In a First, Scientists Precisely Edit Human Embryo Genes

Article excerpt

Scientists have for the first time precisely edited genes in human embryos using a newer technique that sidesteps some limitations of earlier CRISPR methods. The breakthrough, which researchers say could eventually allow parents to prevent serious genetic diseases before birth, has immediately rekindled debates among bioethicists who worry the technology could be misused to create designer babies or deepen genetic inequality. The advance represents a significant leap in the feasibility of human germline editing, changes that would be inherited by future generations, a prospect that has long divided the scientific community between those who see therapeutic potential and those who view it as ethically perilous.