Food for the future: the potential of GM animals
Professor Helen Sang, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh

The world population is growing – it’s 7 billion now and is predicted to reach 11 billion by 2050. At the same time, our climate is changing. Producing enough food presents a huge challenge.

Farm animal production has become increasingly efficient, in terms of both animal breeding and the control of the major diseases of farming. However, the future challenges of adequate food production will need other solutions. The developing technologies for genome modification may offer new ways to increase the productivity and health of farmed animals.

In this talk, Helen Sang will describe some of the ongoing applications of GM technologies in farm animals with the main example being her programme to develop chickens that are resistant to bird flu. She will also discuss the regulation of food from genetically modified animals, the risks and benefits of applying GM technologies to animals, and the issues of acceptance to consumers.

Professor Helen Sang was born in Edinburgh but went to high school in Brighton, attending Varndean when it was a grammar school for girls. She is a geneticist and molecular biologist, with a degree and PhD from Cambridge University. She continued her research career with postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard and Edinburgh universities. Since the 1980s she has led a research group at the Roslin Institute (famous as the home of Dolly the sheep), with a research goal being to develop a method for genetic modification of chickens with applications in basic biomedical research and potentially for improving chicken breeds. Presented by Cafe Scientifique.

Tuesday 19th February
7.30pm Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton, BN2 1TF
FREE. Ages 18+