If We Can Make Genetically Engineered Designer Babies - Should We?

如果我们能够制造基因工程定制婴儿——我们是否应该这样做?

New Scientist Podcasts

2026-06-15

19 分钟
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Episode 377 Considered too dangerous and unreliable a few years ago, the technology for gene editing babies is advancing fast. Improved methods of using CRISPR gene editing are making the technique safer and more targeted. But does that mean we should be creating designer babies? A new, more powerful version of CRISPR has already saved lives by correcting cells in children linked to leukaemia. But editing human embryos is a different story - and less safe. Despite this, researchers have been studying whether it’s possible. To discuss the obstacles that still need to be overcome and the ethical challenges, Rowan Hooper is joined by reporter Michael Le Page.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  • In 2018, two girls were born in China who were the first ever genetically modified humans.

  • They were followed a little bit after by a third girl who'd also been gene-edited.

  • They'd all been grown from embryos gene-edited with the intent to give them immunity to HIV.

  • But the process didn't work out as planned.

  • And the scientist who made those embryos, Hei Zhangqu, he was jailed for three years, he was fined,

  • and it's illegal to modify human embryos in most of the world.

  • But there is a lot of funding.

  • Nevertheless, a lot of funding flowing into this area.

  • This week we're going to report on research that has a direct bearing

  • on this because it gets rid of some of those problems that occurred in 2018 with those three girls.

  • So the question is, are we getting closer to be able to safely gene-edit babies, to make designer babies so-called?

  • And when might that happen, if so?

  • From New Scientist, this is the world, the universe and us.

  • I'm Dr. Rowan Hooper.