With new gene technology regulations working their way through parliament, hear from researchers in different fields about what the new legislation might mean for everyday kiwis. The panellists will discuss what kinds of new research, products and technologies the bill might enable, and what kinds of oversight and regulation will guide this innovation.

Meet our Gene Technology Panellists:

Prof. Neil Gemmell

Neil Gemmell is a Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor and holds the AgResearch Chair in Reproduction and Genomics at the University of Otago. His research blends ecology, population, conservation, and evolutionary biology with leading-edge genomic technologies to provide new tools and research services to key end users in the conservation and biosecurity arenas. New genetic approaches to control pest species and approaches that survey the DNA in the environment (eDNA) to rapidly measure biological diversity are prominent areas of recent research.

Associate Prof. Tim Hore

Tim Hore is an Associate Professor at the University of Otago, and uses genetic modification to understand fundamental questions of biology, such as ‘why are stem cells unique?’ and ‘how does aging affect DNA?’. His laboratory is currently probing the ‘dark genome’ – poorly understood regions of the genetic code that they found are essential for female development in fish. In addition to leading a genetics research group, Assoc Prof Hore is also chairs the Biological Safety Committee at the University of Otago, and is a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the Gene Technologies Bill.

Dr Megan Leask

Megan Leask (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe) is a Pūkeka Lecturer at the University of Otago. In 2014 she received her PhD in genetics from the University of Otago<