Experts back genome editing in human embryo research

Researchers should be allowed to edit the human genome in embryos and germ cells but only to better understand developmental biology, not for clinical or reproductive purposes, an international group of scientists, bioethicists, and policy experts has said.1

The Hinxton Group describes itself as “an informal collection of individuals interested in ethical and well-regulated science” and meets to discuss ethical and policy issues of international importance in stem cell and embryo research.

The group’s latest meeting focused on genome editing in the early stages of human development, when changes could be integrated into the germline and have the possibility of …