News

'Superbabies' Startup Seeks Funds for Controversial Gene Editing Push

By Sophie Alexander and Ike Swetlitz, Bloomberg | 06.25.2025

A California-startup focused on genetically editing human embryos — a step toward creating so-called designer babies — is raising money as many of Silicon Valley’s ultra-rich turn their attention to one of the most controversial technologies in medicine.

Bootstrap Bio...

Patents & Other IP

Can doctors test embryos for autism? And should they?

By Brittany Luse, Liam McBain, and Neena Pathak, NPR [cites CGS' Katie Hasson] | 05.28.2025

A newly available kind of genetic testing, called polygenic embryo screening, promises to screen for conditions that can include cancer, obesity, autism, bipolar disorder, even celiac disease. These conditions are informed by many genetic variants and environmental factors - so...

Genetic Selection

Why Deleting Your 23andMe Data Is a Political Imperative

By Katie Sagaser, The DNA Exchange | 05.27.2025

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are solely my own and do not represent those of my...

U.S. Federal

Trumpian “Common Sense” and the History of IQ Tests

By Pepper Stetler, Los Angeles Review of Books | 05.08.2025

"Donald Trump Signs The Pledge" by Michael Vadon 
is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

This is...

Society
Closeup of an eye being analyzed by biometric technology

History offers a cautionary tale for biometric covid tracking systems

By Michelle Spektor, The Washington Post | 02.03.2022

Places around the world are using biometric technologies for coronavirus contact tracing and surveillance. For example, a municipality in South...

Eugenics
Pregnant woman holding an ultrasound next to belly

I’m Thankful Every Day for the Decision I Made After My Prenatal Tests

By Amy Julia Becker, The New York Times | 02.01.2022

Our 16-year-old daughter, Penny, wakes up to the beeping of her alarm. On her way downstairs, she picks up her...

Perspectives
a bunch of sperm surrounding an egg

Washington lawmakers are considering criminalizing fertility fraud — but what exactly is that?

By Libby Denkmann and Sarah Leibovitz , NPR | 01.31.2022

Consumer DNA testing kits like 23andMe or Ancestry have opened up a new world of information for children conceived using...

U.S. States
Couple standing on a world map

“It’s going to be hugely stressful” – Irish couples expecting babies via surrogacy in Ukraine urged to contact DFA

By Amy Molloy, Independent.ie | 01.27.2022

Irish couples expecting babies via surrogacy in Ukraine are expected to receive special diplomatic assistance amid concerns over the security...

Other Countries
Baby crawling within a DNA fence

UK government advisers call for ‘proactive regulation’ around genomics

By Ian Sample, The Guardian | 01.26.2022

Before your child is born, you have their genome tweaked to boost their stature, build and intelligence. When they head...

Policies
checking creatine levels

Can an Equation to Help Determine Kidney Health Be Racist?

By Jill Neimark, Undark Magazine | 01.26.2022

"creatinine" by Lori Greig is licensed under CC 2.0

On the morning of June 19, 2020—Juneteenth, now a...

Bioethics
A scientist working in a lab

2022 State Legislative Efforts Bring New Hope For Those Struggling With Infertility

By Ellen Trachman, Above The Law | 01.26.2022

"GLERL Scientist uses Lab's Inverted Microscope" by 
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0...

Policies

‘Unproven and unethical’: experts warn against genetic embryo tests

By Linda Geddes, The Guardian | 01.25.2022

Experts have warned against the “unproven” and “unethical” use of genetic tests to predict the risk of complex diseases in...

Genetic Selection