GEN editors discuss both the news and history of DNA and genetic engineering. We present a recap of the 50 th anniversary of the Asilomar conference, delving into some of the history from the 1975 ...

For nearly a decade, Jared Westbrook has worked on resurrecting the American chestnut, an iconic tree that nearly vanished from the United States a century ago. The American Chestnut Foundation, a ...

As Earth's climate warms and changes, sustainable agricultural practices are critical for feeding a rapidly growing population. Can we genetically engineer crops to adapt to drought and other effects ...

If we could choose our children's intelligence, appearance or athletic ability, would we? As CRISPR technology advances, where do we draw the line between improving human health and improving human ...

The return of the long-extinct wooly mammoth or dodo bird may sound like a storyline straight out of science fiction. It’s not. Several de-extinction projects all share an ambitious aim to resurrect ...

Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to ...

Collaborative research defines a novel approach to understanding how certain proteins called transcription factors determine which genetic programs will drive cell growth and maturation. The method, ...

Fifty years ago today, scientists met to set safety limits on the new field of genetic engineering. This week researchers meet again to discuss big questions as biotechnology grows more powerful.

In science fiction cinema, few films have delved as deeply into the ethical and philosophical implications of genetic engineering as "Gattaca." Released in 1997 and directed by Andrew Niccol, the ...