Biopolitical Times

The Center for Genetics and Society blog highlights the latest developments in the social, political, and ethical implications of human biotechnologies, with contributions from staff, fellows, consultants, and guest authors.

World map showing countries that prohibit heritabl human genome editing in red

Assessing the Global Policy Landscape for Human Germline and Heritable Genome Editing

By Katie Hasson | 11.02.2020

Public and policy conversations about heritable human genome editing often leave the impression that rules governing it are few and far between. Many news reports and scholarly articles present global governance as starting from a more or less blank slate; some also suggest that global agreement on this controversial issue would be unlikely. This view skims over some inconvenient facts, like the existence of the Oviedo Convention, a binding international treaty signed by 29 European countries, which prohibits heritable...

Policies

Business Not As Usual: Surrogacy in the Time of COVID and Beyond

By Emily Galpern | 12.03.2020

Biopolitical Times

Entering into surrogacy arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic is unwise and unsafe. It creates unnecessary risks and challenges for surrogates, egg providers, babies born, and intended parents. Additionally, the pandemic exacerbates power imbalances that existed pre-COVID between intended parents, and surrogates and egg providers.

Policies

Some Recent and Forthcoming Books on Human Genome Editing

By Pete Shanks | 11.12.2020

Several titles have caught our attention lately, three published in the past few weeks and two more announced for early 2021.

Human Genetic Modification

Now Online: Climate Crisis, Designer Babies and Pandemics

By CGS | 09.24.2020

In a wide-ranging conversation on September 22, a stellar panel grappled with an ambitious agenda announced by the event’s title: “Climate Crisis, Designer Babies and Pandemics: Challenging the Techno-Utopianism of the Genetically Engineered Age.” You can view and hear the...

Human Genetic Modification