Would You Like Blue Eyes and Blonde Hair With That?

In 2015, the paradigm of genetic engineering shifted, however “for better or for worse?” is the question. He Jiankui, a Chinese biophysicist, spearheaded the project that created the world’s first gene-edited babies. Using the versatile gene-editing technology CRISPR, his team eliminated a gene called CCR5. This modification rendered the genomes of the human IVF embryos that became Lulu and Nana resistant to HIV, smallpox, and cholera (Regalado). Not only did he face acute scrutiny from the international scientific community, but he has also been sentenced to prison for three years for his…