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CRISPR gene-editing urgently needs an off-switch – now we have one

13 January 2021

Making changes to genes with CRISPR has the potential to cure diseases and feed the world, if we can learn to control it. Now it looks like viruses hold the solution

Feng Zhang interview: CRISPR can fight covid-19 and climate change

7 October 2020

CRISPR gene editing is already treating disease. But there’s far more it might do, from fighting cancer and covid-19 to putting the brakes on climate change, says Feng Zhang, a pioneer of the technique

Beating cancer: How viruses are being used to infect and kill tumours

23 October 2019

We’ve long known that viruses can target cancers in our bodies. Now, thanks to gene editing, we’re using them as tumour search and destroy agents – and getting our immune systems to join the fight too

George Church: The maverick geneticist now wants to reverse ageing

22 August 2018

He stirred controversy with his plans to bring back the woolly mammoth. But first he's working on editing sperm – and trying out his ageing reversal techniques on dogs

Pink pineapples and healthy fries: The new GM foods made for you

23 May 2018

From health benefits to increased flavour and longer shelf-life, discover the new generation of GM foods designed with the consumer in mind

There’s a new kind of superfood – and it’s not what you think

23 May 2018

GM foods like good-gluten bread are going on sale, with a range of health benefits to tempt consumers. Will doubters be won over at last?

Unicorns and designer babies: How CRISPR creator sees the future

28 February 2018

Jennifer Doudna's discovery of the CRISPR technique gives us unprecedented power over life itself. We can handle the challenge – despite Hollywood portrayals, she says