The Promise and Perils of Gene Editing

An experimental genetic science that can be used on people is quietly becoming widely available

Gene editing promises a precision tweak the human genome though scientists have no idea the long-term implications of these manipulations. Natali_ Mis/Shutterstock

With little public discussion, a new technology with unknown potential to change the very building blocks of a human being is operating in a weakly regulated grey zone.

While proponents hope gene editing can revolutionize the future of medicine, the implications of the technology remain largely unknown. Scientists say that with just a few tweaks to our genome, we may one day be able to treat or cure diseases.