Recent News

Public, private partners in a brave new world
North Jersey Media Group, June 22, 2005
In the relationship between the public and private biotechnology companies, national experts in medicine, science, commerce, and government suggest helpful guidelines. The article calls for realistic promises and accountability from biotech companies and researchers, patience from the public, and social policy to be set by the government.
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Geneticists Getting Close to Engineering Good Looks
ABC News; June 1, 2005
A new report from The Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University summarizes recent developments that make human germline genetic modification a closer reality (germline modifications successfully done in mice). The article calls for legislation to catch up to the speed of these emerging technologies, which can dramatically alter society. Finally, the article warns against the dangers of changing future generations by citing the U.S. and German eugenics movements of the past.
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Creating the stuff of life
The Independent ( UK ), March 16, 2005
The Hashmi family has recently brought attention to “designer babies.” Raj and Shahana Hashmi want to create a baby by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order for it to act as a donor for their six-year-old son Zain who suffers from a rare blood disorder. However, the term “designer babies” may take on new meaning with recent developments in artificial human chromosomes (HACs) which may make germline gene therapy possible. The HAC, acting as a complement to the 46 chromosomes that naturally occur in humans, can be made to replicate each time the cell divides thus every cell of the resulting baby carries the newly inserted gene including the baby's germ cells allowing it to pass the new gene to all future generations. Scientists believe that it will soon be possible to insert a HAC with genes that give resistance to HIV for example. Scientists say an examination of the policy, benefits, and challenges of these new reproductive technologies is imperative.
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