Tech Billionaires Back Startup to Pioneer Genetically Engineered Babies
A new frontier in genetic engineering may soon be explored as a Silicon Valley startup, **Preventive**, gains traction with significant backing from a group of tech billionaires. The company aims to develop genetically engineered babies by editing human embryos to eliminate hereditary diseases before birth.
Founded earlier this year by gene-editing scientist **Lucas Harrington**, Preventive is headquartered in San Francisco and has successfully raised **$30 million** in funding. The startup’s mission focuses on ensuring that the technology is safe and transparent before any attempt to create genetically modified humans. Harrington expressed his optimism on social media, stating, “We believe that if proven safe, this could be one of the most important health technologies of our lifetimes.”
Harrington emphasized the potential benefits of embryo editing, which include precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. However, he acknowledged the significant responsibility that comes with intervening at such a critical stage of human development. He noted the risks posed by inadequate regulatory oversight and the potential for fringe groups to exploit the technology irresponsibly.
“Unfortunately, the combination of limited expert involvement and lack of a clear regulatory pathway has instead created conditions for fringe groups to potentially take dangerous shortcuts that could harm patients and stifle responsible investigation,” he added. **Preventive** aims to conduct rigorous preclinical research to determine whether gene editing can be developed safely enough to prevent severe diseases in future generations.
Among the early investors in Preventive are **Sam Altman**, CEO of OpenAI, and **Brian Armstrong**, CEO of Coinbase. Armstrong voiced his support for the startup, highlighting that over **300 million** people worldwide live with genetic diseases. He underscored the importance of foundational research to explore safe and effective therapies that could be applied at birth. “It is far easier to correct a smaller number of cells before disease progression occurs, such as in an embryo,” he stated.
The ambition to create genetically engineered babies echoes controversial past efforts, notably those of Chinese scientist **He Jiankui**, who in 2018 announced the birth of gene-edited twins designed to resist HIV. This act resulted in a global outcry and led Jiankui to serve three years in prison for illegal medical practices. Since his release, he has shifted his focus to treating genetic diseases, but his actions prompted widespread calls for a temporary suspension of germline editing research.
In response to these concerns, U.S. senators proposed a solution in **2019**, advocating for international standards in germline gene editing to prevent unethical practices from proliferating in areas with loose regulations. Currently, federal law in the United States prohibits the use of federal funds for research on human germline gene therapy. While the ethical implications of genetic modifications remain contentious, there is no legal barrier preventing privately funded research in this area.
Despite the federal restrictions, the lack of a ban on privately funded projects means that researchers could conduct non-clinical human gene therapy without direct government support. However, to bring any potential therapies to market, they would require approval from the **Food and Drug Administration (FDA)** for clinical studies.
As Preventive moves forward with its ambitious plans, the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility remains a critical focus. The conversation surrounding genetically engineered babies is set to continue, challenging societal norms and regulatory frameworks in the years to come.
