The comic · Genetics of Disease (GenD)
Panel 59Germline editing debate · 2026-10-26 
Panel 60Viral vector chart · 2026-10-27 
Panel 61CRISPR and reproductive screening · 2026-10-28 
Panel 62Gene therapy ethics CER · 2026-10-29
Week 13 of 22
OCTOBER 26 TO 29
Fiction. No real student, family or grade appears.
Editing a somatic cell affects one person. Editing the germline affects everyone descended from them, none of whom can consent.
Using a virus to deliver a working gene, since delivery is what viruses are already excellent at.
How CRISPR targets a specific sequence, then screening embryos, which is a different thing from editing and gets confused with it constantly.
MR. MENDOZA
Somatic affects one person. Germline affects everyone descended from them, and none of them can consent.
A full CER on where the line sits. Mine argued somatic yes, germline not yet, and had to define not yet in a way that was not just avoidance.