And the first company to publicly announce plans to try to genetically modify human embryos to create gene-edited babies just unveiled its plans. The team plans to start by studying mice before moving to primates and then human cells before ultimately working with human embryos. Denecke, whose company is reportedly also looking to edit human embryos, declined NPR’s requests for an interview. The moment could be ripe for another look at gene-editing embryos that could be taken to term. Most scientists and bioethicists still say that gene editing of human embryos to produce children would be irresponsible.