The previous Committee reported on Advanced Genetic techniques for crop improvement: regulation, risk and precaution in February 2015. At the beginning of 2016, the Committee included GM and gene editing in its 'evidence check' process. Genomics England is working towards sequencing 100,000 whole human genomes by the end of 2017, supported by 13 Genomic Medicine Centres. In September 2016 the Nuffield Council on Bioethics published an ethical review on genome editing, looking at the potential issues across human health, food production, wildlife and the ecosystem. The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) recently published a POSTnote on genome editing which looks at current and future uses of genome editing, how it is regulated and potential concerns.
Against that background, the Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into genomics and genome-editing.