DNA 'chemical surgery' removes embryo disease
“Chemical surgery" has been performed on human embryos to remove disease for the first time, Chinese researchers have told the BBC. The technology called "base editing" involves directly manipulating a single letter in the genetic code, which is important because thousands of diseases are caused by an error in one letter of the genetic code out of the billions that make up human DNA. Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute and professor Jeremy Farrar, director of biomedical research charity Wellcome Trust discuss what the new technology brings and China's place within the medical field. (Image: Human embryo, credit: Getty Images)