Debates between Lord Winston and Lord Trees during the 2019 Parliament

Mon 12th Dec 2022
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
Lords Chamber

Committee stage & Committee stage: Part 1

Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill

Debate between Lord Winston and Lord Trees
Lord Winston Portrait Lord Winston (Lab)
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Would the noble Lord be kind enough to answer one question? Does he not consider the possibility that the genetic modification of a herd of animals might make them more likely to be predisposed to a particular disease or infection that we did not expect?

Lord Trees Portrait Lord Trees (CB)
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With respect, I say that that could be screened out in the development process. There may be indications, were such a risk likely from genetic linkages and so on, and that could be looked for by whole genome sequencing in the screening process and then perhaps by in vivo challenge experiments. But it could occur in natural breeding processes, too.