This is absolutely world-changing, and I don’t feel that enough people are talking about it.

tl/dr: Some Black Mirror-level shit just saved a baby’s life and we’re about to enter a new era of human modification.

Doctor-scientists in Philadelphia just “cured” a genetic mutation in an infant that would have otherwise killed it.

This child was born with an incredibly rare genetic condition that resulted in the body not producing a protein required to break down nitrogen and ammonia.

Using CRISPR (a recently-discovered gene editing technology), specialists were able to modify the gene and change the DNA within the new cells, eradicating the otherwise terminal condition.

I am not smart enough to understand the details. But this is incredible. Clearly, it’s a benefit to humankind. Consider the countless medical conditions and birth defects that might be reversed by gene editing.

Then, consider the plausible science fiction angles. How many movies have we seen where genetic manipulation goes wrong? Whether politically or apocalyptically, things don’t tend to work out for the masses.

The rabbit hole is deep.

Maybe we’ll accidentally create a super-virus that wipes out humanity. Or the ultra-wealthy will control the tech and create customized test tube babies with perfected mental skills and physical strength that end up dominating the rest of the planet over generations to come.

There’s a non-zero chance that this happens.

But it might not. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll spend the foreseeable future in a world where every child grows up — and we all live longer, better, healthier lives.