@geneticsandsociety.bsky.social
James Watson, a scientist famous for ground-breaking work on DNA and notorious for expressing his antediluvian opinions, died on November 6, at the age of 97.
The cumulative controversies resurfaced by Watson’s death may destroy what is left of his scientific reputation.
The cumulative controversies resurfaced by Watson’s death may destroy what is left of his scientific reputation.
November 28, 2025 at 10:59 PM
James Watson, a scientist famous for ground-breaking work on DNA and notorious for expressing his antediluvian opinions, died on November 6, at the age of 97.
The cumulative controversies resurfaced by Watson’s death may destroy what is left of his scientific reputation.
The cumulative controversies resurfaced by Watson’s death may destroy what is left of his scientific reputation.
Giving Tuesday is coming up next week! Your contribution fuels our work to secure a just and inclusive future where human biotechnologies serve the common good.
center-for-genetics-...
center-for-genetics-...
November 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Giving Tuesday is coming up next week! Your contribution fuels our work to secure a just and inclusive future where human biotechnologies serve the common good.
center-for-genetics-...
center-for-genetics-...
Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project (DVP), liberationist, storyteller, writer, and friend of CGS, died 11/14. Alice was an important voice in the disability justice movement, critiquing ableism and vocally opposing heritable genome editing.
Remembering Disability Justice Warrior Alice Wong | Center for Genetics and Society
Alice Wong, founder of the
www.geneticsandsociety.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project (DVP), liberationist, storyteller, writer, and friend of CGS, died 11/14. Alice was an important voice in the disability justice movement, critiquing ableism and vocally opposing heritable genome editing.
Emile Torres explains the TESCREAL worldview, its connections to eugenics and IQ realism, and why figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman embrace visions of a post-human future that devalues human beings.
Tech Capitalists Don’t Care About Humans. Literally.
It’s not just a figure of speech to say tech titans are indifferent to humanity. From Peter Thiel to Elon Musk, many are adherents of a worldview that envisions humans being replaced by digital post-humans and sees this as progress.
jacobin.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Emile Torres explains the TESCREAL worldview, its connections to eugenics and IQ realism, and why figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman embrace visions of a post-human future that devalues human beings.
Silicon Valley titans are funding genetic and reproductive technologies to bring us closer to a world of genetically engineered humanity –– one designed to establish current economic elites as future biological elites.
November 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Silicon Valley titans are funding genetic and reproductive technologies to bring us closer to a world of genetically engineered humanity –– one designed to establish current economic elites as future biological elites.
Several companies are claiming to offer “pet cloning,” a technique that creates a genetic twin of a pet for a hefty price tag. Despite criticism of the practice, it’s also being tested as a way to increase the population of endangered species, like the black-footed ferret.
Cloning isn’t just for celebrity pets like Tom Brady’s dog
Yes, you can pay $50,000 to clone a pet. But others are using the technology to rescue endangered species.
www.technologyreview.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Several companies are claiming to offer “pet cloning,” a technique that creates a genetic twin of a pet for a hefty price tag. Despite criticism of the practice, it’s also being tested as a way to increase the population of endangered species, like the black-footed ferret.
Neurotech researchers are frustrated w/ Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs’ public enthusiasm for “sci-fi” transhumanist ventures like brain uploading. The focus on these unrealistic ventures distracts from near-term neurotech treatments for paralysis and other conditions.
Investors’ ‘dumb transhumanist ideas’ setting back neurotech progress, say experts
Fascination of investors such as Elon Musk with uploading their brains to computers is hindering progress in curing disease, say scientists
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Neurotech researchers are frustrated w/ Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs’ public enthusiasm for “sci-fi” transhumanist ventures like brain uploading. The focus on these unrealistic ventures distracts from near-term neurotech treatments for paralysis and other conditions.
Two gene therapy companies are blaming chaos within the FDA for setbacks in approval for their treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, but it’s possible that the data the agency reviewed made it clear that neither was ready for approval.
The FDA is a mess, but don't blame it for everything
Is turmoil at the FDA to blame for drugmakers' setbacks? It's not necessarily that simple.
www.statnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Two gene therapy companies are blaming chaos within the FDA for setbacks in approval for their treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, but it’s possible that the data the agency reviewed made it clear that neither was ready for approval.
Unregulated sperm donor groups that operate on social media are an increasingly popular alternative to clinic-based sperm donation arrangements in the UK. 1/2
November 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Unregulated sperm donor groups that operate on social media are an increasingly popular alternative to clinic-based sperm donation arrangements in the UK. 1/2
In a new audio documentary, Alison Motluk speaks with scholars studying egg freezing and women who have undergone the procedure to understand the social politics, gender realities, and business of egg freezing. @alisonmotluk.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/listen/li...
www.cbc.ca/listen/li...
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
In a new audio documentary, Alison Motluk speaks with scholars studying egg freezing and women who have undergone the procedure to understand the social politics, gender realities, and business of egg freezing. @alisonmotluk.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/listen/li...
www.cbc.ca/listen/li...
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from stem cell clinics that challenged the FDA’s authority to regulate unproven stem cell treatments. 1/2
November 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from stem cell clinics that challenged the FDA’s authority to regulate unproven stem cell treatments. 1/2
CGS’ Katie Hasson weighs in on recent HGE efforts: “This idea that we would produce genetically engineered children who have ‘better’ genes than others… this is an idea of biological hierarchy that we’ve seen have incredibly harmful effects throughout history.”
www.audacy.com/podca...
www.audacy.com/podca...
November 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
CGS’ Katie Hasson weighs in on recent HGE efforts: “This idea that we would produce genetically engineered children who have ‘better’ genes than others… this is an idea of biological hierarchy that we’ve seen have incredibly harmful effects throughout history.”
www.audacy.com/podca...
www.audacy.com/podca...
