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African maize farmer with child on her back

Nov 17, 2017

Genetic Engineering may not solve Africa’s fall armyworm problems

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.
In the ongoing controversy over whether and how to use a powerful new genome editing technology in the wild to achieve conservation and public health goals, two new papers urge caution.

Nov 17, 2017

Jason Delborne addresses CRISPR gene drives controversy in NYTimes, Quanta, and Gizmodo

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.

Nov 14, 2017

Student Spotlight: Mike Jones and the Economics of Cutting-Edge Ag Technology

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.
Jen-Baltzegar

Nov 13, 2017

IGERT Student Jennifer Baltzegar wins Entomology poster contest

Jennifer Baltzegar, a PhD Candidate in the Genetics Program, won first place in a research poster competition last week at the Entomological Society of America’s 2017 Annual Meeting. Jen is an…

Nov 7, 2017

Politics “Trumps” Science in the Regulation of Genetically Engineered Crops

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.
Graphic of corn cobs with DNA

Nov 7, 2017

Genetic Literacy Project: USDA scraps overhaul of GMO and gene edited crop regulations that biotech advocates viewed as ‘unscientific’

“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.”

Nov 7, 2017

Scientific American: Could Genetic Engineering Save the Galápagos?

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.
Tractor plowing a field.

Nov 7, 2017

Science: Trump’s agriculture department reverses course on biotech rules

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.”
A gallery-goer interacts with an interpretive artistic piece inspired by the potential of gene editing at “Art’s Work in the Age of Biotechnology: Shaping Our Genetic Future(s),” an April exhibit by CALS' Genetics and Society Center, NCSU Libraries and CAM Raleigh.

Nov 3, 2017

Our (Possible) Genetic Futures

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.

Oct 23, 2017

IGERT Student Jessica Barnes wins poster contest at 2017 American Chestnut Foundation meeting

Read about the ACF Annual Meeting and see more photos here. Full poster (click to enlarge)

Oct 6, 2017

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brings Listening Tour to NC State

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.
Science Cafe

Oct 2, 2017

Godwin and Delborne discuss CRISPR and ethics at NC Museum of Science

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).
Megaphone with edited DNA

Oct 2, 2017

Scientific American article on public acceptance of CRISPR features Delborne and Kuzma

“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.
From Todd Kuiken's visit to Counter Culture Labs in San Francisco in August, 2017.

Sep 22, 2017

Upgrading Biosafety and Biosecurity: Open Philanthropy awards $700K for DIYbio

“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.”
embo-gene-edited-crops-article-figure1

Sep 21, 2017

Kuzma examines benefits, regulation of gene edited crops in EMBO

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.

Aug 4, 2017

GES IGERT Students Research Deployment of Gene Drive Insects

A new paper from GES IGERT students, to be published by the Journal for Responsible Innovation, is now available online. Anticipating complexity in the deployment of gene drive insects in…
Giant petrel with young in the nest

Aug 4, 2017

NC State Receives DARPA Funding to Develop, Test Gene Drive System

Seabirds, such as petrels, are endangered by invasive rodents on islands. For Immediate Release August 3, 2017 John Godwin  |  919.513.2936 North Carolina State University researchers have received funding from the Defense…

Aug 3, 2017

NC State Receives DARPA Funding to Develop, Test Gene Drive System

Developing and testing a gene drive system to reduce invasive mouse populations is the focus of a DARPA-funded research project.

Jul 28, 2017

CALS, Premex Build Synergistic Relationship

An NC State partnership with international animal nutrition company extends beyond workforce development to research sponsorship and philanthropy.
Petrel Mouse

Jul 11, 2017

GES Co-Directors Gould and Kuzma Quoted in Audubon Story on Using Gene Drives to Save Island Birds

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.