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# Vice: Unnatural Selection For centuries, scientists have been working to change the genetic traits of plants and animals. Now, CRISPR, a new gene-editing method, has made this process astonishingly simple, potentially applicable to humans. ## Key Terms and Definitions **Evolution:** The process...

# Vice: Unnatural Selection For centuries, scientists have been working to change the genetic traits of plants and animals. Now, CRISPR, a new gene-editing method, has made this process astonishingly simple, potentially applicable to humans. ## Key Terms and Definitions **Evolution:** The process by which changes in plants and animals occur over time. **Steer:** To control the direction of something, driven by the demands of survival. **Upend:** To set or turn something on its end. Often used metaphorically, like new technology disrupting established processes. **Alter:** To change something, often involving altering different species. **Species:** A group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals/plants. **Transgenic:** Relating to or indicative of an organism containing genetic material artificially introduced from an unrelated organism. **Fluorescent:** Something that glows brightly. **Jellyfish:** A type of animal that glows. **CRISPR:** A genome editing tool that is creating a buzz in the science world because it is faster, cheaper, and more accurate than previous techniques, with a wide range of potential applications. **"Game Changer":** An event, idea, or procedure that significantly shifts how someone does or thinks about something. **Scalpel:** A sharp knife used by surgeons. **Cleaver:** A broad blade used by butchers for chopping meat. **Gene:** A part of a cell that influences the appearance, growth, and characteristics of a living thing. A complete set of genes make up a genome. **Trait:** A characteristic determined genetically, like choosing favorable traits in children. **PGD (Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis):** A procedure used to identify specific genes in human embryos, used to identify diseases and traits like eye colour. **Embryo:** A human or animal in the early stages of development before birth. **Droop:** To sink, bend or hang down. **Formulate:** To invent or produce something carefully and thoughtfully. **Fruit Fly:** A small fly attracted to rotting fruit. **Bristle:** A short, stiff hair or fiber. **Biopsy:** An examination of tissue removed from a living body to study it. **Chromosome:** The part of a cell that contains genes controlling growth and development of the organism. **Fertilize:** To make an egg able to grow and develop. **Sperm:** A cell that fertilizes an egg. **Yolk:** The part of an egg that supplies food to the developing embryo. **Genomics:** The branch of molecular biology concerned with genome structure, function, evolution, and mapping. **"Paving the way":** To make progress or development easier. **Funnel:** To move or be guided through, like data being funneled to a central location. **"Slippery slope":** A process or series of events that may lead to worse, more difficult outcomes. Difficult to stop once begun. **"Arms race":** An escalating competition or race.