United Nations
Educational, Scientificand Cultural
Organization(UNESCO)Background Guide Topic:

Monitoring CRISPRDirector’s Note
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for JMMUN
2021!
My name is Misato Koganei, and I am a junior at Senzoku Gakuen High School. I’ve been a partof the MUN club at Senzoku for five years, and I served as co-Director of a committee at lastyear’s JMMUN. I am immensely delighted and honored to have the opportunity to serve as the
Director of UNESCO this year at JMMUN 2022!
Born and raised in urban areas, I spent a majority of my childhood visiting museums; atmuseums, I observed, deduced, and learned random facts, as any museum visitor would.
Eventually, my fondness for observation and deduction led to me enrolling in the science track
for my high school years. I love chemistry, and I’m hoping to pursue a career in biochemistry or
medicine! Aside from schoolwork, I enjoy baking, binge-watching shows, and ranting about
anything. Outside of school, I am currently the vice president of one of the largest student-based
volunteer organizations in the Kanto region, regularly doing beach cleanups at Enoshima. I havealso been a part of the Tokyo chapter of PERIOD, a non-profit dedicated to addressing menstrual
inequality and promoting menstrual equity.
I would like to remind delegates to research thoroughly and be engaged during the conference, as
per usual. I, along with the co-director of this committee, will do everything we can to create adynamic MUN experience for delegates. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or the
co-Director! I look forward to having engaging and passionate discussions concerning one of themost fascinating scientific advancements in the 21st century with you all!
Sincerely,

Misato Koganei
Director for the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Japan Metropolitan Model United Nations 2022

Introduction of theCommittee
The United Nations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization was founded on
November 16th, 1945 with the hope of
constituting the “intellectual and moral
solidarity of mankind” 1. This statement lives
on in UNESCO’s past achievements andcurrent projects.
UNESCO’s programs are categorized into
five major themes: Education, Culture,
Natural Sciences, Social and Human
Sciences, and Communication andInformation. Along with over fifty field
offices each conducting projects fit to eachcountry’s unique background, UNESCO isadvancing cooperation in education, thesciences and culture on an international
level. As a result of UNESCO’s proactive
efforts, the Organization has accomplishedamazing feats, such as the global
coordination of tsunami early-warning
systems and the preservation of thousands ofWorld Heritage Sites.

will focus on the Natural, and Social and
Human Sciences, with an emphasis on the
genome editing technique Crispr-Cas9, thebioethics of genetic editing and global
legislations concerning genetic editing.

Key Terms
Genome 2
The entire set of genetic instructions foundin a cell. In humans, the genome consists of
23 pairs of chromosomes found in the
nucleus, as well as a small chromosome
found in the cells’ mitochondria.
Genome Editing 3
A method that allows scientists to change
the DNA of several organisms.
CRISPR-Cas9 is an example of a genome
editing tool. Many scientists who performgenome editing now use CRISPR since it ischeaper, faster, and more accurate thanconventional genome editing methods.
Genome editing falls under genetic
engineering.

The United Nations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization for JMMUN 2022

2

1

3

UNESCO in brief - Mission and Mandate.
UNESCO. (2021, July 12).
https://en.unesco.org/about-us/introducing-unesco.

Genome . Genome.gov. (n.d.).
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genome.
What is genome editing? Genome.gov. (n.d.).
https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issu
es/what-is-Genome-Editing.

Genetic Engineering 4
The process of using recombinant DNA(rDNA) technology to alter the genetic
makeup of an organism.
Crispr-Cas9 5
CRISPR stands for “clustered, regularlyinterspaced palindromic repeats” and is atechnology that allows easy alterations of
DNA sequences and modification of genefunction. Cas-9 is an enzyme capable ofcutting DNA strands at a specific location.
This technology is currently the mostaccurate and versatile method of genemodification, attracting the attention ofresearchers around the world.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) 6
A type of assisted reproductive technology(ART)7. Works by combining a series of

medicinal and surgical procedures that assist
fertilization, embryo development, andimplantation. It is usually a complex seriesof procedures used to help with fertility or
prevent genetic problems and assist with theconception of a child. 8
Gene Therapy9
A method to modify or manipulate theexpression of a gene to treat or cure disease.
There are multiple methods of gene therapy,
and these methods are currently being
considered to be used to treat genetic andinfectious diseases.
Bioethics 10
The multi-disciplinary implication andapplication of morals and ethics to the studyof natural science and healthcare.

