CRISPR is a groundbreaking genetic technology with huge promise, but right now it's caught up in a massive scientific scandal.

Right on the eve of an event to figure out the ethics of this technology, a researcher in China shocked the world

by claiming that the first ever genetically edited babies have already been born.

Scientists and researchers across the field are saying that

whether or not these claims are true, this is horrifying news. What could it

mean? Why are scientists so upset?

And what is the future of gene editing?

This is Radio Atlantic. So, Hello folks. This is Matt Thompson, Executive Editor of The Atlantic.

Alex is off Galvanting this week. And here with me in studio are two familiar voices Atlantic

staff writers Sarah Zang hi Sarah hello and Ed Young hello so Ed what And Ed Yang. Hello.

So, Ed, what just happened?

Tell us about this recent Crisper scandal that has the genetic community all of Flutter.

So roughly a week and a half ago, the world learned that a Chinese scientist

named Her Jan Kui had allegedly created two gene-ed babies.

He had used Crisper to modify a gene called CCR5

in two embryos which had been fertilized in vitro and which he then implanted into a

woman who then brought the two embryos to term. So those two girls apparently exist. They're

named Lulu and Nana. And this would mark the first time that CRISPR has been used in this way.

So there have been past instances where people have used CRISPR to alter cells that are part of a person's body.

So you would take, say there have been trials where you, for example,

take immune cells from a person's body

alter that same gene CCR 5 and then put the cells back in. And CCR 5 influences our

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