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Term · Ethics

Germline

Cells that can pass genetic information to children — eggs, sperm and embryos. Editing them would be heritable, and is prohibited or unapproved for clinical use in most countries.

Written by The CRISPR Atlas editorial team Last updated Aug 25, 2026
Educational information only This page is a reference, not medical advice. Research and regulatory status change; check the last-updated date above and confirm anything important against the primary sources listed.