WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Agenda: Regulating Genome Editing and Sequencing
Letter from the Co-Chairpersons
Dear Delegates,
We, Nikunj Rathi and Stuti Desai , Co-Chairpersons of the World Health Organisation find pleasure in welcoming you to the Shishukunj Model United Nations 2022. We hope this conference provides you with new perspectives towards important world issues and is an enriching and enlightening experience for you.
I, Nikunj Rathi, am an 11th grader with an aptitude for the sciences. When procrastinating, I am either watching cinema, listening to music or violently discussing politics, both national and international. I am a hardcore cinephile
and believe me, I have seen everything. I also play table tennis. I have been MUNing since the past 5 years and it has helped me become a more knowledgeable and confident person. I hope it will do the same for you.
Hi, I Stuti Desai will be proudly serving as the co-chairperson for WHO. I have been the junior sports captain for Dhyanchand house. Along with being a passionate munner, I am a confident public speaker. I am a keen observer with a tendency to find amicable solutions to day to day issues concerning my peers.
The agenda for the committee is “ Regulating Genome Editing and Sequencing”. Genome Editing and Sequencing have been in the limelight since their inception and we believe that their regulation is much needed in today's world.We expect the delegates to discuss important issues related to the agenda and come up with related unique solutions. We hope this MUN will be a memorable learning experience for all.
See you this August!
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Regards
Nikunj Rathi & Stuti Desai
Co-Chairpersons
World Health Organisation
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Organ Description
The voice of health within the UN, the World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for public health in the United Nations. Committed to integrity and excellence in health, the WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shapes the health research agenda, sets norms and standards, articulates evidence-based policy options, and monitors and assesses health trends. It connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable—the WHO aims to let everyone attain the highest level of health.
Agenda: Regulating Human Genome Sequencing and Editing
The Human Genome was sequenced entirely in 2003 by the Human Genome Project with the painstaking effort of 18 countries (“DNA sequencing key to the Human Genome Project”). 16 years later, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuel Charpentier won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on CRISPR-Cas9 which is a method to edit DNA.
Genome Sequencing is to find one’s DNA code while genome editing is the alteration of the DNA of an organism by deleting, replacing, or inserting a DNA to get the preferred traits. Genome sequencing aims to find how certain diseases are formed while editing aims to treat the diseases by altering the disease-causing sequence.
Ethical concerns were raised as gene sequencing could lead to discrimination of people with believed-to-be inferior genetics. The use of Genetic Editing in the defense sector is also a major concern. Gene Editing could be used in bioterrorism, to create bioweapons, and even to create biologically enhanced soldiers. The committee aims to form solutions and regulations regarding such concerns.