Puzzling cosmic signals, processed food defined and more reader feedback
To edit or not
A controversial paper about modifying genes in fertilized human eggs raised some serious ethical concerns. Tina Hesman Saey covered researchers’ arguments for and against this type of genetic engineering in “Editing human germline cells debated” (SN: 5/30/15, p. 16).
Many readers embraced the idea of making permanent changes to human DNA. “If someone wants to genetically modify themselves or their offspring, why should somebody else’s antiquated morals stop them?” asked nkj123. “It’s only a matter of time before we learn to cure diseases, improve health and increase life span. These experiments will happen, because many of us are not clinging to rigid notions of what it is to be human.” In an e-mail, Justin Cody urged researchers to proceed with caution when tinkering with egg and sperm cells, but added, “we should be promoting the future of the species aggressively and wringing our hands a lot less.”