Gene Editing and Clones | 60 Minutes Full Episodes: A Journey into the Future of Science
Join us for an incredible exploration of groundbreaking scientific advancements in the latest full episode of 60 Minutes, titled “Gene Editing and Clones.” In this thought-provoking broadcast, Bill Whitaker kicks off with an inspiring report from 2025, spotlighting a group of innovative teens who have harnessed the power of CRISPR gene editing to pioneer a promising new method for detecting and treating Lyme disease.
As the episode unfolds, we journey back in time to revisit significant stories that have shaped the landscape of genetic research. From Whitaker’s 2018 analysis of CRISPR—an editing tool that is revolutionizing biomedicine—to Scott Pelley’s 2019 feature on George Church’s ambitious lab at Harvard Medical School, which aims to grant humans immunity against all viruses, this episode showcases the boundless potential of genetic manipulation.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta presents a compelling 2014 segment on a billionaire doctor charting unconventional paths to treat cancer, while Lesley Stahl revisits the remarkable attempts to resurrect extinct species in a 2011 report. The episode also highlights the 2018 story where Stahl investigates the cloning of animals, including a fascinating instance where a South American polo player cloned his beloved pony to create a stable of elite competitors.
From the promise of CRISPR technology to the ethical implications of cloning, this episode encapsulates the cutting-edge developments and moral considerations driving the future of medicine and biotechnology.
Tune into 60 Minutes for a comprehensive look at the strides being made in gene editing and cloning—a journey that encapsulates the incredible possibilities awaiting us at the intersection of science and humanity. Don’t miss this captivating episode, which continues to solidify 60 Minutes as the most successful television broadcast in history.
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Are any of these children being monitored psychologically for what it takes to be in this level of competition as minors? they’re talking about stakeholders so this becomes profiting off of children. They said parents are moving their children into different school districts and across state lines to get them into these schools to hopefully basically profit off their kids.
Cloning is taking the best of the current. It ends evolution.
my dna is only my fathers
Do they get paid for this???? Huh???? Who gets the money for it??? Who???? My son is brilliant and I warned him about stuff like this except where it's important like people's lives…but in my state's standards it seems like they want answers to fix problems they should have thought of long ago. As well as they want ideas to fast forward to more advanced technology for their benefit not the kids. Advancing technology should be a balanced process. With some ideas trashed immediately. THE world is so messed up right now bc of all the advanced technology. Everybody just needs to slow down #FightForChildrensRights
Of course, they cut the funding. Smh
What about the CRISPR-Cas in our fertilizer 🙃 "unintended, non-human targets". Oops! 😀 Stay ethical, kids! The 1% are using Special Economic Zones to evade laws in the US. Best of luck!
The kids are chinese and indians 😂😂😂 ❤
To many evil greedy people in power that want to de-populate the world right now that none of this technology will be used to better humanity or most people but only a select few, which is really sad.
These high schoolers can really make a positive difference for humanity. Its unfortunate that the current administration wants to cut funding for education
I have cloned myself and edited my own genes about 10x that I am aware of. Some of the women kept my offspring and some did not. Either way, I did my part to perpetuate the species.
I think u should go to the clossal bioscience laboratory and add dire wolf ( which has recently been deextinct) in this documentory even it is possible for a while ( from.54.00-1.06 minutes)
You really think the gov will allow the tech to be used to help people? That’s precious.
There is a man here profiled at 28:32, George Church, who believes profoundly that genetic benefits should be available to all humans without the fences of if a person can pay large sums of money. This is shaping up to be the an even bigger issue than even the whole of ethics. I applaud such a scientist and humanitarian in this field. I believe far too much of medical science and cutting edge treatment is so sparingly available. Often only offered to a persons ability to pay exorbitant amounts of money. This will be a huge issue as these gene therapies evolve.
Of course the Trump administration ruined it.
Now we need to clone the great athletes LOL…even when they don't think they are that great. Sweet guy that one
I watched 3 siblings die- all worked around chemical companies- Yet they allow the chemicals air water food that causes it – And try to prevent it? 😢
Any high asian areas have the best schools. When my husband and I got married, we moved 30 minutes north to establish ourselves in that school district.
I don't know if people remember what recent experimental vaccines used this technology. (Okay, I'll tell you). It was the MRNA Covid 19 vaccine made by Pfizer, Moderna, and other companies. Johnson& Johnson made a traditional or standard vaccine.
Everyone is just a copy of everyone
This full episode weaves together several 60 Minutes reports on CRISPR, gene editing, de‑extinction, cancer innovation, and animal cloning to show how modern biotechnology is rapidly expanding what we can edit, cure, resurrect, or replicate—and the ethical questions that follow.
Teens using CRISPR for Lyme disease
A high school team from Lambert High School in Georgia uses CRISPR-based synthetic biology to design a faster Lyme disease diagnostic and a CRISPR-based treatment concept. They target a Lyme-specific protein in simulated blood, use CRISPR to expose it, and detect it with a lateral-flow strip test that can identify infection as early as two days, much earlier than current methods. The team competes at the iGEM synthetic biology competition in Paris, highlighting how US students face growing competition from much larger numbers of Asian teams and how funding for such programs in US schools is politically fragile.
