"Manhattan Genomics of New York closed abruptly shortly after announcing a team of scientific advisers, including a prominent fertility doctor and a data scientist from Colossal Biosciences."
"Germline editing, which involves editing DNA in human embryos, is controversial because changes made would be passed on to future generations, raising ethical concerns."
"The safety and efficacy of germline editing remain unproven, with worries about unintended harmful 'off-target' edits and the potential for enhancement purposes."
"The prospect of gene-edited babies has been revived by biotech entrepreneurs and investors, but the path to a viable business in this area is fraught with challenges."
Manhattan Genomics and Bootstrap Bio, both launched last year to create gene-edited babies, have ceased operations. Manhattan Genomics closed shortly after announcing a scientific advisory team, while Bootstrap Bio shut down in late 2025. Their goal was to edit DNA in human embryos to prevent serious diseases, a controversial practice known as germline editing. Concerns include unproven safety, potential harmful edits, and the risk of using the technology for enhancements. The idea of gene-edited babies has gained attention from biotech entrepreneurs despite ethical and legal challenges.
Read at WIRED
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