CRISPR gene-editing tested in a person for the first time: Move by Chinese scientists could spark a biomedical duel between China and the United States, by David Cyranoski.

A Chinese group has become the first to inject a person with cells that contain genes edited using the revolutionary CRISPR–Cas9 technique. …

“I think this is going to trigger ‘Sputnik 2.0’, a biomedical duel on progress between China and the United States, which is important since competition usually improves the end product,” says [Carl June, who specializes in immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia].

June is the scientific adviser for a planned US trial that will use CRISPR to target three genes in participants’ cells, with the goal of treating various cancers. He expects the trial to start in early 2017. And in March 2017, a group at Peking University in Beijing hopes to start three clinical trials using CRISPR against bladder, prostate and renal-cell cancers. Those trials do not yet have approval or funding.

New to CRISPR? Genetic engineering will change everything forever, soon. Check out this video:

hat-tip Matthew