CRISPR basics and early medical uses
The episode then explains what CRISPR is, how it originated from bacterial defense against viruses, and how scientists can program it to find and cut specific DNA “typos.” Researchers like Feng Zhang and Eric Lander describe CRISPR as a powerful, relatively easy gene-editing tool that could address thousands of genetic diseases by correcting mutations, with labs worldwide already using it like a Swiss‑army knife for biology. Early animal experiments show CRISPR restoring partial vision in blind mice and monkeys, and embryo-editing work in Oregon suggests it may one day prevent inherited diseases in human families, though scientists stress that clinical use must be cautious and is not yet ready for population-level editing.
George Church and the “genetic information age”
George Church’s lab at Harvard showcases the next wave: using genetic tools to reverse aging, engineer virus‑proof humans, create pig organs safe for transplant, and grow patient-specific “mini-organs” from reprogrammed cells. His group works on multiplex gene changes to make cells resistant to all viruses, de-extinction projects like recreating mammoth traits in elephants, and bioengineered organs grown from a patient’s own DNA to avoid rejection. Church argues for strong ethical oversight and broad access so that these technologies do not exacerbate inequality, while embracing neurodiversity and unconventional paths in his lab as a driver of innovation.
New ways to fight cancer
Another segment follows billionaire surgeon–entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong, who wants to “disrupt” cancer care using large-scale tumor genome sequencing, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and real-time monitoring of circulating tumor cells. His vision is to classify cancers by their mutations rather than by organ, sequence tumors quickly, and use that information plus liquid biopsies to constantly adjust treatment, turning many cancers into manageable chronic diseases. Other oncologists agree the concept is promising but warn that much complex science remains and caution against overhyping what is still under development.
De-extinction and conservation cloning
The program also explores de-extinction efforts, showing how ancient DNA from hair and frozen remains lets scientists sequence genomes of extinct species like the woolly mammoth and consider reconstructing them via genetic engineering or cloning. Conservationists like Betsy Dresser focus on using interspecies cloning and massive frozen “zoos” of cryopreserved cells to save endangered species by implanting their DNA into closely related surrogate mothers, arguing that cloning may be preferable to extinction.
Polo horse cloning and ethics
Finally, the episode turns to elite polo in Argentina, where star player Adolfo Cambiaso clones his best mare, Cuartetera, and other champions to field strings of nearly identical top-performing horses. His cloned horses have similar athleticism and temperament and have helped him win major tournaments, raising questions about fairness in sport and where to draw ethical lines—even as his team insists it only raises the level of competition and they refuse to clone humans despite wealthy requests.
In the day it was at least a flyer or poster sent to a school.
Thumbs up for a job ahead.
So a test to see what was the missing link. With evolution in mind to see what changed things back when.
Great job 60 minutes on starting to address genetic research. Now why don’t you do a story on how Anthony Fauci allowed gain of function research to continue in China even after the Obama administration stopped it and this accumulated into the Covid virus that killed hundreds of thousands if not millions of people.
You mean the Limes disease, the insurance and the medical industry won’t admit exist or pay for treatment? Great we can now detect it easier lol
9:25 ….his comment is completely disingenuous ,….funding was cut ONLY from programs with exclusionary or discriminatory language … you can't have federal funding for a student program where ALL students are not welcome to apply…..this entire segment doesn't have not even 1 white or black kid , because this student program seems made for Int'l students only ….its not "claiming it fell under DEI" …. its the definition of DEI………and did someone explain to these kids what makes gene editing so dangerous are the unexpected changes that happen down the line….sure , a potential cure for lyme so they make a tiny change to a protein which also causes the subject to have so other sickness or effects them in some other terrible way
Die höchste Code Fräuen 8intelligent Stufe…Danke
Hoffenlich die Kirsche Bäumen schéne Blüten
Gratulation Top Ten in the World
Vielen Dank König Hof, Fürst Haus, Graf Fam, Presidenten Familien, Ditaktor Familien, Regierung Chef, Doktorrand Erfinder Visionär Architektur Universitäten & Päpste
Vielen Dank allen Künstler Museum mit Familien Künstwerker bestätigen haben
Ich bin Moment noch Zuhause
Vielen Dank Medizin Bewusst immer noch für Babies Kinders Jugends Studenten Erwachen Pensioniert denken
I'm currently in my MBA program and recently analyzed the stock performance and volatility of CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) for a business analytics project. It has been fascinating to see how investors respond to developments in gene-editing technology and the commercialization of treatments like CASGEVY. I'm excited to see where this biotechnology company takes the future of medicine. As someone living with lupus, I also hope advances in gene-editing research may one day lead to better ways to detect, treat, or even prevent autoimmune diseases.
War & Churches' Dollars should go to this kind of Labs' Money.
I’m so mad and saddened to see the departure of such iconic reporters and the show bc of one man’s ego. Just when Americans criticize other authoritarian countries, we should look at ourselves in the mirror
What an intro lol …. hm
Lack of ability to diagnose it !?!?!?
i have stopped wathciing 60 minutes because of recent bias failings.
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My 8th grade physics teacher inspired me to apply math – that simple interaction led to who I am now. Former military with an avionics MOS and currently an electrician since 1996 – all it takes is one good, passionate, instructor to plant a seed and that easily defines your life path. Prior to that….I hated math, too abstract beyond pre algebra until it had a practical application
Sorry did the host say at @2:13 that the highlight of his own biology class was dissecting frogs??? 😢 wow. I’d be worried if that excited my kid. 😢
Gene🎉60❤