The 2018 revelation of the world's first gene-edited babies by He Jiankui raised ethical alarms, leading to his imprisonment for violating medical regulations. Mainstream scientific organizations now encourage careful basic research into gene editing and human reproduction, stressing that creating genetically modified children should remain off limits. However, interest from venture capitalists and entrepreneurs eager to address falling birth rates is reigniting discussions around gene editing, despite the ethical concerns and the unknown risks of the technology.
"Science is what made this nation great," said Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) on X. "Every breakthrough, and our economic growth has come from science and technology breakthroughs. Those aren't going to happen much in this Trump administration. It's a tragedy."