Eye color, health and intelligence: scientists are getting closer to creating children “to order”

Scientists from Columbia University have reported the biggest breakthrough in human embryo editing in recent years. For the first time, researchers managed to change the DNA of embryos with unprecedented precision, reigniting global debate about the future of so-called “designer babies”.

The work is based on base editing, which is considered a more advanced and safer alternative to classic CRISPR. Unlike earlier methods, it makes it possible to change individual “letters” of the genetic code without cutting the DNA strand, which significantly reduces the risk of serious damage to the genome.

The study was led by geneticist Dieter Egli. His team successfully changed genes linked to cholesterol levels and hemoglobin production. The main goal of the experiment is to explore the possibilities of preventing hereditary diseases at the embryo stage.

However, it was this work that triggered a wave of concern among bioethicists and geneticists around the world. Some experts believe such research could become the first step toward creating children with predetermined traits — from appearance to cognitive abilities. Publications in the Western press include warnings that the technology could “open the floodgates” to an era of human genetic engineering.

At the same time, despite the headlines, the current technology still does not allow a child to be “assembled from a catalog”. Scientists only edited individual genes, while complex traits such as intelligence, athletic ability or creative talent depend on thousands of genes and many environmental factors.

In addition, the study revealed serious problems. Some embryos showed unwanted DNA changes and so-called mosaicism — a situation in which some cells contain the corrected gene while others remain unchanged. This means the technology is still not safe enough for use in reproductive medicine.

Why scientists are concerned

Embryo editing falls into the category of heritable changes: if such a child is born, their descendants will also carry the altered genetic code.

That is why many scientific organizations are calling for strict limits. In 2025, a number of international professional communities even proposed a multi-year moratorium on the clinical use of heritable human genome editing.

The concerns are not limited to medical risks. Experts warn of the possible emergence of genetic inequality, where expensive procedures will be available only to wealthy families, as well as the risk of a new form of eugenics — selecting people according to desired traits.

When might the first genetically modified children appear?

Claims that this will happen “within the next five years” are still only assumptions. The study’s authors stress that the technology is not yet ready for clinical use, and the laws of most countries either prohibit or strictly limit such experiments.

Nevertheless, many specialists acknowledge that if safety issues are resolved, humanity could indeed move closer to an era in which severe hereditary diseases are eliminated before a child is born. And along with that, the question will inevitably arise of where the line lies between treating disease and enhancing humans.