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 the ivf process on a blue background

I.V.F. Threats in Alabama Drive Clinics to Ship Out Embryos

By Azeen Ghorayshi and Sarah Kliff, The New York Times | 08.12.2024

An emerging movement against in vitro fertilization is driving some doctors and patients in red states to move or destroy...

Assisted Reproduction
a humanoid robot with blue skin surrounded by other similar robots

Go West, Weird Man. The oddballs of the MAGA movement have nothing on Silicon Valley transhumanists.

By Émile P. Torres, Truthdig | 08.08.2024

Image by Julien Tromeur from Unsplash

The latest Democratic line of attack targeting Trump, his running mate JD Vance...

A "Post-Human" Future?
sickle cells graphic

Sickle cell disease in India: The quest for a cure

By Priyanka Runwal, Chemical and Engineering News | 08.05.2024

Saritee Sanodiya, 26, has spent countless days wondering if she’ll ever live a “normal” life. Growing up, Sanodiya often missed...

Stem Cells
Image of Sam Altman speaking in front of a purple background

OpenAI’s Sam Altman is becoming one of the most powerful people on Earth. We should be very afraid

By Gary Marcus, The Guardian | 08.03.2024

Image by TechCrunch from Flickr licensed under CC by 2.0

On 16 May 2023, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s charming, softly...

Biotech & Pharma
Japanese flag on blue building

First settlement reached for forced sterilization plaintiff in Japan

By Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times | 07.31.2024

A court-mediated settlement was reached Wednesday between the state and a Tokyo plaintiff in a forced sterilization case — the...

Other Countries
Image of the front of the white house

Project 2025 decried as racist. Some contributors have trail of racist writings, activity

By Will Carless, USA Today | 07.29.2024
U.S. Federal
Green sign stating disability rights = civil rights

5 Ways to Teach Disability History in Social Studies Class

By Kara Newhouse, KQED | 07.29.2024
Civil Society
Protest with people holding a banner stating "Stop Project 2025"

Project 2025 Isn’t Just Anti-Abortion. It Attacks Surrogacy, IVF, Contraception.

By Eleanor J. Bader, Truthout | 07.27.2024

"41.Rally.StopProject2025.WDC.27January2024" by Elvert Barnes licensed under CC by SA 2.0

Early childhood educator Sammi Gerken, a married mother...

U.S. Federal