Overview The technology to edit the genomes of living things is advancing rapidly. How do we decide when not to do the things that we can? In the last couple of years, a new “active genetic” technology (using CRISPR/Cas9) has been shown to promote efficient inheritance of desired gene modifications in insects. We have now shown that we can do this in rodents. Applications in laboratory mice would allow the assembly of complex genotypes that were once unthinkable due to cost, time, and number of animals. Such applications could improve drug testing and mouse models of complex human genetic diseases. These same approaches could also be used to control invasive wild rodent populations and vectors of disease. Despite these benefits, many have raised concerns about unintended consequences of the release of transgenic organisms. Join us to discuss the advantages and the potential risks of CRISPR/Cas9-based active genetic systems and ways to maximize benefits to society. Guest Speaker Kim Cooper is an Assistant Professor in the Cell and Developmental Biology Section of the UC San Diego Division of Biological Sciences.