Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Fears Of Entering Into A 'Designer Baby' Era Through Gene Editing Unfounded, Experts Say
The New York Times: Gene Editing For ‘Designer Babies’? Highly Unlikely, Scientists Say
Now that science is a big step closer to being able to fiddle with the genes of a human embryo, is it time to panic? Could embryo editing spiral out of control, allowing parents to custom-order a baby with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s imagination or Usain Bolt’s speed? (Belluck, 8/4)
The New York Times: Can Gene Editing Actually Do That?
This week, scientists reported that they had successfully edited harmful mutations out of genes in human embryos. It’s just the latest in a string of gene editing firsts facilitated by a system called Crispr-Cas9, which has enabled scientists, entrepreneurs -- even middle school students -- to snip, insert and delete genetic material with unprecedented precision and ease. (Murphy, 8/4)
