UK government set to lift the ban on controversial gene editing in agriculture

The UK government is expected to lift a ban which forbids the cultivation and sale of genetically edited plants and animals, according to reports.  

A consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been assessing the ban on the practice and concludes tomorrow. 

As it stands, genetic modification is prohibited on all foods sold in the UK and Europe. 

However, the i newspaper reports that it is likely the consultation will result in this being changed. 

The Government is expected to publish a response to the consultation in the next three months. 

If the law is changed, it would allow scientists to modify any crop or animal farmed in the UK. 

This could potentially result in drought-resistant cattle, fatter pigs, juicier tomatoes, sweeter apples and disease-resistant crops like wheat and barley. 

Scroll down for video 

Genetic modification is a technique where faulty or undesirable genes of a plant or animal are replaced with alternate versions of the same gene which are more beneficial. 

This means the best genes for a specific behaviour or trait can be selected. 

For example, a gene which is related to plumper chickens can be introduced to a population, ensuring all birds get the gene and are subsequently larger, increasing the farmer’s profits and giving customers more nutritional value.

The wider principle — selecting for beneficial genes — is the exact same as selective breeding which has done by farmers for centuries. 

But scientists are now lobbying to be allowed to artificially speed up the process in a lab. 

Genome editing is not universally banned around the world, with the US, Australia and Japan among the nations that have approved the process. 

The UK prohibited gene editing in 2018 when the European Court of Justice ruled it was effectively the same as genetic modification (GMOs) and implemented a Europe-wide ban outlawing the practice outside of scientific experiments. 

A DEFRA spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Gene editing has the ability to harness the genetic resources that mother nature has provided, such as breeding crops that perform better, benefiting farmers and reducing impacts on the environment. 

‘Now that we have left the EU, we have the opportunity to make coherent policy decisions on gene editing based on current science and evidence. 

‘We are committed to proportionate, science-based regulation that protects people, animals and the environment – and that begins with this consultation.’

As it stands, genetic modification is prohibited on all foods sold in the UK and Europe. However, the i newspaper reports the consultation will result in this being changed

The expected move to change the existing legislation would see gene edited animals and plants no longer categorised as GMOs.   

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are more controversial than gene editing as it involves inserting DNA from another species into an organism.

An example would be taking the DNA of a gene for drought resistance from one animal — perhaps a camel — and weaving it into the DNA of a cow so that they can be farmed in areas where they would normally not be able to survive. 

Both practices have their critics and their supporters. The cons are that many perceive it as ‘playing God’ and the long-term health implications are unknown. 

Dr Julia Baines, Science Policy Manager at PETA, told MailOnline: ‘We have no business meddling with the lives of other animals, who don’t consent to our tampering with their genomes to increase their profitability. 

‘Pigs, cows, and chickens are intelligent, sensitive, social beings who have their own lives, feelings, and desires and don’t exist for humans to use. 

‘Experimenters trialling gene editing Frankenscience subject animal mothers to invasive procedures to extract and manipulate their eggs and then implant the engineered embryos. 

‘Such experiments are doomed from the start – plagued with failed pregnancies, sudden deaths, and birth defects. 

‘Just as genetically editing humans is unconscionable, so is doing so to other animals. 

‘Editing animals’ genes won’t solve world hunger – as a global switch to vegan eating could – and it will lead to misery for animals.’   

Dr Penny Hawkins, head of the RSPCA’s Animals in Science team, says allowing gene editing would be a backwards step for animal welfare.

‘We have real concerns about gene editing and the animal welfare issues involved,’ she said. 

‘The impact of these changes to the genome is very unpredictable and there are so many unknowns about the long term impacts of alterations to the animals’ genetic material, so there is a real risk of welfare problems being passed down the generations.

‘We are incredibly worried that the Government is considering relaxing the rules around these procedures and, shockingly, this would also see farm animals categorised with and only given the same level of consideration as farmed crops.’

The pros are that gene editing could improve farming and help feed a swelling global population. 

Farmers and scientists tend to be for the move to remove the ban.

Tom Bradshaw, vice president of the National Farmers Union, told the i: ‘Gene editing has the potential to offer huge benefits to UK farming and the environment.

‘It could help us address pest and disease pressures on our crops and livestock, increasing our resilience in the event of extreme weather events.’

‘We don’t think consumers will stand for this and we want as many people as possible to let the Government know their views.’

Gene editing of any variety in humans is illegal around the world, and this review will not touch on that topic. Experts have previously said gene editing is not yet ready for human applications.  

The topic of gene editing embryos to ‘customise’ a baby has been at the forefront of science since the shock announcement in 2017 that a rogue scientist in China had used the powerful gene-editing tool Crispr on a pair of twin girls.

He Jiankui was internationally condemned for gene-editing twin girl Lulu and Nana when he blatantly flouted the existing legislation. 

The powerful tool CRISPR-Cas9 was used to snip away a section of their DNA and replaced with a HIV-resistant variant.