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.

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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
a graphic of a masked doctor opting for one gene over another

Breeding for IQ

By Emily R. Klancher Merchant, Los Angeles Review of Books | 08.22.2024

IN THE Operation Varsity Blues scandal of 2019, 50 wealthy parents were charged with trying to get their children into...

Genetic Selection
Gene Editing

Beyond gene-edited babies: the possible paths for tinkering with human evolution

By Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review | 08.22.2024

In 2016, I attended a large meeting of journalists in Washington, DC. The keynote speaker was Jennifer Doudna, who just...

Genetic Selection
four skull on a black background

The Far Right Is Becoming Obsessed With Race and IQ

By Ali Breland, The Atlantic | 08.20.2024

“Joining us now is Steve Sailer, who I find to be incredibly interesting, and one of the most talented noticers...

Bioethics
a graphic of gene editing

Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later

By Julia Brown, The Conversation | 08.16.2024

With their primary goal to advance scientific knowledge, most scientists are not trained or incentivized to think through the societal...

Human Genetic Modification
JD Vance

Vance’s ‘cat ladies’ remarks have dark historical legacy

By Jacob M. Apel, The Baltimore Sun | 08.16.2024

"J.D. Vance" by Gage Skidmore licensed under CC by S.A. 2.0

Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, the Republican...

Society
Trump

Donald Trump Relies on Eugenics Concepts, UT Prof Argues in New Book

By Neha Kondaveeti, The Austin Chronicle | 08.16.2024

"Donald Trump Signs The Pledge 11" by Michael Vadon licensed under CC by SA 4.0

“They’re poisoning the...

U.S. Federal
man holding cup with photo of sperm

Sperm donors are anonymous in Canada. Adult children are finding their roots anyway.

By Alison Motluk, Broadview | 08.15.2024

Canada has been slow to end anonymous paternity, but cheap and easy genetic testing makes staying unknown all but impossible. ...

Policies
yellow pill bottle with orange pills spilling out

Medicare negotiated drug prices for the first time. Here’s what it got

By Sydney Lupkin and Asma Khalid, NPR | 08.15.2024

The White House unveiled the fruits of months of negotiations between the government and pharmaceutical companies: new, lower Medicare prices...

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