Surrogacy is illegal in Taiwan, but some Taiwanese intended parents travel abroad for surrogacy arrangements. 1/2
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Surrogacy is illegal in Taiwan, but some Taiwanese intended parents travel abroad for surrogacy arrangements. 1/2
Flouting near-global consensus against heritable genome editing and laws that ban such a practice, a San Francisco startup, Preventive, has initiated efforts to create a child born from an embryo edited to prevent hereditary disease. 1/3 www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Flouting near-global consensus against heritable genome editing and laws that ban such a practice, a San Francisco startup, Preventive, has initiated efforts to create a child born from an embryo edited to prevent hereditary disease. 1/3 www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
The country of Georgia has become a hub for compensated surrogacy, especially for Australian intended parents, but unethical practices and exploitation have raised significant concerns about the industry and the limited regulations governing it.
Hundreds of Australians are heading to Russia's doorstep to have babies
The international surrogacy market attracts hundreds of Australians each year, but one country in particular has become a top destination for people wishing to start their families.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The country of Georgia has become a hub for compensated surrogacy, especially for Australian intended parents, but unethical practices and exploitation have raised significant concerns about the industry and the limited regulations governing it.
United Therapeutics has started the first clinical trial to transplant gene-edited pig kidneys into people at NYU Langone. The initial trial will include 6 people but could expand. 1/2
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
United Therapeutics has started the first clinical trial to transplant gene-edited pig kidneys into people at NYU Langone. The initial trial will include 6 people but could expand. 1/2
Researchers working on artificial womb technologies hope to construct a womb-like environment that can support the development of premature infants. 1/2
November 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Researchers working on artificial womb technologies hope to construct a womb-like environment that can support the development of premature infants. 1/2
Last year, researchers produced the first personalized base-editing gene therapy to treat an infant’s metabolic disorder. Now, they are launching a clinical trial to test the use of base editing techniques for other children’s similar genetic conditions.
Personalized gene editing helped one baby: can it be rolled out widely?
Nature - In a world first, a bespoke gene-editing therapy benefited one child. Now researchers plan to launch a clinical trial of the approach.
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Last year, researchers produced the first personalized base-editing gene therapy to treat an infant’s metabolic disorder. Now, they are launching a clinical trial to test the use of base editing techniques for other children’s similar genetic conditions.
An international gamete bank offered Australian IVF companies a "reward" scheme in which patient purchases of donor egg and sperm would earn the clinic “credits” to cover other patients’ gamete costs. 1/2
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
An international gamete bank offered Australian IVF companies a "reward" scheme in which patient purchases of donor egg and sperm would earn the clinic “credits” to cover other patients’ gamete costs. 1/2
Some environmental groups are proposing a moratorium on the release of genetically modified species into the wild because of the risks such ventures involve.
www.npr.org/2025/10/...
www.npr.org/2025/10/...
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Some environmental groups are proposing a moratorium on the release of genetically modified species into the wild because of the risks such ventures involve.
www.npr.org/2025/10/...
www.npr.org/2025/10/...
Although He Jiankui’s reckless experiments genetically editing embryos led to jail time, outcry from the scientific community, and a reaffirmation of the near-global consensus against heritable genome editing, two US startups just announced similar efforts to pursue HGE. 1/3
‘Biotech Barbie’ says the time has come to consider CRISPR babies. Do scientists agree?
Nature - A company’s plan to edit the genomes of human embryos worries some researchers — but it might reflect the changing attitudes towards the controversial approach.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Although He Jiankui’s reckless experiments genetically editing embryos led to jail time, outcry from the scientific community, and a reaffirmation of the near-global consensus against heritable genome editing, two US startups just announced similar efforts to pursue HGE. 1/3
A top FDA regulator has announced that the agency plans to relax its strict rules for gene therapy development in an effort to fast-track gene therapies and boost investment in experimental treatments.
FDA clears way for faster personalized gene editing therapy
The FDA plans to unveil a new approval process for custom gene-editing, a move designed to unleash a wave of industry investment. Read on
financialpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A top FDA regulator has announced that the agency plans to relax its strict rules for gene therapy development in an effort to fast-track gene therapies and boost investment in experimental treatments.
Social and religious conservatives’ yearlong efforts to lobby the Trump administration against IVF subsidies and coverage mandates have paid off. Trump’s recently announced policy proposals fall short of the robust IVF expansion he promised during his campaign.
‘The pro-life movement still has some real juice’: How Trump’s promise of free IVF fizzled
A lobbying blitz by social and religious conservatives paid off last week when Trump announced policies that fell short of his promise to make fertility treatments, which they oppose, free.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Social and religious conservatives’ yearlong efforts to lobby the Trump administration against IVF subsidies and coverage mandates have paid off. Trump’s recently announced policy proposals fall short of the robust IVF expansion he promised during his campaign.
Immigration crackdowns and attempts to persuade women to have more babies stem are both tied to far right attempts to link population and purity with pronatalism –– a set of concerns that echoes early 20th century eugenic preoccupations with racial purity. 1/3 www.npr.org/2025/10/...
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Immigration crackdowns and attempts to persuade women to have more babies stem are both tied to far right attempts to link population and purity with pronatalism –– a set of concerns that echoes early 20th century eugenic preoccupations with racial purity. 1/3 www.npr.org/2025/10/...
Powerful pronatalists’ support for childbearing only extends to those they deem fit to reproduce –– rich, white, able-bodied and cisgender married couples. Their policies continue centuries of efforts to control the reproduction of people of color. 1/2
November 7, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Powerful pronatalists’ support for childbearing only extends to those they deem fit to reproduce –– rich, white, able-bodied and cisgender married couples. Their policies continue centuries of efforts to control the reproduction of people of color. 1/2