Editorial: themed issue: understanding the technical and social landscape of gene editing

This 2021 themed issue is an acknowledgement of the emergence and significance of gene editing technology, which has already been described as contributing to a new era in human history, that is, as a revolution, a game-changer, and a disruptive technology. Gene editing has proved to be an inexpensive, expeditious, and effective technique that can target and edit (by deleting, adding, or otherwise modifying) genetic material. As such, it has broad applicability in the clinical, agricultural, and industrial arenas, while it has also proven popular in less formal settings such as for “biohacking” techniques (DIY biology). Our focus in this themed issue is the relevance of gene editing for human health. Somatic gene editing has already proved successful and is contributing to the development of therapeutic benefits for some types of childhood blindness, spinal muscular atrophy, and sickle cell disease (Ledford, 2020). Reproductive (germline) gene editing is more controversial, and there has been increasing concern about the rapid pace of development. Concerns about risk include the introduction of unintended genetic changes (known as “off target” effects), which would be irrevocable and irreversible, meaning that there are significant “known unknowns” about the long-term health implications for the child. New Genetics and Society has a long history in documenting the emergence of new technologies and the ensuing debates (see, for example, Parry (2003), Haddow et al. (2010) and Sleeboom-Faulkner et al. (2011), to name a few). Many authors continue to debate the risks and benefits of gene editing, following a familiar path of assessing new technologies in terms of their safety, ethics, and public opinion (Martin et al. 2020, So et al. 2021). The UK, in particular, employs a closely regulated yet liberal approach to supporting new reproductive technologies and, in February 2016, Kathy Niakan (Francis Crick, UK) became the New Genetics and Society, 2021 Vol. 40, No. 4, 361–366, https://doi.org/10.1080/14636778.2021.2004032