Biopolitical Times

The Center for Genetics and Society blog highlights the latest developments in the social, political, and ethical implications of human biotechnologies, with contributions from staff, fellows, consultants, and guest authors.

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two gene scientists editing DNA

On January 8, 2025, Nature published an article titled Heritable polygenic editing: the next frontier in genomic medicine? (The term polygenic refers to the fact that the effects of many genes generally influence any one outcome, such as height, or one disease.) The article is “open access” so feel free to follow the link

Using gene editing to alter the DNA of embryos or gametes in order to create genetically modified children is more than controversial, it is prohibited...

Biopolitical Times

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A recent undercover investigation by the UK organization Hope not Hate initially focused on far-right “race science” movements in Europe and the US. But following an intriguing set of ideological and financial connections, the Hope not Hate infiltrator unexpectedly found himself face to face with a newer phenomenon: Simone and Malcolm Collins, an American couple who, along with Elon Musk, are...

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It is hard to make predictions, especially about the future, as Yogi Berra, Niels Bohr, and other luminaries have remarked. But there are already signs that the incoming Trump administration may have some difficulty...

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What is the legal status of heritable human genome editing (HHGE)? In 2020, a comprehensive policy analysis by Baylis, Darnovsky, Hasson, and...