Recently, a scientific milestone hit the headlines, raising a flurry of excitement and concern.Scientists used a rapidly rising and powerful new gene editingtechnique, CRISPR, to “correct” a genetic mutation linked to aninherited heart condition, in human embryos. The accomplishmentbrings us closer to a day when doctors could eliminate the root causeof certain inherited diseases by modifying human DNA. Along withexcitement, there is a growing awareness of the need to carefullycontrol such technologies that could permanently alterthe human condition.
Thanks to decades ofresearch, we now stand on the verge of what many see as a revolution ingenetic medicine.