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.

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Since the “CRISPR babies” scandal in 2018, no additional genetically modified babies are known to have been born. Now several techno-enthusiastic billionaires are setting up privately funded companies to genetically edit human embryos, with the explicit intention of creating genetically modified children.    

Heritable genome editing remains prohibited by policies in the overwhelming majority of countries that have any relevant policy, and by a binding European treaty. Support for keeping it legally off limits is widespread, including among scientists...

Biopolitical Times

Last week, May 21–23, a broad range of experts gathered in Boston to discuss the future of powerful biotechnologies with the potential to change what it means to be human. The fourth in a series of international Summits on human genome editing, this event was organized by the Global Observatory for Genome Editing, which “seeks to expand the range of questions arising at the frontiers of emerging biotechnologies … and fosters international, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral dialogue.” Like previous Summits...

"BXP135660" by tableatny is
licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Last week, Wired published a substantial, deeply reported article on a topic that has been hyped for decades:

The Definitive, Insane, Swimsuit-Bursting Story of the Steroid Olympics
by...

The Center for Genetics and Society mourns the loss of long-time colleague George Annas, who died on May 30. A remembrance at Bioethics Today calls George an “unwavering defender of human rights” and “a brilliant communicator, an intellectual pioneer, a...