A West Coast biotech entrepreneur has announced the establishment of a public-benefit company, Preventive, aimed at researching genetically edited embryos. The venture has secured $30 million in funding, marking what appears to be the largest investment in this area. The primary focus of Preventive is on “heritable genome editing,” a process which involves modifying the DNA of embryos to either eliminate harmful mutations or introduce beneficial genes, with the intention of preventing diseases.
The practice of creating genetically edited humans raises significant ethical and regulatory concerns. Historically, the first scientist to conduct such an experiment faced imprisonment for three years due to the controversial nature of the work. In many jurisdictions, including the United States, heritable genome editing is prohibited, and the potential medical benefits continue to be a topic of debate.
In a separate development, a startup named Still Bright is working on innovative methods to produce copper more sustainably. With increasing demand for copper and the environmental impact associated with traditional production methods, the company’s approach involves using water-based chemical reactions derived from battery technology. This process aims to reduce pollution compared to conventional smelting and could contribute to alleviating pressure on the copper supply chain.
Both initiatives reflect broader trends in biotechnology and environmental sustainability, though they navigate complex regulatory and ethical landscapes.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/03/1127483/the-download-gene-edited-babies-and-cleaning-up-copper/