On Thursday and Friday, I received responses for my interview requests from the Genetics Alliance UK and the Francis Crick Institute. I also reached out to the Wellcome Trust via the internet after a follow-up call yesterday.
Response from the Genetic Alliance UK
On Thursday at 3:30, I received a response from Ms. Jessica Bateson from the Genetic Alliance UK. Although she made it clear the Genetic Alliance charity was unable to assist with my research, she did point me towards other resources that might be able to help me.
Ms. Bate’s initial response to my request for an interviewHer clarification of the term ‘local genetics department’
Response from the Francis Crick Institute
Harry Dayantis from the Francis Crick Institute got back to me at around 3:45 yesterday to tell me he managed to get in touch with Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, who agreed to give me an interview sometime next week.
Friday would be the best day for me to interview the professor as school ends early and I’d be able to make my way to Euston quickly on a direct train that leaves from Watford Junction.
Mr. Dayantis’ response to my phone call and follow up emailMy response to his message asking whether I am able to meet Professor Lovell-Badge next week Friday
I made an unplanned visit the Wellcome Library this afternoon on a day pass to get a feel for the place and to inquire further about the requirements necessary for a two-month temporary library card. My visit lasted around 5 hours, from 1:30 to 6:30.
An online search of the library’s catalogue revealed that they have more information about genetic editing in general than about CRISPR specifically, but brought up a variety of books and other media that may be able to help with my research. I took a look at a couple of the books that came up in my online search and they appear helpful. As I am sadly unable to take books away from the library, I will have to visit as often and as early as possible to read and make notes on the books that are vital to my research.
Some information that appears helpful is contained in the library’s closed stores, meaning I would have to sign up for a library pass and request to view the materials. I plan get a library card and work on getting access to material in the closed stores later in the month.
In future, I would have to research the materials I want to use in advance and request to use any materials from the private store before I visit the library.
Obtaining Permanent Library Membership
This morning, I also discussed obtaining library membership with Amelia Walker, a very kind librarian at the front desk. She recommended I write an email to her explaining my EPQ and the fact my guardian’s occupation does not allow him to come to the library with me often. Our exchange is shown below.
Ms. Walker’s email detailing the information I should provide to her to pass on to the library’s manager, Ms. Rosie Eddisford.My response to her email discussing my circumstances
Shortly before leaving the library, I received a response.
Ms. Walker’s response confirming I am able to work in the library without adult supervision
Today, in a call with Freya Robb from the Science Media Centre (SMC), I learnt that they would be unable to provide a researcher or scientist I would be able to speak to as they only offer their services to national media organisations. However, she told me she would be happy to put me in touch with others who could be of assistance. Their website also contains press releases like this one that would greatly help with breaking down rather complicated concepts.
In an email soon after our phone call, she responded.
Response from the SMC which contains links to expert resources on CRISPR
As the SMC was unable to provide me with an expert to interview, I contacted the organisations she suggested in an effort to connect with one.
The Francis Crick Institute
After a two rather brief phone calls with the Francis Crick Institute front desk and press department, it was recommended I put my request to contact an expert into writing. I wrote them an email soon after our phone call.
Email sent to the Francis Crick Institute requesting an interview with an expert
The Wellcome Sanger Institute
The second organisation that the SMC recommended I contact, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, was also very helpful in my search for an expert. Mr. John Barr from the Sanger Institute took my details and told me he would pass them on to someone who would follow up with me and help me get in contact with an expert.
The Progress Educational Trust
This afternoon, I spoke to Sandy Starr, the Communications Manager at the Progress Educational Trust who told me that although he was knowledgeable about CRISPR, he was extremely busy and he would be unable to provide me with an interview himself. He also said the charity would be unable to directly link me with an expert as it was very small with very few volunteers.
Despite this, he linked me to a list of speakers from their Crossing Frontiers conference in December and advised me to get in touch with some of them. The PET also published a report in 2017, entitled Basic Understanding of Genome Editing, which could prove to be a useful resource.
In addition to the organisations listed above, I got into contact with the Genetic Alliance UK and the Wellcome Trust.
