White House calls for limitations on human gene editing

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) said Tuesday that "altering the human germline for clinical purposes is a line that should not be crossed at this time" in a statement outlining the Administration's position on acceptable uses for gene editing technology.

In the statement, OSTP director John Holdren expressed concern over the unknown consequences of heritable genetic alterations for future generations. Holdren also emphasized the need for global cooperation in establishing guidelines for gene editing applications. ...