This week, at an international summit in Washington D.C., scientists debated the use of easy new ways to alter human DNA, which could cure diseases but also literally change humanity. Scientific American reports from the front lines of the debate
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All Gene-Editing Research Should Proceed Cautiously, Scientists Conclude
The official statement, which says work altering human germ lines should remain only in the lab, caps a three-day summit on using technology to alter the human genome
"Improving" Humans with Customized Genes Sparks Debate among Scientists
Medicine or meddling? Researchers at a gene-editing summit grapple with the future of genetic enhancement
Biologists Create More Precise Molecular Scissors for Genome Editing
Engineered enzyme makes fewer mistakes cutting DNA
This Week, World Summit On Altering Human Genes Explores Ethical Limits
Academies in the US, China and the UK jointly organized the gathering
Where to Draw the Line on Gene-Editing Technology
New techniques that could make germ-line genetic engineering unprecedentedly easy are forcing policy makers to confront the ethical implications of moving forward
Genome Editing: 7 Facts About a Revolutionary Technology
What everyone should know about cut-and-paste genetics
China's Bold Push into Genetically Customized Animals
New kinds of dogs, goats and monkeys are being made quickly, although scientists voice worries about ethics and whether the methods should be used on humans
CRISPR Could Help Gene-Edited Crops Bypass Biosafety Regulation
Technique deletes plant genes without adding foreign DNA
Scientists Apply for License to Edit Genes in Human Embryos
A team from the Francis Crick Institute wants a permit to use so-called CRISPR/Cas 9 technology in basic research
Altering Embryo Genes, Safely, Should Not Be Off-Limits
Learning to alter their genes safely could prevent inherited diseases
New Discovery Moves Gene Editing Closer to Use in Humans
The gene editing method called CRISPR is already used in the lab to insert and remove genome defects in animal embryos
Is the Gene-Editing Revolution Finally Here?
A DNA-editing technique based on bacterial “memories” could revolutionize medicine. But some worry it could get out of control