A San Francisco startup called Preventive, backed by tech leaders like Sam Altman and Brian Armstrong, aims to create a genetically engineered baby to prevent a hereditary disease. This follows the controversial case of He Jiankui, who edited embryos to produce children immune to HIV, leading to his imprisonment.

Japanese researchers at Mie University have used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to successfully remove the extra chromosome 21 associated with Down syndrome from human cells, potentially reshaping treatment approaches for the condition. The study showed promise in normalizing gene expression and improving cell health, although ethical concerns and challenges with off-target effects remain.