What is genome engineering and how does it work? How developed is this research in South Africa and what potential does it have? What ethical dilemmas does genome engineering give rise to? What has been done so far to address them? What can one achieve with stem cells combined with modern genome engineering tools?

Beyond the hype around genome engineering, how close are we really to seeing widely available cures based on this research?

In the past few years, the landscape of molecular biology has been rocked by the discovery of a novel tool to genetically modify our genomic DNA with unprecedented ease. In addition to the almost boundless use as a molecular tool in the laboratory, one can envisage correcting mutated genes for several, until now, incurable diseases.

This molecular tool, in combination with advances in stem cell research, provides hitherto unknown possibilities in addressing health issues, no more so than in South Africa. We can now genetically edit stem cells in the lab to create those which contain the exact mutations which lead to adverse drug reactions in the sub-Saharan African population. With tools like these, we can reassess drugs originally developed against Caucasian individuals.

In tonight's session of Science & Cocktails Johannesburg, Janine Scholefield will use examples such as the above to attempt to address the myriad possibilities that the combination of stem cells and genome engineering can offer in modeling disease-in-a-dish. She will explain the basics of how genome engineering works, discuss the most advanced stages of this research (i.e. clinical trials) and finally expand on its potential within the unique context of the South African genetic background.

Afterwards, smoky dry ice cocktails at the bar while Sounds Of Kamo treat us to their unique style of urban and soulful jazz music.