Latest news with #BootstrapBio
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Superbabies' Startup Seeks Funds for Controversial Gene Editing Push
(Bloomberg) -- A California-startup focused on genetically editing human embryos — a step toward creating so-called designer babies — is raising money as many of Silicon Valley's ultra-rich turn their attention to one of the most controversial technologies in medicine. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice US Renters Face Storm of Rising Costs US State Budget Wounds Intensify From Trump, DOGE Policy Shifts Commuters Are Caught in Johannesburg's Taxi Feuds as Transit Lags Bootstrap Bio, created about 18 months ago, is working on technology to change the DNA in an embryo, according to two people familiar with the company and one of its investors. Altering those cells to make genetically modified children is intended to eliminate inherited diseases or enhance desirable traits, which can be passed on to future generations. Scientists and ethicists said the technology known as 'germline editing' is unproven and potentially dangerous. It could have grave consequences if a flaw is introduced into a days-old embryo, with the changes affecting every cell and stage of development. If the technology does work, they fear it could usher in a new era of eugenics and foster further inequality. 'When you're messing with the safety of babies, you want to be pretty confident,' said Hank Greely, a Stanford University law professor and bioethics expert. 'We have no idea what would happen to the babies who are edited.' Experts would be especially concerned if the efforts are conducted in private laboratories without public access, oversight, review or protection, said Laurie Zoloth, a professor of religion and ethics at the University of Chicago. 'There are safer ways to avoid having a child with a genetic disease than trying to build one from scratch as if it's some sort of commodity that you put together with cool parts,' she said. Chief Executive Officer Chase Denecke and Chief Technology Officer Ben Korpan founded Bootstrap Bio after writing a viral essay using the pen names GeneSmith and kman on LessWrong, a forum popular in Silicon Valley. The essay was about about gene editing adults to make them smarter. Subsequent Reddit posts by Gene_Smith discussed the work, and Denecke — using his own name — spoke about it in an interview on YouTube. Denecke declined to comment. Korpan didn't respond to multiple requests for interviews or comment for this story. Genetic Pivot Follow up posts from Gene_Smith on Reddit detailed changes in the company's focus, including Bootstrap Bio's switch from working on gene editing the DNA of adults to plans for the genetic modification of reproductive cells. Gene_Smith said the company hired a chief science officer, opened a lab and pivoted its work, and was planning to raise seed funding earlier this year. 'When we started looking at the timelines involved to solve all the problem required for adult enhancement, it started looking like superbabies might ironically be a faster route (it's definitely simpler),' according to one Reddit post. Among Bootstrap Bio's early investors are Simone and Malcolm Collins, a couple known for advocating for higher birth rates to stave off 'demographic collapse.' The Collinses have been linked to billionaire and fellow pronatalist Elon Musk and criticized for allegedly promoting eugenics, a label they've rejected. The pair said they would consider using germline editing for some of their own embryos to minimize health risks for future children, said Simone Collins, who lost her bid for a Pennsylvania state House seat last year. 'We're going to be on that as soon as we can be,' she said, declining to specify how much the couple invested in Bootstrap Bio. 'I know that people are afraid of unforeseen knock-on effects and stuff, but being able to completely, for all future descendants, remove a risk — that's huge.' The Collinses, who refer to themselves as entrepreneurs, suggested they're less concerned about reaping financial gains from their investment in Bootstrap Bio. 'We just want them to succeed in helping people,' Simone Collins said. 'That's our investment philosophy.' Safety Regulations While even laboratory work on germline editing is highly regulated in the US, researchers have been making progress on the technology. Still, it's not ready for prime time, said Paula Amato, researcher and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Oregon Health and Science University. 'It's still not considered safe,' Amato said. No studies involving germline editing or genetic engineering on embryos have been disclosed on the US database tracking clinical trials. Dieter Egli, a scientist who uses the technology in his highly regulated lab at Columbia University, said more research is needed. 'Then you can ask the question, is this a technology that's sufficiently safe and effective to be used in a clinical context?' Egli said. 'That's a broader discussion.' Legal Issues Chinese researcher He Jiankui was sentenced to three years in prison and a lifelong ban from working in reproductive technology after he claimed to create the first gene-edited babies in 2018. The alteration of embryos of twin girls to allegedly reduce their risk of developing HIV was deemed an illegal practice of medicine by a Chinese court. He plans to relocate to Austin to continue working on embryonic genetic editing in a new lab, according to his posts on X this month. He said he's not interested in working with Silicon Valley investors, who he said are interested only in immortality. — Jiankui He (@Jiankui_He) June 20, 2025 Companies are required to get permission from the US Food and Drug Administration before testing novel medicines or using new technology on people. Federal law prohibits the agency from accepting any application involving genetic edits to reproductive cells, including embryos, said I. Glenn Cohen, a law professor and bioethics expert at Harvard University. There is, however, no outright ban on editing reproductive cells in the lab when done using private funding. Bootstrap Bio's future business plans, some of which have been given to investors and detailed in the YouTube interview with Denecke, included a plan to begin human trials in 2026 or 2027 in Honduras, a place where the company could potentially avoid US regulations. It's unclear if the timeline was part of the company's original focus on adult gene editing or the genetic modification of reproductive cells, and if those goals remain in place. In May, an international group of scientific societies called for a 10-year moratorium on the practice. 'There's vast, complex challenges with germline editing,' said Tim Hunt, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, who co-authored the call for a moratorium. 'It's also unclear what is the burning medical need.' Inside Gap's Last-Ditch, Tariff-Addled Turnaround Push Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags How to Steal a House Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
'Superbabies' Startup Seeks Funds for Controversial Gene Editing Push
A California-startup focused on genetically editing human embryos — a step toward creating so-called designer babies — is raising money as many of Silicon Valley's ultra-rich turn their attention to one of the most controversial technologies in medicine. Bootstrap Bio, created about 18 months ago, is working on technology to change the DNA in an embryo, according to two people familiar with the company and one of its investors. Altering those cells to make genetically modified children is intended to eliminate inherited diseases or enhance desirable traits, which can be passed on to future generations.
