ways to estimate steady state predation, including using only qualitative presence-absence data to estimate the decay rate and in addition, we provided a method for estimating per capita predation rate when predation is not in steady state. We used previously published data on aphid consumption by a ladybird beetle in a feeding trial to calculate the predation rate and compare published methods with this theoretically derived method. The estimated predation rate (3.29 ± 0.27 aphids/h) using our derived method was not significantly different from the actual predation rate, 3.11 aphids/h. In contrast, previously published methods were less accurate, underestimating the predation rate (0.33 ± 0.02 to 1.66 ± 0.8 aphids/h) or overestimating it (3.64 ± 0.30 aphids/h). In summary, we provide methods to estimate predation rates even when variation in predation rates is not exactly normally distributed and not in steady state and demonstrate that the prey decay rate, and not the prey detection period, is required. | This is a method to estimate predation rates from molecular gut content data. | food webs, generalist predators, molecular diet analysis, natural enemies, predation rate | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1755-0998.13769 | 0 | 2/14/2023 | 10.1111/1755-0998.13769 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1755-0998.13769 | ||||
| Organization of the macroinvertebrate community in a tropical annual agroecosystem into modules | Andow, D. A., E. M. G. Fontes, C. S. S. Pires and D. P. Paula. 2023. Organization of the macroinvertebrate community in a tropical annual agroecosystem into modules. PLoS One 18(8): e0289103. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289103 | David Andow | 2023 | The structure of macroinvertebrate communities in agroecosystems has been assumed to be modular and organized around key herbivore pests. We characterized the macroinvertebrate community in the annual organic brassica agroecosystem in tropical central Brazil to determine if the community was a random assemblage of independent populations or was organized into repeatable multi-species components. We sampled 36 macroinvertebrate taxa associated with six organic brassica farms at biweekly intervals during the dry season during two years in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. We used an unconstrained ordination based on latent variable modeling (boral) with negative binomial population counts to analyze community composition independent of variation in sample abundance. We evaluated observed community structure by comparing it with randomized alternatives. We found that the community was not a random assemblage and consistently organized itself into two modules based around the major herbivores; one with lepidoptera and whiteflies and their associated natural enemies which was gradually replaced during the season by one with brassica aphids, aphid parasitoids and coccinellids. This analysis suggests that the historical and present-day focus on pest herbivores and their associated species in agroecosystems may be justified based on community structure. | Demonstration of modular organization of an arthropod community in a tropical agroecosystem | Brassica, Community structure, Aphids, Herbivory, Farms, Binomials, Arthropoda | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289103 | 1 | 8/3/2023 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0289103 | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289103&type=printable | ||||
| Development of the first high-density linkage map in the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais | Baltzegar JF, Gould F. 2023. Development of the first high-density linkage map in the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. PeerJ 11:e15414 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15414 | Jennifer Baltzegar, Fred Gould | 2023 | Maize weevil, Linkage map, Sitophilus, ddRadSeq, Agricultural pest | https://peerj.com/articles/15414/ | 6/15/2023 | 10.7717/peerj.15414 | ||||||||
| Lipases and carboxylesterases affect moth sex pheromone compounds involved in interspecific mate recognition | de Fouchier, A., Fruitet, E., Lievers, R.,...Gould, F., et al. Lipases and carboxylesterases affect moth sex pheromone compounds involved in interspecific mate recognition. Nature Communications 14, 7505 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43100-w | Fred Gould | 2023 | Moth sex pheromones are a classical model for studying sexual selection. Females typically produce a species-specific pheromone blend that attracts males. Revealing the enzymes involved in the interspecific variation in blend composition is key for understanding the evolution of these sexual communication systems. The nature of the enzymes involved in the variation of acetate esters, which are prominent compounds in moth pheromone blends, remains unclear. We identify enzymes involved in acetate degradation using two closely related moth species: Heliothis (Chloridea) subflexa and H. (C.) virescens, which have different quantities of acetate esters in their sex pheromone. Through comparative transcriptomic analyses and CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts, we show that two lipases and two esterases from H. virescens reduce the levels of pheromone acetate esters when expressed in H. subflexa females. Together, our results show that lipases and carboxylesterases are involved in tuning Lepidoptera pheromones composition. | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43100-w | 10.1038/s41467-023-43100-w | 11/18/2023 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100227 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43100-w.pdf | ||||||
| Benchmarks for urine volume generation and phosphorus mass recovery in commercial and institutional buildings | Crane, L., Merck, A., Delanthamajalu, S., Grieger, K., Marshall, A.M., Boyer, T. 2024. Benchmarks for urine volume generation and phosphorus mass recovery in commercial and institutional buildings. Water Research X, 23: 100227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100227. | Khara Grieger, Ashton Merck | 2024 | Phosphorus (P) is a finite resource and necessary nutrient for agriculture. Urine contains a higher concentration of P than domestic wastewater, which can be recovered by source separation and treatment (hereafter urine diversion). Commercial and institutional (CI) buildings are a logical location for urine diversion since restrooms account for a substantial fraction of water use and wastewater generation. This study estimated the potential for P recovery from human urine and water savings from reduced flushing in CI buildings, and proposed an approach to identify building types and community layouts that are amenable to implementing urine diversion. The results showed that urine diversion is most advantageous in CI buildings with either high daily occupancy counts or times, such as hospitals, schools, office buildings, and airports. Per occupant P recovery benchmarks were estimated to be between 0.04–0.68 g/cap·d. Per building P recovery rates were estimated to be between 0.002–5.1 kg/d, and per building water savings were estimated to be between 3 and 23 % by volume. Recovered P in the form of phosphate fertilizer and potable water savings could accrue profits and cost reductions that could offset the capital costs of new urine diversion systems within 5 y of operation. Finally, urine diversion systems can be implemented at different levels of decentralization based on community layout and organizational structure, which will require socioeconomic and policy acceptance for wider adoption. | Highlights• Water savings and recovered P can make urine diversion economically viable.• Occupancy-based benchmarks can define a building's viability for urine diversion.• Urine diversion is favorable in hospitals, schools, office buildings, and airports.• Urine diversion can be scaled spatially depending on a community's layout. | Building occupancy, Resource recovery, Source separation, Urine diversion, Water conservation | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914724000173?via%3Dihub | 10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100227 | 5/8/2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100227 |
