Being Human in the Era of Gene Editing

Dr. Neena Grover has taught Biochemistry at Colorado College for 26 years. She has
trained more than 200 students in her research lab and published widely with them,
including the book "Fundamentals of RNA Structure and Function" (Springer-Nature, 2022)
in which more than 20 undergraduate students are co-authors.
Dr. Grover work has been recognized through awards such as the 2019 Midstates
Consortium’s Janet Anderson Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching, the 2025

William C. Rose Award for Excellence in Biochemistry Education, and multiple student-
nominated honors, including the Teacher of the Year award in 2025.

She was a founding member of the national undergraduate science networks of ASBMB
and has organized major conferences, secured NSF grants, and maintains collaborations
in the United States, Europe, and North Africa. Her work focuses on understanding RNA
and DNA structures, their interactions with ions, and their stability. She serves as an editor
for CourseSource and as a member of the editorial board of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology Education.

Being Human in the Era of Gene Editing

Gene editing has moved from science fiction into modern medicine, with CRISPR-Cas
systems offering unprecedented possibilities for treating and potentially preventing
disease while raising profound scientific and ethical questions. From the controversial
creation of the first “CRISPR babies,” to new treatment for sickle cell disease, the
technology demonstrates both remarkable therapeutic potential and significant risks. As
gene editing becomes more accessible, including through animal experiments outside
traditional research settings, concerns about unintended genetic changes, safety, cost,
unequal access, and the possibility of altering future generations are growing.
Ultimately, CRISPR forces us to consider not only what gene editing can accomplish,
but what it should accomplish—and who should decide how far we should go in biology.