Scientists in Britain just got approval to conduct research that involves editing the genetic material of healthy human embryos.

This is a big deal: The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the first government agency in the world to endorse research that involves altering the human genome for research — a move that could signal broader acceptance for a promising (but controversial) new area of science.

The research team, led by Dr. Kathy Niakan at the UK's Francis Crick Institute, is trying to better understand which genes allow a healthy human embryo to develop. Niakan’s team will use a promising new technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, to edit genes that are active following conception. They'll then stop the experiments at day seven and destroy the embryos (so that they can't be used to start a pregnancy).

The hope is that this gene hacking could help researchers better understand what causes miscarriages and infertility — and perhaps one day lead to better treatments for infertility.

If Niakan's application gets approval from an ethics board, the research could start within months. But editing the human genome using CRISPR has not been without its critics.

This opens a Pandora's Box full of implications. Parents will want tall, smart, healthy kids and governments and corporations will want obedient drones.

CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.

And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"

I'm also wondering when Monsanto will get a patent on people.

This is an announcement from Genetic Control:

"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height."

Meh. .....they are already soulless, so does it matter?

CRISPR technology is fascinating. In addition to your Pandora's box, it also opens the possibility to fix and repair many genetic diseases, like Huntingtons or Lou Gehrig's disease.

And and always - it asks the question "because we can, does that mean we should?"

Seems that anything that can be used for good can also be abused.

Since Bart was in the conversation, I was thinking "guns".

I wonder if he'd be open to "human genetic editing" control?