CGS encourages responsible uses and effecitve governance of human genetic and assisted reproductive technologies

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WHO Asserts Leadership on Human Genome Editing

By Pete Shanks | 07.21.2021
Biopolitical Times

The World Health Organization (WHO) on July 12 issued the results of what it describes as the “first broad, global consultation looking at somatic, germline and heritable human genome editing.” The Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing was established in December 2018, but its work was of course delayed by the pandemic.

This publication could represent an important step in the continuing discussions, both nationally and globally, about what applications of...

Human Genetic Modification

Victory for Reproductive Justice in California: New Budget Includes Reparations for Survivors of Eugenic Sterilization

By Emily Galpern | 07.13.2021
Biopolitical Times

Photo from Belly of the Beast, used by permission

Yesterday, California became the third state in the nation to provide reparations to survivors of coerced sterilization under 20th century eugenics laws, and the first state to both notify and compensate those sterilized involuntarily in state women’s prisons. Governor Newsom signed a budget that includes $7.5 million for this program, which will provide up to $25,000 per survivor, as well as funds for plaques and markers raising awareness about...

U.S. States

World Health Organization advisers urge global effort to regulate genome editing

By Megan Molteni, STAT [cites CGS] | 07.12.2021

Aggregated News

On Monday, a World Health Organization advisory committee called on the world’s largest public health authority to stand by the...

Policies

Expanding Biolab Complex in Berkeley Has Residents Worried

By Sharon Lerner, Lee Fang, The Intercept [cites CGS' Marcy Darnovsky] | 06.09.2021

Aggregated News

The Bayer Corporation has made it clear that the creation of a biological research facility on its waterfront property in Berkeley, California, will...

Bioethics

Biopolitical Times

From the CGS Trove: Resources for the Fall Season

By CGS | 08.25.2021

As the last days of summer wane and we transition into fall, we thought you might enjoy some of our...

Genetic Selection

Book Review: The Orphans of Davenport, by Marilyn Brookwood

By Pete Shanks | 08.24.2021

This is a hard book to read, but worth the anguish. It describes the terrible treatment of infants at the...

Book Review: Klara and the Sun

By Anna Fang | 08.12.2021

In Klara and the Sun, Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro explores a future in which artificial intelligence and human...

Global Governance

News

The fertility industry is poorly regulated – and would-be parents can lose out on having children as a result

By Naomi Cahn and Dena Sharp, The Conversation | 08.23.2021

When embryologist Joseph Conaghan arrived at work at San Francisco’s Pacific Fertility Center on March 4, 2018, nothing seemed awry. He did routine inspections of the facility’s cryogenic tanks, which store frozen embryos and eggs for clients who hope to...

Assisted Reproduction

Global Movement Aims To Improve Lives Of People With Disabilities

By Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop | 08.23.2021

An ambitious campaign involving groups ranging from the Paralympics to the United Nations is kicking off with a goal of ending discrimination and promoting inclusion of the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities.

The effort known as WeThe15 — named...

Perspectives

WHO guidelines on human genome editing: why countries need to follow them

By Sheetal Soni, The Conversation | 08.22.2021

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently called on countries to stop any research that might lead to the birth of genetically edited human beings. The call was made with the release of the recommendations on human genome editing.

Human...

Policies

CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang's latest work delivers mRNA, gene therapy with a human protein

By Angus Liu, Fierce Biotech | 08.19.2021

Photo licensed for use by CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and existing gene therapies, including those built with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, are delivered into cells with viral vectors or lipid nanoparticles. A research team led by...

Genetic Selection

Video
A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics in America
Use Gene Editing to Treat Patients, Not Design Babies
CRISPR: What is the future of gene editing? | Start Here