4

Genetic engineering. Genome.gov. (n.d.).
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-E
ngineering.

20, 2021, fromhttps://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/treatments/art.

5

Crispr/Cas9 - gene-editing technology takes off(2021, July 26)
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/955511_Soltau_CRISPR-Cas9%20_%20gene-ed
iting%20technology%20takes%20off.pdf

8Parenthood, P. (n.d.). What is in-vitro-fertilization(ivf)? Planned Parenthood.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/
fertility-treatments/what-ivf.

Mayo Clinic- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitrofertilization/about/pac-20384716
9
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. (n.d.).
What is gene therapy? U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellula
r-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy.

7

10

6

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(n.d.). Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development. Retrieved OctoberCenter for Practical Bioethics(2021, July 26)
https://www.practicalbioethics.org/what-is-bioethics.

Adult Somatic Cell 11
Somatic cells refers to all cells excluding thegerm line; the germ line is the cells in thesexual organs that produce eggs and sperms.

Current Situation
In recent years, there have been rapid
advancements in genetic engineering,particularly, the invention of CRISPR-Cas9.
Applications of CRISPR range frombioproduction to editing human embryos.
The ability to edit the human genome andeven the human embryo have called for asystematic, unified and cautious approach togenetic engineering among scientists andresearchers. Currently, human gene therapies
are being considered to treat incurable
genetic diseases such as Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis.
“The very rapid adoption of the technology,
and its relative simplicity, adds urgency to
discussions around how and when it should
be used, as well as the need for monitoringand oversight.” 12
11

National Human Genome Institute 1Somatic Cells
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/SomaticCells
12Friedrich Soltau (2016) CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology takes off pg.1
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/955511_Soltau_CRISPR-Cas9%20_%20gene-ed
iting%20technology%20takes%20off.pdf

Scientists are now applying the technology
of genetic engineering not only to humans
but also to animals and plants as well. They
are now able to transfer genetic material
from one or more animals or plants andgenetically engineer them into a different
species. Genetic engineering is now used inmany ways. Farm animals can be modified
to have healthier flesh and better fitted
qualities for the modern factory farms.
Genetically engineered animals could also
be used to help find cures for genetic
diseases. Moreover, endangered animal
species could be cloned to ensure thebiological diversity of wildlife. However,the consequences of the engineering
technology is unknown, and many critics
argue that these technologies would beundoing what nature has created overmillions of years.

Case Studies
While the challenges any global regulatory
body faces in the wake of the CRISPR/Cas9
technological boom are myriad, this sessionof the UNESCO committee would like tofocus on the following areas.

Subtopic I: Animal Cloning and
Genome Editing in Animals

Case study 1: Dolly the Sheep 13

Since the cloning of Dolly the Sheep in1996, animal cloning has taken huge strides.
There has been an ongoing debate about theongoing pursuit and the ethics of cloning.
Researchers supporting cloning believe thatthe existence and acceptance of identicaltwins contradicts statements that cloning isviolating genetic uniqueness, and that the
future of humans is going to improve.
Certain scientists believe that the gene pool
will be refined with better selection ofgenetic traits, and that any side effects
caused by this are able to be regulated
through law enforcement. On the other hand,researchers who are against this notion statethat it is indeed a violation of natural genetic
variations and that side effects to both genepool and society are inevitable.

In 1996, researchers Keith Campbell, Ian
Wilmut and colleagues at the Roslin
13

Faye Farmer (September 29, 2009) The Story of
Dolly
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/content/story-dollyInstitute in Edinburgh, Scotland cloned asheep named Dolly. She was cloned from a
mammary gland cell of an adult Finn-Dorset
ewe. 14It is known for being the firstmammal to be cloned from an adult somaticcell. Her birth proved that specialized cells
could be used to create an exact copy of theanimal, and that adult somatic cells could bealtered to behave like a cell from a fertilized
embryo.
Case study 2: Using CRISPR to decreasecholesterol levels in monkeys
In 2021, researchers from Verve Therapeutics
Perelman School of Medicine at the Universityof Pennsylvania developed CRISPR gene editing
techniques that decreased cholesterol levels in15
the blood tests of monkeys.
In this experiment, researchers used a baseediting technology that allowed them tosubstitute a single nucleotide with another in the
DNA without cutting the double helix. The
researchers replaced an adenine with a guanine
and a thymine with a cytosine, which completely
disabled the gene.

