Spotlight On... U.K. scientists get a green light to modify human embryos; CIT team develops new viral vector for the brain; and more...

Fertilization experts in the U.K. have been given a green light to start modifying human embryos, an experiment which they expect will give them unique insights into the way in which an embryo transforms into a healthy baby. The work will be limited to a brief alteration, with strict prohibitions against inserting any of the modified embryos into a human. A case of gene editing in China last year raised a hue and cry about the potential for developing designer babies, leading to a number of added restrictions on the field in various countries. Story

> Investigators at the California Institute of Technology have developed a new viral vector that can slip through the blood-brain barrier. This new approach may have applications in a variety of brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Release

> A team at UT Southwestern Medical Center has developed a new drug that appears to boost immunity in mice, pointing to a new approach in vaccine development. Release