Editing Humanity

August 21, 2015

(The Economist) – That is a Rubicon some will not want to cross. Many scientists, including one of CRISPR’s inventors, want a moratorium on editing “germ line” cells—those that give rise to subsequent generations. America’s National Academy of Sciences plans a conference to delve into CRISPR’s ethics. The debate is sorely needed. CRISPR is a boon, but it raises profound questions. These fall into two categories: practical and philosophical.