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.

The Push to Change the 14-Day Rule

By Pete Shanks | 03.10.2021

In recent weeks, at least four publications (1, 2, 3, 4) have urged a change to the “14-day rule” that represents a widely accepted limit on in vitro research involving the cultivation of human embryos. Some call for changing the limit to 28 days, another suggests “increments of 2 or 3 days,” up to at least 18 days. The Hastings Center recently issued a Report on Rethinking Human Embryo Research Policies, which focuses...

Assisted Reproduction

There Be Gold in Them Thar Genes

By Pete Shanks | 02.24.2021

Biopolitical Times

We were shocked — shocked — to learn that 23andMe is cashing in on its customers’ spit. $3.5 billion, the company is worth, they say, now that it’s going public. That is an awful lot of $99 gene tests! Except that the business model is not, and never has been, about cash flow from individual customers. No, the big money is in leasing out genetic data to pharmaceutical companies and other researchers.

Forgive us, just this once: We told...

Genomics

Australia’s Parliament Should Maintain the Laws that Prohibit "Mitochondrial Donation"

By Katherine Drabiak, Guest Contributor | 03.11.2021

^{Photo by Michael on Unsplash}

The Australian government is currently considering legalizing “mitochondrial donation,” also known as “3-person IVF.” Australian law currently prohibits creating embryos using DNA from more than two people. The prohibition is found in the...

Human Genetic Modification

The Biden Administration and Genetically Engineered Bioweapons Research

By Gwen D’Arcangelis, Guest Contributor | 01.07.2021

Living under the COVID-19 pandemic has justifiably created fear and uncertainty about germs and their evolving contagiousness and lethality.

Synthetic Biology

Biopolitical Times

The Push to Change the 14-Day Rule

There Be Gold in Them Thar Genes

Australia’s Parliament Should Maintain the Laws that Prohibit "Mitochondrial Donation"

The Biden Administration and Genetically Engineered Bioweapons Research

Biden’s Science Appointments

What is US Policy on Heritable Genome Editing? What’s Expected in the New Administration?

CGS in 2020

Notable Blog Posts in 2020

A Misleading Poll on Human Genetic Technologies

Transhuman Selfishness as Governing Principle

Surrogacy: New Challenges to Law and Ethics

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