News

23andMe’s DNA database is up for sale. Who might want it, and what for?

By Anumita Kaur [cites CGS’ Katie Hasson], The Washington Post | 03.25.2025

Genetic information company 23andMe has said that it is headed to bankruptcy court, raising questions for what happens to the DNA shared by millions of people with the company via saliva test kits.

Sunday’s announcement clears the way for a new...

Genomics

Center for Genetics and Society, et al. vs. Rob Bonta, et al.

By ACLU Northern California | 03.21.2025

In a long-standing lawsuit, the ACLU, on behalf of partner organizations and an individual taxpayer, is challenging the state of California for its retention of genetic samples and profiles from people arrested but never convicted of a felony.  

The complaint...

U.S. States

The couple who want to make America procreate again

By Anne Branigin, The Washington Post [cites CGS' Marcy Darnovsky] | 02.04.2025

Photo by TeggorMindFish via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

It's a...

Genetic Selection

Should We Use Gene Editing to Create Super Babies?

By Staff [cites CGS' Katie Hasson], The New York Times Upfront | 02.17.2025

A young couple wants to have a baby, but they’re worried it’ll carry a disease that runs in the family...

Bioethics
flag of japan on blue background

Amid discrimination, Japan's eugenics missteps could be repeated, expert warns

By Staff, Japan Times | 07.10.2024

Photo by Roméo A. on Unsplash

How did Japanese society, which was supposed to have transformed into a democracy after...

Other Countries
graphic of sperm donor

Netflix's 'Man With 1000 Kids' puts a spotlight on the lack of international regulations for sperm donors

By Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News | 07.09.2024

A Netflix docuseries has put a spotlight on the unregulated world of sperm donation, particularly the lack of stopgap measures...

Assisted Reproduction
ivf graphic on blue blackground

Victoria's IVF regulator is internationally awarded for its fertility services — now it's facing the axe

By Rachel Clayton, ABC News | 07.08.2024

In her early 30s, Michelle Galea wasn't convinced motherhood was for her.

"I didn't know if I wanted a child...

Policies
Black and white image of a women's rights demonstration related to reproductive health

RNC approves platform that would give rights to fetuses, endangering abortion, IVF

By Amanda Becker and Shefali Luthra, The 19th | 07.08.2024

Image by Duke University Archives from Flickr

Republicans have adopted a slate of policy positions ahead of next week’s convention...

Policies
DNA strands and moneybags on green background

Why isn’t gene therapy available to more patients? Blame millionaire prices and uncertainty as to its effectiveness

By Oriol Güell, El País | 07.07.2024

Image by Nick Youngson from Pix4free

Darius is 15 years old and is a dazzling example of how medical research...

Human Genetic Modification
synthetic embryo graphic

Work on synthetic human embryos to get code of practice in UK

By Ian Sample, The Guardian | 07.04.2024

Biological models of human embryos that can develop heartbeats, spinal cords and other distinctive features will be governed by a ...

Policies
Purple-colored sickle cells over a white background

A pill to treat sickle cell disease? Compound that activates fetal gene raises new hope

By Robert F. Service, Science | 07.04.2024

Image by Ed Uthman from Flickr

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two gene therapy procedures...

Human Genetic Modification
a photo of Japan's Supreme Court buildinghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supreme_Court_of_Japan_(10357245203).jpg

Court orders Japanese government to pay damages over forced sterilisations

By Justin McCurry, The Guardian | 07.03.2024

Photo "Supreme Court of Japan" by Big Ben Japan on Wikimedia Commons licensed under CC by SA 2.0

Japan’s supreme...

Society