Jan 12, 2026 · Human genetic modification (or “gene editing”) can be used in two very different ways. Somatic genome editing changes the genes in a patient’s cells to treat a medical condition. A few …

But there is a much more controversial way that human gene editing could be used. In germline modification, gene editing would change the DNA of embryos, eggs, or sperm. Because germline …

May 7, 2015 · Human germline modification is often presented as a way to prevent the transmission of inherited diseases. But in nearly every case, people at risk of passing on genetic diseases can have …

Reasons to ban germline gene editing include the profound risks to future children, thin medical justifications, reinforcing existing inequalities and creating new forms of discrimination, eroding public …

Sep 2, 2020 · Genetic modification, cloning, and other biological engineering techniques are widely used on animals in agricultural and research settings. Some of these applications are controversial for …

International Law According to a number of international declarations, human germline modification may be considered unethical human experimentation or an abuse of human rights:

In her recent review of four books on the prospects of applying CRISPR and related gene modification technologies to the improvement of human biology [“Editing Humanity’s Future,” NYR, April 29], …

Are they needed to prevent the transmission of genetic diseases? Would manipulating the genes of future children and generations open the door to new kinds of discrimination, inequality, and …

Recent genetic engineering developments are raising an urgent question: Should we as a society condone the genetic modification of future human beings? Here we take on some common questions …

Jun 1, 2006 · The terms "human genetic modification" or "human genetic engineering" mean changing genes in a living human cell. There are two types of genetic modification. Somatic modifications …