The cover story in this week’s Economist is headlined “Editing humanity.” It explores a new technique that allows scientists to “edit genetic information quickly and cheaply.” The new technology holds great promise for treating previously intractable maladies. But it also raises questions, from the practical (who will receive treatment?) to the profound (what does it mean to be human?).

The new technology is referred to as CRISPR and involves editing the chemical “letters” contained in human beings’ genes. Single-gene disorders cause more than 6,000 diseases. This technology allows scientists to cut out damaged or unwanted genes and replace them with healthy or desirable ones. As the Economist explains, “Other ways of editing DNA exist, but CRISPR holds the promise of doing so with unprecedented simplicity, speed and precision.”