Editing Genes In Human Embryos Doesn't Mean Designer Babies

TheAlexKnapp writes: Dr. Kathy Niakan, who is leading the scientific team that just got the go-ahead to edit genes in human embryos, explains why their work won't lead to designer babies. The genes that they're looking at, she says, are unique to the human embryo, and the work's sole purpose is to understand early development. "We can use this new method that's extremely precise and efficient to ask questions about early development that has profound importance for stem cell biology, and for our understanding of why some embryos fail to thrive." But really ... how long until it turns into designer babies?

Comments

yes it does

[Anonymous Coward]

Ever since we found out what genes are, and what they do, EVERY advancement in the field has contributed to exactly this, designer babies. Nobody wants to admit it but lets be honest, it is actually a major goal. We all want to improve ourselves and our offspring. It is part of the struggle for survival, it is in our competitive nature, it is instinct.
We WILL use any means we can to gain a competitive advantage and those that don't compete will lose by default. Designer babies will happen and in the long run it will likely become the norm.

Re:Racing races

[Immerman]

And it's important to keep in mind that just because you have a hundred people with the drive and creativity of Jobs, that doesn't mean that *any* of them will be anywhere near as dramatically successful. A great deal in the world depends on chance - on being in the right place at the right time to make your first fortune so that you have the resources to play in the major leagues.