The controversial notion of designing future kids in the lab appears to have taken a step closer to reality. Researchers at Columbia University say they've used a new "base editing" technique to tweak DNA in early human embryos with far more precision than standard CRISPR, avoiding the large-scale genetic damage often seen with older methods, reports the New York Times. Lead scientist Dieter Egli stressed that the work is nowhere near clinic-ready and called for a public debate on how, or whether, such tools should be used.
"As a scientist, you can provide the data for discussion, but then essentially there you stop and let others take over," he tells the Times. The team altered two genes tied to cholesterol levels and fetal hemoglobin and, in some embryos, edited both at once. They still saw problems: Some embryos ended up as "mosaics," with a mix of edited and unedited cells that could pose health risks if carried to term. The study, funded partly by embryo-screening company Nucleus Genomics, is posted online and under journal review.
A previous NPR story offered a big-picture view of the debate over the concept, going back to 2018 when a Chinese scientist "horrified the world" with his unauthorized work. Since then, however, the idea has been getting a boost from Silicon Valley venture capitalists and "pro-natalists" who worry about shrinking populations. Supporters see a potential way to repair disease-causing mutations in IVF embryos, while critics warn of a slippery slope toward trait selection and a modern form of eugenics.
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