Since The Scientist published its first issue in October 1986, life-science research has transformed from a manual and often tedious task to a high-tech, largely automated process of unprecedented efficiency.

Advances in genetic manipulation have simplified the once daunting task of rewriting a gene.

A federal panel will review the first proposal for the use of the technology to edit human genes for medical purposes.

A newcomer’s guide to the hottest gene-editing tool on the block