After a one time injection into the liver ofcynomolgus monkeys and testing the monkey's
cholesterol levels regularly, the researchers
found that after a week, levels of PCSK9 protein
had decreased by 90% and low density
lipoprotein cholesterol level had decreased byroughly 60%. Both of these percentages lasted
10 months.
Researchers think this genome editing tool isready to be tested on humans, which will help
develop a cure for diseases connected tocholesterol levels.

Case study 3: The clone of Celia the
Pyrenean Ibex
In 2003, scientists from Spain successfullycloned a Pyrenean Ibex 16, a species ofmountain goats that went extinct in 2000.
Roughly a year before Celia, the last
Pyrenean Ibex thought to be alive, died,scientists took the DNA of Celia’s ear, andfroze the tissue to put in storage. Once Celia
died, the scientists made 500 cloned
embryos, and implanted 154 of them into
female goats. Only 5 ended up pregnant and
1 gave birth.

14

The University of Edinburgh The life of Dolly
https://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/ind
ex.html15
Yirka, B. (2021, May 21). Using CRISPR to lower
cholesterol levels in monkeys. Phys.org. Retrieved
December 13, 2021, fromhttps://phys.org/news/2021-05-crispr-cholesterol-mon
keys.html.

16Smith, K. N. (2021, January 23). The species thatwent extinct twice. Forbes. Retrieved December 13,
2021, fromhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2021/01/23/
the-species-that-went-extinct-twice/?sh=5d5aa1eb33
12.

Though the kid’s life span was a short sevenminutes 17 due to its inability to breathe, thiswas the first time an extinct animal wascloned.
This experiment opened up discussion aboutcloning other extinct animals such as thewoolly mammoth, and in later years, thediscussion of the usage of CRISPR to“de-extinct” animals.

Subtopic II: Human Genome
Editing
Case Study 1: Human genome editing
experiments conducted by researcher He
Jiankui
In a series of YouTube videos, researcher He
Jiankui announced the birth ofgenome-edited babies 18.
Around late 2017, He set out to produce
human babies from genome-edited embryos.

As stated in medical documents 19, from late2017 to 2018, a research team at theSouthern University of Science andTechnology were looking for couples who
were willing to participate in an attempt tocreate the world’s first genome-edited
babies. The study, led by He, attempted to
produce babies that could not contract
AIDS. The babies would have a
32-base-pair deletion which would lead to a
non-functional CCR5 protein, thus making
the babies theoretically immune to HIV.
As a result of this experiment, healthy twinbabies Lulu and Nana were born in October
2018.20 Researchers found, however, that the
CRISPR constructs did not do what it was
intended to do. Indeed, changes were madeto the twins’ CCR5 genes which would leadto the production of non functional CCR5
proteins, but the results showed that thetwin’s genomes were altered in a way neverseen before (details of this alteration havenot been revealed).

17

Redford, K. H. (2021, November 27). Resurrecting
the mammoth could be possible – but we shouldn't
bother. BBC Science Focus Magazine. Retrieved
December 13, 2021, fromhttps://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/de-extinction-c
onservation/.

19

18

20

Greely, H. T. (2019, August 13). CRISPR'd babies:
HUMAN germline genome editing in the 'HE jiankui
affair'*. OUP Academic.
https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/6/1/111/5549624#165508197.

Chinese clinical TRIAL REGISTER (ChiCTR) the world health Organization international clinical
trials registered organization REGISTERED
PLATFORM. (n.d.).
https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=327
58.
Belluck, P. (2019, April 14). Gene-Edited babies:
What a Chinese scientist told an AMERICAN
MENTOR . The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/14/health/gene-edi
ting-babies.html.

