The Genome Writers Guild is closely monitoring the global situation with COVID-19. At this time we still plan to host the 2020 meeting but will follow recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization as the date approaches. 

The Genome Writers Guild (GWG) includes scientists, physicians, students, entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives, futurists, science communicators, and artists focused on the responsible use of powerful new tools for genome engineering and gene editing.

The plethora of tools are propelling the field into the next genomic revolution. What are the new technologies? What will we make with them? How are the innovations impacting society and our individual lives? We discuss these questions and current research at our annual conference and satellite events. Find out more about the GWG and how to join.

GWG 2019 conference heads to
Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for three days in May

The 2019 Genome Writers Guild third annual conference is May 16, 17, and 18 at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. This is a joint meeting between the GWG and the Crop Bioengineering Center. The three day meeting highlights the fast pace of genomic engineering, focusing on recent research, tangible skills for the laboratory, and the challenges of social responsibility.

Genome Engineering 2019 Conference Keynote Speakers

The reports coming from China regarding the birth of human twins following gene editing experimentation have naturally concerned many scientists and public alike. Incomplete information regarding the experimental approach, validity of results, institutional oversight, and ethics statement preclude a full understanding of these developments at this time. However, if these reports are found credible, many are left wondering what impact these developments could have on science, medicine, and humanity. The Genome Writers Guild is a growing organization that seeks to engage the broader public in such discussions. We are made up of researchers, physicians, students, entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives, futurists, artists, and public members with the goal of helping people both understand the science and applications of genetic engineering and develop informed opinions on these important topics.

Keynote speakers at the July, 2018 conference 

Dr. Dana Carroll, distinguished professor of biochemistry, University of Utah, was our keynote speaker for the genome engineering sessions. The Science Cafe keynote speaker for the public was Dr. Ellen Jorgensen, founder of Biotech Without Borders and Genspace. Take a look at the list of all the invited speakers who presented and the full program of events at the July, 2018 conference.

We are experiencing great technological change in genome engineering. If deployed responsibly, such progress will improve the world through enhanced products, new biotechnological entities, and novel therapeutics. — Dr. Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic