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
Image is a graphic of an individual holding a vial that is depicted to contain sperm, with a graphic right next to it showing this being recorded on a piece of paper.

This Black Kansas woman couldn't find a sperm donor who looks like her. It's a nationwide problem

By Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, NPR | 05.14.2024

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kansas — Ever since she was little, Sharla knew she wanted to be a mom. Sharla has...

U.S. Federal
Image shows a pipet inserting some sort of liquid into petri dish under a microscope.

Study Reveals Public Opinion on Polygenic Embryo Screening for IVF

By Stephanie Dutchen, Harvard Medical School | 05.14.2024

At a glance: 

Survey reveals nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults support using emerging technology to screen embryos during IVF for...

Assisted Reproduction
Image of many bubbles that appear to be multicolored against a dark background.

Great Ormond Street hoping to license gene therapy for ‘bubble baby’ syndrome

By Hannah Devlin, The Guardian | 05.14.2024

Photo by Kind and Curious from Unsplash

When Great Ormond Street hospital (Gosh) published the results of its gene therapy...

Human Genetic Modification
a multicolor DNA strand dissolving onto a yellow background

The DNA Test Delusion

By Kristen V. Brown, Bloomberg | 05.14.2024

Answers to our greatest questions, we were told about a decade ago, could be ours if we just spat in...

Patents & Other IP
deaf community graphic

A ‘miracle cure’ for deafness? For people like me, here’s why that isn’t our dream

By Oliver James Campbell, The Guardian | 05.13.2024

As someone who has been hard of hearing since I was a teenager, I read with great interest about the...

Society
Man is shown typing on his laptop analyzing various data visualizations, such as pie charts, line graphs and bar graphs.

Americans overwhelmingly say access to IVF is a good thing

By Gabriel Borelli, Pew Research Center | 05.13.2024

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

The political debate around access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) intensified this year,  following...

U.S. Federal
Image shows a pediatrician with short blond hair inspecting a baby's right ear.

Deaf baby hears for the first time after ‘groundbreaking’ gene therapy trial

By Victoria Bisset and Adela Suliman, The Washington Post | 05.09.2024

Photo by CDC from Unsplash

A baby girl born with profound genetic deafness can now hear unaided after receiving a...

Human Genetic Modification
a photo of New York City Hall

A gay couple couldn’t access IVF benefits. They’re suing New York City.

By Maham Javaid, The Washington Post | 05.09.2024

"New York City Hall" by Aude is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED

New York City is denying...

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