21He’s study is still under much scrutiny
today. Following He’s announcement in
2018, a preliminary investigation was
conducted by the Guangdong Province
Investigation Task Force; moreover, in
response to the investigation, the Southern
University of Science and Technology
decided to end He’s work contract with theuniversity 22. In late 2019, He was fined andsentenced to three years in prison. 23
Case study 2: The world’s first formal
licensing of an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
treatment
In February 2016, the British Human
Fertilization and Embryology Authority(HFEA) authorized a request issued by ateam of British researchers asking to apply

CRISPR in embryos used for in vitro
fertilization 24.
The research team, led by developmental
biologist Kathy Niakan, planned to conduct
a series of experiments that altered the genes
in the human embryo that are active withinseveral days of fertilization. The
experiments were hoped to not only help
researchers understand how human embryos
form within the early stages of fertilization,
but to also help develop safer and methodsof treatment for infertility.
Unfortunately, the result of theseexperiments were unfavorable 25. The
findings 26 revealed that around half of theedited embryos contained unintended edits
in its genome. The results of Niakan’s
24

21

Regalado, A. (2020, April 2). EXCLUSIVE:
Chinese scientists are CREATING CRISPR babies.
MIT Technology Review.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/11/25/1389
62/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-ba
bies/.
22

Chinese scientist who gene-edited babies fired by
University. (2019, January 21). Retrieved October 20,
2021, fromhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-babie
s-idUSKCN1PF0RA
23

He JIANKUI jailed for illegal human EMBRYO
GENE-EDITING . Xinhua. (n.d.).
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/30/c_138
666754.htm.

Callaway, E. (2016, February 1). UK scientists gain
licence to edit genes in human embryos. NatureNews.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2016.19270.
25

Mullin, E. (2021, January 26). Scientists edited
human embryos in the lab, and it was a disaster.
Medium.
https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-edited-humanembryos-in-the-lab-and-it-was-a-disaster-9473918d7
69d.
26

Alanis-Lobato, G., Zohren, J., McCarthy, A.,
Fogarty, N. M. E., Kubikova, N., Hardman, E.,
Greco, M., Wells, D., Turner, J. M. A., & Niakan, K.
K. (2021, June 1). Frequent loss of heterozygosityin
CRISPR-CAS9–EDITED early human embryos .
PNAS.
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/22/e2004832117.

experiment alarmed researchers looking to
use CRISPR treatments for “on-target”
editing, and reaffirmed the need for a morecautious approach for CRISPR treatments.
Currently in the United Kingdom, it isillegal to edit the genomes of embryos used
to conceive children 27.

Subtopic III: Bioethics and
CRISPR
Case study 1: Do-it-yourself gene editing
At a biotech conference in San Francisco,
Joshua Zayner, CEO and founder of abio-hacking startup The Odin, injected
himself with a syringe in front of theaudience, proclaiming that the contents ofthe syringe will modify his muscle genes tomake them bigger. Zayner, along withdozens of other scientists and “biohackers”,
have been receiving DNA injections andtrying new experimental gene therapies.
Zayner, however, after remaining on the
FDA’s radar for several years 28, was under
27

UK Parliamentary Office publishes brief on humangermline genome editing. BioTechniques. (2020, June20). Retrieved December 13, 2021, fromhttps://www.biotechniques.com/crispr/uk-parliamenta
ry-office-publishes-brief-on-human-germline-genome-editing/.
28

Lee, S. M. (2016, December 6). DNA biohackers
are giving The FDA a headache with
Glow-in-the-dark Booze. BuzzFeed News.

investigation in 2019 for conducting medical
experiments without a license 29 (theinvestigation was closed several months
later). Gene-editing and gene engineeringkits in fact do exist, just not for humans. The
retail of do-it-yourself gene editing kits isalready illegal in certain areas, and
UNESCO has called for a ban on tamperingwith human DNA30. However, legislators’
prime concern is that consumers may harmthemselves by imitating scientists such as
Zayner31.
The application of genome editing inanimals and plants “ puts in front of all of usa huge responsibility, to consider carefully
both the unintended consequences as well as
29

Samuel, S. (2019, May 19). A celebrity biohacker
who sells Diy Gene-editing kits is underinvestigation. Vox.
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/5/19/18629
771/biohacking-josiah-zayner-genetic-engineering-cri
spr.
30

UNESCO panel of experts calls for ban on"editing" of human DNA to avoid unethicaltampering with hereditary traits. UNESCO. (2016,
March 22).
https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-panel-experts-calls-ban-editing-human-dna-avoid-unethical-tampering-h
ereditary-traits.
31