The Genetic Alliance UK
I spoke to Farhana Ali at the Genetic Alliance UK who recommended I put my request into an email. A copy of the email I sent to the organisation is attached below.
Email sent to Genetic Alliance UK after conversation over the phone
The Wellcome Trust
I called the Wellcome Trust, which runs the Wellcome Library and which also funds organisations that research various medical conditions. From the front desk, I was passed onto an individual at the genetic and molecular sciences department, who I left a voicemail message with.
I have initially planned the project, proposed it and reviewed the plan with my supervisor and I will continue the project’s planning in a series of nine steps.
Research Period: December 2017 to June 2018
Mid Project Review: 16th June 2018
Project Execution: July to August 2018
First Draft Completion: 13th October 2018
Essay Completion: 5th December 2018
End of Project Review: 9th February 2019
Project Presentation: 22nd March 2019
Project Reflection: 22nd March 2019
EPQ Completion: 30th March 2019
In order to better manage the project and to enable me to make decisions quickly and rapidly adjust to any necessary changes, I have split its planning into two phases, 2018 and 2019. Splitting the project into phases, each containing a series of steps, is consistent with my supervisor’s advice. I have planned the first phase of the project, considering the first 5 steps in this logbook entry.
As I will be dealing with the project on a step-by-step basis, with each step having a predefined start and end date, I will be conscious about the amount of time remaining in each step and will be able to make decisions accordingly. If an element of my plan fails to come to fruition, I will also be able to change my decisions accordingly with the amount of time, and my current progress, in mind.
This plan has been adapted from the EPQ Timetable Y12 (October 2017/March 2019)provided by the school.
2018
Research Period
Start: December 2017
End: June 2018
Throughout the seven month period set aside for research, I plan to consult a variety of sources to collect the widest variety of views on the subject of genetic editing, focusing on the benefits, repercussions and ethical concerns surrounding the CRISPR technology. There are several places and tools available to use to research
Science Media Centre
The Science Media Centre may be able to provide a scientist to interview for the project. Their website contains details about how they can match scientists and engineers to journalists, reporters and possibly students who need an interview from an expert to complete a story or report.
It would be best to contact them as soon as possible to arrange an interview with someone who is versed in the science of genetics and in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. I can reach out to them by the phone number or e-mail address listed on their website, and will most likely start correspondence with them with a phone call, followed up by email. I should get in contact with them in the second week of January and it may take up to a month to schedule, prepare for and attend an interview.
The Wellcome Library
The Wellcome Library has an extensive collection of medical journals and books that are not available through the internet I will be able to consult over the course of this project. However, to apply for a 2 month temporary library card, I need a letter from my supervisor with the title of the EPQ, a photo ID and proof of address.
The library will also be closed over the Christmas holidays, so it would be best to plan a visit after the holidays. It may be possible to plan a visit to the library throughout the months of January and February on one-day library cards before applying for a more permanent two-month library card. However, more inquiry is necessary.
Research at the Library will take place from January to April of 2018.
YouTube
Videos will also serve as a useful resource for understanding the CRISPR technology, as they allow complicated concepts to be understood easily by using audio and visual aids.
Three videos on CRISPR that may prove useful are by Kurzgesagt, SciShow and TED, all channels on YouTube. These videos are useful for research as they can be paused or replayed as many times as necessary during research. Transcripts for these videos are also available, making them easy to quote in my essay. In addition, they are accessible from anywhere as they are are downloadable, unlike some resources that may be restricted to the reading room or study area of a museum or library.
Medical Literature
Medical journals can serve another useful source of information about the scientific community’s view on the CRISPR technology. Google Scholar is a search engine for publications and resources for specialised fields, including articles published in medical journals.
