Germline Editing

2 articles

A split cinematic image symbolizing the ethical debate around gene editing, showing a DNA helix and human embryo on one side, and a hopeful future with diverse people on the other.

Explainers

What are the ethical considerations of gene editing technologies?

Two new studies are using base editing on human embryos, a practice legal in the UK and US.

Marcus Cole·August 14, 2026

A split visual contrasting the promise of gene editing with its ethical uncertainties, featuring a DNA helix and a shadowed human silhouette with question marks.

Life & Biology

Why "Designer Babies" Divide Us: Heritability, Not the Technology Itself

The controversy surrounding "designer babies" stems from two key questions: whether genetic changes will be passed to future generations and if they aim to treat disease or select for desired traits, rather than the editing technology itself.

Marcus Cole·June 17, 2026