Regalado, A. (2020, April 2). Don't change yourDNA at home, says America's FIRST CRISPR LAW .
MIT Technology Review.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/08/09/6543
3/dont-change-your-dna-at-home-says-americas-firstcrispr-law/.

the intended impacts of a scientificbreakthrough”, mentions Jennifer Doudna,
in her TED Talk in 2015 32. Doudna, theinventor of CRISPR-Cas9, also discusses the
ethical implication of being able to change
the DNA in our genes, and how she and hercolleagues have called for a hiatus in the
medicinal application of CRISPR in humanembryos.
The distribution and conventional use ofgene editing kits for humans may seem
several light-years away, but if and whensuch kits become available to the public,
there will be a need to ensure the safety andthe scientific integrity of those who utilize
and manufacture gene editing kits.
Case study 2: Superhumans
Genetic engineering and CRISPR is one of
the most popular topics in science today.
Genetic engineering is indeed a fascinating
field of science, and with recent advancessuch as CRISPR, researchers are yet to
identify distinctive features in DNA thatmay pave the way for breakthroughs ingenetic engineering. Stephen Hawking

wrote: “ I am sure that during this century,
people will discover how to modify both
intelligence and instincts such as
aggression,” adding, “...some people won’t
be able to resist the temptation to improve
human characteristics, such as memory,
resistance to disease and length of life.” 33
Hawking also wrote about the possibility of“superhumans”. Unsurprisingly, Hawking’s
opinions sparked controversy, generating
speculation of gene-edited super-soldiers.
In late 2020, according to John Ratcliffe, the
US Director of National Intelligence, US
intelligence showed that China has been
conducting research on its soldiers in hopesof producing genetically-enhanced
super-soldiers 34. This is yet to be confirmed.
Shockingly, days later, France gave thego-ahead for its military to explore thepossibility of developing enhanced (notlimited to genetic enhancements) soldiers 35.
33

Guardian News and Media. (2018, October 14).
Essays reveal Stephen Hawking PREDICTED race of'superhumans'. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/14/stephen-hawking-predicted-new-race-of-superhumans-e
ssays-reveal.
34

32

Chinese clinical TRIAL REGISTER (ChiCTR) the world health Organization international clinical
trials registered organization REGISTERED
PLATFORM. (n.d.).
https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=327
58.

Guardian News and Media. (2020, December 4).
China conducting biological tests to create SUPER
Soldiers, US spy chief says. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/04/chi
na-super-soldiers-biologically-enhanced-john-ratcliffe.
35

Guy, J. (2020, December 9). French Army gets
ETHICAL go-ahead for bionic Soldiers. CNN.

In the past, there have been experiments
targeted to increase muscle growth. For
example, experiments conducted by aresearch team at Johns Hopkins identified agene called GDF-8 which regulates the
production of skeletal muscle. After
knocking the GDF-8 gene out from thegenetic code of the mice, researchers foundthat the muscle weight of the mice had
doubled and almost tripled 36. In response tosuch experiments on increasing muscle
strength, researchers are looking into genetherapy treatments for diseases that escalate
muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass,
namely, Muscular Dystrophy.
Genetically-enhanced soldiers, or“superhumans”, being a relatively new
concept, has not yet been properly legislated
or discussed in an international forum.
Undoubtedly, the ethics of geneticallyenhancing humans for the purpose ofaugmenting their physical abilities is murky,
and may even violate the Nuremberg Code 37.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/09/europe/french-ar
my-soldiers-technology-ethics-scli-intl-scn/.
36

McPherron, A. C., Lawler, A. M., & Lee, S.-J.
(n.d.). Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice by
a New TGF-p superfamily member . Nature News.
https://www.nature.com/articles/387083a0#citea.
37

The Nuremberg Code. (n.d.).
http://www.cirp.org/library/ethics/nuremberg/.