Using this tool will allow me to easily search for and access scientifically accurate articles about CRISPR and gene editing by entering keywords into the search engine. Keywords that would be used to search for articles include ‘gene editing’, ‘CRISPR Cas9’, ‘ethical concerns of CRISPR’, ‘advantages of CRISPR’, ‘risks of CRISPR’ and ‘CRISPR gene therapy risks’. Examples of these articles include
Baltimore, D., Berg, P., Botchan, M., Carroll, D., Charo, R. A., Church, G., … Yamamoto, K. R. (2015). A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germline gene modification. Science, 348(6230), 36–38. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab1028
Caplan, A. L., Parent, B., Shen, M., & Plunkett, C. (2015). No time to waste–the ethical challenges created by CRISPR: CRISPR/Cas, being an efficient, simple, and cheap technology to edit the genome of any organism, raises many ethical and regulatory issues beyond the use to manipulate human germ line cells. EMBO reports, 16(11), 1421–1426. http://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201541337
Chira, S., Gulei, D., Hajitou, A., Zimta, A.-A., Cordelier, P., & Berindan-Neagoe, I. (2017). CRISPR/Cas9: Transcending the Reality of Genome Editing. Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids, 7, 211–222. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2017.04.001
Lockyer, E. J. (2016). The potential of CRISPR-Cas9 for treating genetic disorders. Bioscience Horizons: The International Journal of Student Research, 9. http://doi.org/10.1093/biohorizons/hzw012
Mulvihill, J. J., Capps, B., Joly, Y., Lysaght, T., Zwart, H. A. E., & Chadwick, R. (2017). Ethical issues of CRISPR technology and gene editing through the lens of solidarity. British Medical Bulletin, 122(1), 17–29. http://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx002
Webber, B. L., Raghu, S., & Edwards, O. R. (2015). Opinion: Is CRISPR-based gene drive a biocontrol silver bullet or global conservation threat? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(34), 10565–10567. http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1514258112
Even though medical journals and other primary sources may be more accurate and may not be mistranslated or sensationalized in news reports or other forms of media, they may be difficult to understand without in-depth knowledge of genetics.
Websites, News Articles and Other Online Resources
Online research will take place throughout the research period, primarily taking place in the January, February and May and June of 2018. This will be to provide me with a starting point to support my other research at the Wellcome Library and with the Science Media Centre.
Using search engines, I can search for easy to understand information on CRISPR and genetic editing. This information could take the form of a news article, a thread on a reputable forum or a page on a medical site related to genetics. Information published online can be easy to understand, but may not necessarily be as trustworthy or comprehensive as primary sources. Examples of information that can be used over the course of this project include
The mid project review serves to record the progress of my extended project and is the point where I am able to update my project plan to reflect any changes I have made. The successes, failures and challenges I have faced up to this point in the project will also be reflected upon.
In addition, the mid project review is also the point at which I hold my second meeting with my supervisor in order to discuss the progress of my project thus far and the future development of the project, as well as to confirm the final aims. During my research period, I aim to
organise an interview with an expert on CRISPR through the Science Media Centre;
compile a list of articles from medical journals;
carry out research, taking advantage of the resources available at the Wellcome Library;
read and make detailed notes on the medical literature collected during the research phase;
create a list of videos that highlight how CRISPR works, its advantages, challenges and concerns;
watch videos from YouTube and make notes of them;
start writing the essay, using my notes from sources to build a basic essay outline.
Project Execution and First Draft Completion
Start Date: July 2018
End Date: August 2018
Using the notes collected and the outline and drafts written during the research phase, I can begin to write my essay. The essay writing process is part of the project execution, which takes place from July to August. The first draft of my essay submitted to my project supervisor for review in our third meeting on the 13th of October. After the review of my completed draft, I should alter my essay and integrate my supervisor’s suggestions into my final product.
The proposed essay abstract and starting outline for my project is below
Abstract for the EPQ essayStarting outline for the project essay
Essay Completion
Date: 5th December 2018
The fourth meeting with my supervisor, and the final one for 2018, takes place when I am close to completing my essay. Any other suggestions they have on how to make my final product better will be taken on board as I work to finish the essay in time for submission before the winter holidays.
Genome Editing and its Impact on Life: the Benefits, Risks, Ethics and Law Surrounding the use of CRISPR-Cas9 