[porpoisely]

I've read that He self-funded the project. Anyone know if he comes from wealth or how he got the funds to run a team of scientists? Also, it's interesting that he was a trained physicist who turned to gene modification experiments. Is CRISPR and gene editing the popular draw in academia and research? I've always assumed academics mainly stayed in their lane, so to speak.

As for the ethics, if gene editing research is inevitable and/or simple as claimed, then perhaps it should be carried out in public universities so as to prevent glory seeking people from causing unnecessary harm. Also, perhaps anyone who carries out gene editing should be held financially liable and even criminally liable for any damage to individuals.

If CRISPR and gene editing lives up to its hype, it feels like we are on the cusp of a brave new world.

[daveFNbuck]

Gene editing research is being carried out in public universities. It's not yet at the point where edited human embryos are carried to term.

[radicaldreamer]

A lot of private donors or individuals act as patrons for labs and even individual scientists or artists. Don’t see why a leading scientist in the field would have trouble attracting this funding.