Bioethics & Governance

Genome editing, AI in biology and dual-use research raise ethical and governance questions that move faster than regulation. The session covers CRISPR germline editing guidelines after the He Jiankui case and the WHO 2024 framework, AI ethics in medical decision-making, biosecurity frameworks for synthetic biology, informed consent for advanced therapies including pediatric gene therapy, dual-use research of concern (DURC), and global regulatory harmonisation efforts. Discussion addresses public engagement in biotechnology decisions, indigenous data sovereignty in genomics, the ethics of human-animal chimeras, AI explainability requirements for medical decisions, and the patenting of CRISPR-related inventions.