Researchers call for global moratorium, not outright ban, on germline editing

In the latest move by the scientific community to clamp down on rogue germline gene editing, a group of prominent scientists and ethicists is calling for a global moratorium on clinical uses of the technique and proposes it should remain in place until an international framework sets conditions under which it may be permitted.

The authors emphasize that the moratorium is not a permanent ban, rather a path to enabling safe use of the technology, putting a stake in the ground that germline gene editing will have legitimate and beneficial uses in some circumstances...