First-Ever Gene Editing Inside Body Raises Questions About Future of Human Species

NEW YORK—The genetics revolution has begun, in which scientists now have the ability to “hack the code of all of life, including our own” by manipulating the DNA that makes up the very foundation of our being, according to author and geopolitical expert, Jamie Metzl.

Mark Pennesi, M.D., Ph.D., who leads OHSU's involvement in the trial, center right, looks on as staff at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute perform the first-ever in vivo CRISPR gene edit procedure for the BRILLIANCE clinical trial. The study uses the gene-editing technology CRISPR to repair mutations in the CEP290 gene that cause a rare form of inherited blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis type 10. The trial is sponsored by Allergan plc. and Editas Medicine. OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

NEW YORK—The genetics revolution has begun as scientists now have the ability to “hack the code of all of life, including our own” by manipulating the DNA that makes up the very foundation of our being, according to genome editing expert Jamie Metzl.

Scientists two weeks ago altered the DNA of a patient inside the body for the first time, which is different from therapies used in the last few years where genes are edited outside the body. The procedure comes after a Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, was imprisoned in December for making gene-edited babies in 2018.