Anne McLaren Lecture 2018: Gene Editing in Human Embryos In 2017 Kathy Niakan and her team revealed the role of a fertility “master gene” in one of the world’s first demonstrations of DNA editing in human embryos. The study could help uncover the cause of recurrent miscarriages and lead to more effective fertility treatments. It also raises ethical questions about the prospect of controversial gene editing techniques being used clinically to correct defects in, or even enhance, human embryos in the future.