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cover of episode Baby’s first gene edit

Baby’s first gene edit

2025/6/5
logo of podcast Today, Explained

Today, Explained

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Chapters
This chapter details the story of Baby KJ, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease and successfully treated with experimental gene editing technology. The treatment involved a complex process, including genome sequencing and the creation of a customized therapy delivered via lipid nanoparticles. The results were remarkable, with KJ showing significant improvement and no longer needing a liver transplant.
  • Baby KJ was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease (CPS1 mutation).
  • Experimental gene editing therapy was successfully used to treat KJ.
  • The therapy involved creating a customized treatment delivered via lipid nanoparticles.
  • KJ showed significant improvement and no longer needs a liver transplant.

Shownotes Transcript

For the first time ever, experimental gene editing technology has been used to treat a baby with a fatal condition. Just don’t mess with the embryos.


*This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Avishay Artsy, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. *

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Baby KJ as he prepares to leave the hospital. Photo courtesy of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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