Engineering the American Chestnut
May 2, 2019
Researchers in New York are working to genetically engineer the American chestnut to withstand the fungal blight that drove it to virtual extinction in Appalachian forests, but some activists oppose releasing the new trees into the wild. In Issues, a philosopher recently examined the scientific arguments at play, finding valid data in both camps, and she concluded that it will ultimately be public opinion about the value of the transgenic trees that decides their fate.