Past Actions
In 1993, The International Bioethics
Committee (IBC) was established by thethen Director-General of UNESCO, Dr
Federico Mayor Zaragoza. Following theestablishment of the Committee, theDirector General was tasked with “preparing
an international instrument for the protectionof the human genome” 38. At UNESCO’s
29th General Conference in 1997, theUniversal Declaration on the Human
Genome and Human Rights 39 was finallyadopted and endorsed by the General
Assembly the following year.
In response to the concerns of the rapidly
developing field of genetic research, in 2003
at UNESCO’s 32nd General Conference, theInternational Declaration on Human Genetic
Data40 was adopted. This declaration and the38

Universal Declaration on the Human Genome andHuman Rights. UNESCO. (2020, November 4).
https://en.unesco.org/themes/ethics-science-and-technology/human-genome-and-human-rights.
39

Universal Declaration on the Human Genome andHuman Rights. UNESCO. (n.d.).
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13177&
URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
40International Declaration on Human Genetic Data.
UNESCO. (n.d.).
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17720&
URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.

Universal Declaration on the Human
Genome and Human Rights currently
remain to be “the only international pointsof reference in the field of bioethics” 41.
The most recent declaration adopted by
UNESCO’s General Conference is the
Universal Declaration on Bioethics andHuman Rights 42, which was adopted in
2005.
The United Nations, while valuing thetherapeutic value of genome editing, hasrepeatedly expressed concern forinterventions on the human genome.
Moreover, the UN has cautioned against therisks of do-it-yourself genetic testing, which
requires professional counselling in orderfor subjects to act on their results. 43

41

International Declaration on Human Genetic Data.
UNESCO. (2020, November 4).
https://en.unesco.org/themes/ethics-science-and-technology/human-genetic-data.

More recently, in 2019, a WHO expert panel
called for the need of a registry on humangenome editing research, and requested that
the WHO start working on the establishmentof the aforesaid registry immediately. 44

Questions to Consider‧How could scientists better inform thepublic and the media of advancements ingenetic engineering? How could those wholack understanding in genetic engineering
better inform themselves?

‧There are hundreds of binding andnon-binding declarations, statements,
regulations 45, legislations, etc. regarding thelegal and ethical barriers of genome editing,especially that of humans. Unfortunately,with hundreds of official documents and thenature of the rapidly developing field, it is
becoming increasingly difficult to legislate
44

42

Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human
Rights. UNESCO. (n.d.).
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=31058&
URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
43

United Nations. (2015, October 5). UN panel
warns AGAINST 'designer babies' and eugenics in'editing' of human DNA | | UN NEWS. United
Nations.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/10/511732-un-pane
l-warns-against-designer-babies-and-eugenics-editing-human-dna.

World Health Organization. (2019, March 19). Who
expert panel paves way for strong international
governance on human genome editing. World HealthOrganization.
https://www.who.int/news/item/19-03-2019-who-exp
ert-panel-paves-way-for-strong-international-governa
nce-on-human-genome-editing.
45

Global gene editing regulation tracker. Global
Gene Editing Regulation Tracker. (2020, February
20).
https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracy
project.org/.

and monitor genome editing. Where would
your country draw the line between legal
and illegal? How would your country
monitor genome editing projects conducted
for academic purposes? Closely consider
regulations and statements issued by yourcountry in the past.

on your country. Every year, a handful ofdelegates submit position papers with very
basic information about their countries, suchas geographical location and major tradeexports. Unless such information directly
relates to the topic, it should not be
addressed in position papers at all.

‧New developments in biotechnology have

Closing Remarks

allowed people to alter animal welfare aswell as outcomes of stock. Researchers andorganizations can now clone livestock, pets,
endangered and extinct species. This may
seem like an effective way to breed
genetically (good) animals. However, there
are side effects both known and unknown.
Cloning affects the ecosystem, and there areunexplored effects to both the donor and theclone. Should people be able to interferewith natural cycles and clone animals fortheir personal or societal benefit? Where
should we draw the line between acceptableand unacceptable? If so, where?

Guidelines for Position
PapersPosition papers must clearly articulate thecurrent situation of your country and briefly
explain the past actions it has taken, further
denoting possible solutions. Papers may also
include international resolutions andstrategies; however, the main focus must be

Thank you for reading through thisbackground guide.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you
have any questions or inquiries!

Works Cited
Alanis-Lobato, G., Zohren, J., McCarthy, A., Fogarty,
N. M. E., Kubikova, N., Hardman, E., Greco, M.,
Wells, D., Turner, J. M. A., & Niakan, K. K. (2021,
June 1). Frequent loss of heterozygosity in
CRISPR-CAS9–EDITED early human embryos.
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