Major Gene Editing Breakthrough Raises Concerns About Ethics Of ‘Designer Babies’
For the first time, scientists have edited genes in embryos to fix a disease-causing mutation. The milestone raises hopes for being able to correct serious problems, but also raises tricky ethical questions about modifying human DNA for the purpose of obtaining desired traits for a child.
Los Angeles Times:
In A First, Scientists Rid Human Embryos Of A Potentially Fatal Gene Mutation By Editing Their DNA
Using a powerful gene-editing technique, scientists have rid human embryos of a mutation responsible for an inherited form of heart disease that’s often deadly to healthy young athletes and adults in their prime. The experiment marks the first time that scientists have altered the human genome to erase a disease-causing mutation not only from the DNA of the primary subject but from the genes of his or her progeny as well. (Healy, 8/2)