Genome editing: the dynamics of continuity, convergence, and change in the engineering of life

Paul  Martin; Michael  Morrison; Ilke Turkmendag; Brigitte Nerlich; Aisling McMahon; Stevienna  de Saille; Andrew James Bartlett

Genome editing: the dynamics of continuity, convergence, and change in the engineering of life

Paul Martin
, Michael Morrison
, Ilke Turkmendag
, Brigitte Nerlich
, Aisling McMahon
, Stevienna de Saille
, Andrew James Bartlett

Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Genome editing enables very accurate alterations to DNA. It promises profound and potentially disruptive changes in healthcare, agriculture, industry, and the environment. This paper presents a multidisciplinary analysis of the contemporary development of genome editing and the tension between continuity and change. It draws on the idea that actors involved in innovation are guided by “sociotechnical regimes” composed of practices, institutions, norms, and cultural beliefs. The analysis focuses on how genome editing is emerging in different domains and whether this marks continuity or disruption of the established biotechnology regime. In conclusion, it will be argued that genome editing is best understood as a technology platform that is being powerfully shaped by this existing regime but is starting to disrupt the governance of biotechnology. In the longer term is it set to converge with other powerful technology platforms, which together will fundamentally transform the capacity to engineer life.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	219
Number of pages	243
Journal	New Genetics and Society
Volume	39
Publication status	Published - 15 Apr 2020

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Genetics
Genome editing
Sociology

Access to Document

Genome editing the dynamics of continuity convergence and change in the engineering of life
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Final published version, 899 KBLicence: CC BY

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14636778.2020.1730166

Cite this

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abstract = "Genome editing enables very accurate alterations to DNA. It promises profound and potentially disruptive changes in healthcare, agriculture, industry, and the environment. This paper presents a multidisciplinary analysis of the contemporary development of genome editing and the tension between continuity and change. It draws on the idea that actors involved in innovation are guided by {\textquotedblleft}sociotechnical regimes{\textquotedblright} composed of practices, institutions, norms, and cultural beliefs. The analysis focuses on how genome editing is emerging in different domains and whether this marks continuity or disruption of the established biotechnology regime. In conclusion, it will be argued that genome editing is best understood as a technology platform that is being powerfully shaped by this existing regime but is starting to disrupt the governance of biotechnology. In the longer term is it set to converge with other powerful technology platforms, which together will fundamentally transform the capacity to engineer life.",

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AU - Martin, Paul

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AU - de Saille, Stevienna

AU - Bartlett, Andrew James

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