{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox organization | name = Council for Responsible Genetics | abbreviation = CRG | formation = 1983 | founding_location = Cambridge, Massachusetts | type = non profit | purpose = biotechnology }} The '''Council for Responsible Genetics''' (CRG) was a nonprofit NGO with a focus on biotechnology.
== History == The Council for Responsible Genetics was founded in 1983 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
An early voice concerned about the social and ethical implications of <!-- Would it be OR to say "favoring limiting", given that there's never been any evidence (as far as I'm aware) of their favoring (the use of) modern genetic technologies? --> modern genetic technologies, CRG organized a 1985 Congressional Briefing and a 1986 panel of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, both focusing on the potential dangers of genetically engineered biological weapons.<ref name="CRG website">{{cite web | title = Council for Responsible Genetics | url = http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ | website = Councilforresponsiblegenetics.org | accessdate = 2009-05-29 | archive-date = 2009-06-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619101708/http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> Francis Boyle was asked to draft legislation setting limits on the use of genetic engineering, leading to the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989.<ref name="US Bioweapons Break Laws">{{cite web | title = Broadening Our Perspective | url = http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/AOPof911p06.html |website=Ratical.org| accessdate = 2009-05-30 }}</ref>
CRG was the first organization to advance a comprehensive, scientifically based position against human germline engineering.<ref>{{Cite journal| title=Position Paper on Human Germ Line Manipulation Presented by Council for Responsible Genetics, Human Genetics Committee Fall, 1992|journal=Human Gene Therapy|volume=4|pages=35–37|year=1993|issue=1|doi=10.1089/hum.1993.4.1-35|pmid=8461382}}</ref> It was also the first to compile documented cases of genetic discrimination, laying the intellectual groundwork for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA).<ref name="CRG website"/>
The organization created both a Genetic Bill of Rights and a Citizen's Guide to Genetically Modified Food. Also notable are CRG's support for the "Safe Seeds Campaign" (for avoiding gene flow from genetically engineered to non-GE seed) and the organization of a US conference on Forensic DNA Databanks and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System.<ref name="CRG website"/> In 2010 CRG led a successful campaign to roll back a controversial student genetic testing program at the University of California, Berkeley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-08-12/uc-berkeley-backs-off-gene-test-program-for-students-blocked-by-state|title=UC Berkeley Backs Off Gene-Test Program for Students|date=25 June 2019|accessdate=25 June 2019|website=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> In 2011, CRG led a campaign to successfully enact [CalGINA] in California, which extended genetic privacy and nondiscrimination protections to life, disability and long-term care insurance, mortgages, lending and other areas.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
CRG issued six anthologies of commentaries: * ''Rights and Liberties in the Biotech Age'' edited by Sheldon Krimsky and Peter Shorett<ref name="CRG website" /> * ''Race and the Genetic Revolution: Science, Myth and Culture''<ref name="CRG website" /> * ''Genetic Explanations: Sense and Nonsense'' edited by Krimsky and Jeremy Gruber<ref name="CRG website" /> * ''Biotechnology in our Lives'' edited by Krimsky and Gruber<ref name="CRG website" /> * ''The GMO Deception'' edited by Krimsky and Gruber<ref name="CRG website" /> * Principles and projects * ''Ancestry DNA Testing and Privacy: A Consumer Guide'' by Krimsky and David Cay Johnson<ref name="Krimsky-Johnson">{{cite web |last1=Krimsky |first1=Sheldon |title=Ancestry DNA Testing and Privacy: A Consumer Guide |url=https://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/files/img/ancestry-dna-testing-and-privacy-guide.pdf |website=Council for Responsible Genetics |access-date=May 7, 2026|date=March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> CRG "fosters public debate about the social, ethical and environmental implications of genetic technologies." They list three central principles:<ref name="CRG website"/>
*The public must have access to clear and understandable information on technological innovations. *The public must be able to participate in public and private decision making concerning technological developments and their implementation. *New technologies must meet social needs. Problems rooted in poverty, racism, and other forms of inequality, according to CRG, cannot be remedied by technology alone.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! '''Selected Issues''' |- | Cloning and Human Genetic Manipulation |- | Women and Biotechnology |- | Genetic Testing, Privacy and Discrimination |- | Biotechnology and Agriculture |- | Biowarfare |- | Genetic determinism |} *
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! '''Notable Projects''' !! '''Description''' |- | Genetic Bill of Rights || a set of guidelines to aid in the understanding of CRG's viewpoint on the ethical, legal, social, and environmental implications of biotechnology, meant to foster discussion on the values CRG feels are at risk due to advancing genetic technologies |- | Race and Genetics || a project including briefing papers and community workshops on various areas where race and genetics intersect, such as racialized medicine, race in science, and racial profiling in DNA databases |- | Gene Myths || a series of articles disputing what CRG feels are exaggerated and misrepresented ideas about the power of genetic technologies |- | Forensic DNA || a discussion on the use and regulation of forensic DNA databases with concern for privacy and civil rights |}
The pioneering contributions of CRG to public interest initiatives concerned with appropriate use of biotechnologies are recounted in the book ''Biotech Juggernaut: Hope, Hype, and Hidden Agendas of Entrepreneurial Bioscience'' (Routledge, 2019).
== ''GeneWatch'' == CRG published ''GeneWatch'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/GeneWatch/GeneWatchBrowser.aspx?archive=yes&volumeId=25 |title=GeneWatch |access-date=2012-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905234728/http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/GeneWatch/GeneWatchBrowser.aspx?archive=yes&volumeId=25 |archive-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> America's first magazine dedicated to monitoring biotechnology's social, ethical and environmental consequences. The publication covered a broad spectrum of issues, from genetically modified food to biological weapons, genetic privacy and discrimination, reproductive technology, and human cloning.<ref name="CRG website" /> Established in 1983,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dl.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:RCR01007 |title=Council for Responsible Genetics |website=Tufts Digital Library |language=en |access-date=2018-09-17}}</ref> the publication won the Utne Independent Press Award for General Excellence in the category of newsletters in 2006.<ref name="Utne">{{cite web| title = Winner of the Utne Independent Press Award for General Excellence: Newsletters | url = http://www.utne.com/2007-01-01/GeneralExcellencenewsletters.aspx | publisher = Utne Reader | date = January 2007 | accessdate = 2008-09-11 }}</ref>
== Funding == A major source of CRG's funding was the Ford Foundation, which provided $420,000 in grants during 2005–2007.<ref>{{cite web | title = Grant Search Results | url = http://www.fordfound.org/grants/database/searchresults?keywords=Council+for+Responsible+Genetics | publisher = Ford Foundation | accessdate = 2008-09-11 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== See also == * Bioethics * Genomics
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Council For Responsible Genetics}} Category:Appropriate technology organizations Category:Medical and health organizations based in Massachusetts Category:Biotechnology organizations Category:Genetics organizations Category:1983 establishments in Massachusetts Category:1983 establishments in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1983