Transforming nature is one of four EGN research programmes designed to present scientifically informed and policy-relevant research to key UK and international audiences. This theme focuses on issues relating to the way in which the contemporary life sciences permit novel forms of human intervention in “nature”. For example, a lot of attention has been paid to the genetic modification of plants and animals, which allows genes from one species to be incorporated into the genome of entirely different other species – from a fish into a plant for example. But GMOs are the not the whole story: it is now possible to create entire viruses from basic molecular components. And stem-cell techniques mean that, potentially, all farm animals could be clones of particular “champion” parents. Research in this stream examines these approaches to transforming nature – including human nature – and at the same time asks how these changes affect our very idea of what “nature” and “naturalness” are.

To explore all research activity in this programme visit:
Genomics Network Research >>

Genomics Forum research projects related to this programme include:

Social and Ethical Dimensions of Synthetic Biology – synthetic biology is a new approach to biological engineering that is expected to hold profound implications for the transformation of nature since, for the first time, humans may be able to develop fully engineered living cells, from viruses and bacteria up to more complex organisms. The Forum is involved in examining approaches to the societal assessment of the desirability of such biological engineering and to evaluations of appropriate regulatory frameworks.

------------------------------------------------------

Animals and Genomics
Dr Matthew Harvey

Plant Genomics and the Bioeconomy
Emma Frow

Synthetic Biology
Emma Frow