GENE EDITING involves accentuating or suppressing genes withn an organism's own natural genetic sequence PERMISSION for gene editing in agriculture is back on the political agenda, following the launch of a Defra consultation on a potential change in UK law to allow the technology into the food chain. Under current European law, Gene Editing is lumped together with Genetic Modification, and as such is excluded from use in producing novel crop plants and livestock. Defra is touting the GE consultation as an early consequence of its post-Brexit independence from EU law, potentially giving UK farmers a tech edge over their continental counterparts.