explore -WSS

explore

author：hotspot 2025-09-02 08:24:14 - browse：14

The gene edited twin girls, nicknamed Lulu and Nana, were born premature at an undisclosed hospital in China. — The birth of genetically engineered twin girls, nicknamed Lulu and Nana, at an undisclosed hospital in China, was announced in November 2018 — a few weeks after the event. Courtesy Alexey_ds/Getty Images

In May of 2017, Samira Kiani found herself in a San Diego hotel ballroom surrounded by some of the CRISPR field’s brightest shining stars. Jennifer Doudna, George Church, and others were all there at the behest of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to talk about gene drives — a CRISPR-enabled technology that forces a genetic trait through a population at evolutionary warp speed — and what they as scientists could do to build guardrails around them. Later that summer, DARPA would devote $65 million to funding some of these efforts, through its Safe Genes program.

Kiani, a geneticist at the Arizona State University who had worked with Church to advance CRISPR-based genetic circuits while a postdoc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was relieved to see such standout scientists taking the safety and controllability of these technologies seriously. But as the months went by, she realized that the labor they were doing was largely confined to their laboratories. Although talk that day in May had centered around the need for societies to be informed about how fast this science was moving, no one was doing the work of starting a public dialogue.

So in November of that year, she called up filmmaker Cody Sheehy, and they started talking about making a documentary together. “Very early on we wanted to make a film that would tell the story of the humans behind the work, and not science itself,” said Kiani. She used her connections in the world of gene editing to find a few interesting subjects to follow; they included Church and MIT Technology Review reporter Antonio Regalado. Filming began before the year was out.

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe Log In

Previous article： At least 13 dead in Texas as scorching temps continue
Next article： Boeing's 1st astronaut flight bumped into next year, more repairs needed

focus

WSS

Thousands of Marines and sailors deploy to Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships

NYC plans to house migrants on an island in the East River

Neuroscience renaissance leads to new crop of psychiatric drugs

Readout Newsletter: The latest on Amylyx, Moderna, Novavax

Neuroscience renaissance leads to new crop of psychiatric drugs

Elisabeth Bik tackles the widespread issue of research misconduct

hotspot

explore

explore

FDA approval of Sarepta Duchenne genetic therapy gives me hope

Children’s Hospital revives plan for pedestrian bridge

George Santos makes 1st court appearance after pleading not guilty to 13 counts

Doctor of U.S. President Joe Biden says he is fit for duty

Wildfire smoke exposes gaps in outdoor worker protections

Readout Newsletter: Beam, Prozac, "TechBio" and more

Apple is now the first public company to be valued at $3 trillion

Change Healthcare cyberattack shows risk of industry consolidation

Bright Health sells Medicare Advantage business to Molina

Tesla CFO Zachary Kirkhorn steps down, but will remain with company through year's end

focus

Thousands in Haiti march to demand safety from violent gangs as killings and kidnappings soar

Thousands of Marines and sailors deploy to Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships

3 dead in firefighting helicopter crash in California after midair collision with 2nd helicopter

Appeals court upholds Josh Duggar's conviction for downloading child sex abuse images

Thousands of Marines and sailors deploy to Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships

Elisabeth Bik tackles the widespread issue of research misconduct

entertainment

leisure time

focus

hotspot