You may be able to have customised babies soon

While currently it is only for research purposes, gene editing of human embryos could create what is called 'designer babies'. Photo: AFP/Shutterstock

Scientists in Britain have been give the go-ahead to edit the genes of human embryos for research purposes, using a technique that some say could eventually be used to create "designer babies".

Less than a year after Chinese scientists caused an international controversy by saying they had genetically modified human embryos, Kathy Niakan, a stem cell scientist from London's Francis Crick Institute, was granted a license to carry out similar experiments.