Commission on Science and Technology for Development

In 2020, scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their ground-breaking work on CRISPR-Cas9, a well-renowned gene-editing tool. This comes in the midst of an unprecedented growth in genomics research within the medical field. With the discovery of multiple genetic variations playing an important role in human physiological outcomes, gene-editing has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of prevalent medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, such a remedy does not come without its fair share of risks. Within this committee, delegates will need to navigate the multiple ethical dilemmas surrounding the implementation of gene-editing therapies. Amongst other challenges, delegates will discuss the unequal access to said therapies across the world, the implications of cosmetic gene-editing known as “enhancement”, and the uncertainties surrounding the long-term effects of gene editing.