Gene editing is on the horizon — and we’re not ready

+ young Americans could decide the election – if they vote US Edition - Today's top story: Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [EMDR eye movement therapy shows promise for trauma and negative beliefs]( - [West Nile virus is ramping up – what to know]( - [Catch our stories on dementia, dinos and being weird? Take our news quiz to check]( Lead story Cutting-edge biotechnologies are transforming lives and curing what had been incurable diseases. But the scientists developing the foundations for these treatments don’t typically have the training or even the incentives to figure out what new technologies mean for society. Bioethicist and medical anthropologist Julia Brown provides [an overview of an emerging technique known as prenatal gene editing](, where the genes of a fetus are modified to, for example, address a genetic disorder. It’s different from embryo editing of designer baby fame, and in theory it wouldn’t alter the genes of any future descendants down the line, just the fetus itself. Although still years from being tested in humans, it could change the game for treating genetic disease early – literally before the patient’s birth. But it comes with a host of ethical questions. To address the broad implications, there needs to be a wider discussion about this type of technology, Brown writes: “You can’t really anticipate how technologies might benefit society without any input from people in society.” [ [The latest on philanthropy and nonprofits. Sign up for our weekly Giving Today newsletter](. ] Mary Magnuson Associate Science Editor The development of gene-editing technology has led to many ethical questions. PhonlamaiPhoto/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later]( Julia Brown, University of California, San Francisco In the absence of clear-cut regulation, who should decide on where and how a technology that could change the course of human health should be applied? Politics + Society - [Most young voters support Kamala Harris − but that doesn’t guarantee they will show up at the polls]( John Holbein, University of Virginia Voter turnout among young people is historically low in the United States. And there is indication that a relatively small percentage of young voters could cast their ballot in November. - [US military presence in Syria carries substantial risks, but so does complete withdrawal]( Sefa Secen, The Ohio State University The US maintains close to 1,000 troops in Syria and supports Kurdish groups in the northeast and some opposition groups in the southeast. Arts + Culture - [His crayon is purple – but is Harold a Black boy?]( Philip Nel, Kansas State University The choices of author and illustrator Crockett Johnson during the printing process – as well as his civil rights advocacy – make it entirely within the realm of possibility. Science + Technology - [Complicated app settings are a threat to user privacy]( Joseph K. Nwankpa, Miami University Knowing you should set your apps’ privacy permissions might not be enough to protect you. A cybersecurity expert explains how complicated privacy settings can trip you up. - [Archaeologists conduct first ‘space excavation’ on International Space Station – and discover surprising quirks of zero-gravity life]( Justin St. P. Walsh, Chapman University; Alice Gorman, Flinders University Where do astronauts keep their toiletries? What’s with all the velcro? Here’s what we learned from doing archaeology on the International Space Station. Environment + Energy - [US has its first national strategy to reduce plastic pollution − here are 3 strong points and 1 big gap]( Sarah J. Morath, Wake Forest University Better measuring standards, more responsibility for producers and an end to single-use products are all positive steps. But the US has not yet endorsed a cap on plastic production. Health + Medicine - [Hard-to-treat traumas and painful memories may be treatable with EMDR – a trauma therapist explains why it is gaining popularity]( Laurel Niep, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or EMDR, can help patients process painful memories and reduce anxiety and depression stemming from those events. - [West Nile virus season returns − a medical epidemiologist explains how it’s transmitted and how you can avoid it]( Daniel Pastula, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Most people who get infected with West Nile virus have mild symptoms, but in certain cases the illness can become serious or even deadly. International - [Mpox outbreak in Africa was neglected – it could now turn into the next global pandemic]( Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cheryl Baxter, Stellenbosch University; Jean Nachega, Stellenbosch University The global health system needs to wake up to the reality that an outbreak in one part of the world is a concern for everyone. Trending on site - [Americans love free speech, survey finds − until they realize everyone else has it, too]( - [Imane Khelif’s gold medal run shows how sex testing in women’s sports puts regulators in an impossible bind]( - [3 years after fall of Kabul, US Congress has still not acted to secure future of more than 70,000 Afghan evacuees in US]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which potential treatment for PTSD did the FDA reject last Friday? - A. Turmeric - B. Zyn - C. Ketamine - D. MDMA [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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