'Chemical surgery' used to mend harmful mutations in human embryos

Scientists have used the technique, also known as 'base editing', for the first time in human embryos to change a single letter in a faulty gene

Researchers in China have used a procedure described as "chemical surgery" to mend harmful mutations in human embryos for the first time.

The scientists found that it was possible to repair a faulty gene that gives rise to a serious blood disorder called beta thalassemia which can be caused by one misspelling in the DNA code.