Check out these multimedia resources to learn how scientists have turned a bacterial defense system into a genome editing tool. CRISPR is revolutionizing the fields of biomedicine and agriculture, but with every new technology comes important ethical issues. Learn about upcoming CRISPR applications and how society can prepare for a genome-edited future.

For millennia, farmers have defended their crops from bacteria, viruses, and insects. Methods like traditional breeding, which can identify disease-resistant plants, and spraying insecticide to kill unwanted bugs, are just a few ways to protect a farm year-to-year. Despite these preventative measures, sometimes the infestation can overpower entire farms and spread too quickly to save a harvest. Unfortunately, the citrus farmers of Florida are fighting a battle that some think they can't win.

CRISPR genome editing is offering a new tool for farmers to defend their oranges from the devastating citrus greening disease. Genetically altering food is a controversial topic for both consumers and farmers, but some think a CRISPR-edited orange is better than no oranges at all. The people below represent diverse opinions about the practice of engineering food, the requirements for food labeling, and the impact of crop diseases on the economy. Regulators must now decide how to protect the food supply and the economy while listening to the valued opinions of consumers and advocates.

The use of CRISPR to precisely alter a single gene amongst our 20,000+ human genes is revolutionizing medicine. Rare diseases that were once considered incurable may now be treatable with genome editing, but with great potential comes great concern. The same technique to treat a devastating disease could also be used to genetically enhance a person. Regardless of the outcome (treatment or enhancement), genome editing may become another technology that is only available to those who can afford it. Will the rich not only have more wealth, but now have access to "better" genes?

These questions not only apply to children or adults, but raise serious concerns for reproduction. Gene editing a human embryo would impact how parents select traits for their children and how society views people with disabilities. The people listed below represent a wide range of opinions. While some people desire freedom to access technology that could improve the health of their children, others don't want genome editing to further divide society. If regulators are too strict then preventable diseases may go untreated, but loose regulations may have unintended consequences on the future of society.

Transmitted by mosquitoes, malaria is one of the world's deadliest diseases, impacting millions of people primarily across the African continent. Efforts to distribute insecticide-treated nets, insect spray, and other control strategies has reduced infection rates, but the spread of malaria continues to present a global health crisis. Scientists are developing a new technology called gene drives, which uses CRISPR genome editing to rapidly spread a trait across a mosquito population, either altering their ability to transmit malaria or even prevent reproduction.

Halting the spread of malaria would improve health, education, and economies across several African countries. If successful, the use of gene drives could improve many lives, but the effects of this technology remain uncertain. The people listed below are all closely linked to the ongoing malaria crisis in Africa and hold unique viewpoints based on their lived experiences. Step into the shoes of a president, doctor, and advocate and work towards a consensus on if, how, and when to release genetically-modified mosquitoes.