Three Technologies Set to Shape Biotechnology in 2026
By Jessica Hamzelou, MIT Technology Review | January 16, 2026
As biotechnology continues its rapid evolution, MIT Technology Review’s annual Ten Breakthrough Technologies list spotlights three standout innovations poised to redefine the field in 2026: personalized gene editing, genetic resurrection, and advanced embryo scoring. These technologies offer exciting possibilities as well as ethical challenges, marking them as vital developments to watch closely.
Personalized Gene Editing: A New Era in Treating Genetic Disorders
One of 2024’s most inspiring biotech stories involved KJ Muldoon, a baby born with a rare genetic disorder that caused toxic ammonia to accumulate in his blood — a condition that historically led to dire neurological damage or death. Traditional treatments offered little hope beyond a risky liver transplant.
Instead, KJ received a groundbreaking experimental gene therapy: personalized “base editing,” a technique that corrects specific genetic mutations at the molecular level. After three doses, KJ’s condition markedly improved, enabling him to take his first steps by December 2025 and spend his first Christmas at home.
This success story has galvanized researchers and regulatory agencies alike. The treatment’s team aims to launch a clinical trial targeting infants with related genetic mutations. Although the initial therapy was costly (approximately $1 million), researchers hope streamlined regulatory approvals and scalable trials will soon make such personalized gene-editing therapies broadly accessible.
Supporting this momentum is the recent founding of Aurora Therapeutics by Fyodor Urnov, a leading gene-editing scientist from UC Berkeley. Aurora plans to develop adaptable gene-editing drugs for conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU), hoping to gain approval for “one-size-fits-all” drugs that can be customized without new clinical trials. U.S. regulators have shown openness to these “bespoke, personalized therapies,” signaling a potentially transformative shift in genetic medicine.
Gene Resurrection: Bringing Ancient DNA Back to Life
Colossal Biosciences, a pioneering biotech company dedicated to “de-extinction,” made headlines in 2025 for their strides in reviving traits from extinct species. In a notable breakthrough, Colossal produced “woolly mice” exhibiting dense furry coats and curly whiskers reminiscent of woolly mammoths.
Even more striking was their announcement of creating three “dire wolves” by introducing around 20 key genetic modifications — derived from ancient DNA studies — into gray wolves. While the exact nature of these animals remains subject to scientific debate, the methods underpinning their creation highlight the incredible potential of combining ancient DNA extraction, genome editing, and cloning technologies.
Beyond the fascination with resurrecting lost species, these techniques deepen our understanding of evolutionary history and could aid contemporary wildlife conservation. Cloning and genetic restoration promise applications ranging from rescuing endangered animals to studying extinct ecosystems.
Embryo Scoring: Ethical Frontiers in Reproductive Genetics
In vitro fertilization (IVF) has long included screening embryos to assess their likelihood of successful implantation and development. However, recent advances have expanded embryo scoring into new—and controversial—territory.
Modern genomic techniques allow labs to sequence DNA from a few embryonic cells, screening not only for serious genetic diseases but also for a widening array of traits such as height, eye color, and even intelligence. Some companies, like Nucleus, now market services enabling prospective parents to select embryos based on these characteristics, promoting the notion of a “best baby.”
This development raises profound ethical concerns. Complex traits like IQ arise from many genetic and environmental factors, and our understanding remains imperfect. Critics fear this could revive eugenics-like practices, commodify human life, and create unrealistic expectations about control over a child’s future.
Moreover, no embryo scoring can guarantee outcomes, as genetics interact in complex, often unpredictable ways. The societal consequences of embracing such embryo selection are still unfolding, making this an area ripe for ethical debate and regulatory scrutiny.
Looking Ahead
The biotech advances highlighted by MIT Technology Review represent both incredible scientific progress and deeply human questions about the future of health, identity, and life itself. Personalized gene editing stands to revolutionize treatment of rare diseases, genetic resurrection challenges our notions of extinction and conservation, and embryo scoring questions the limits of reproductive choice.
As these technologies develop in 2026 and beyond, they will demand careful attention—not only for their scientific promise but also for their social, ethical, and regulatory implications.
This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. Sign up to receive it every Thursday and stay informed on the latest in biotech.
