MIT named 3 breakthrough technologies that will change medicine right now

This week, MIT Technology Review published its annual list of three breakthrough technologies. The list includes developments that made headlines last year and, in the editors' assessment, have the potential to significantly impact the evolution of industries in the near future.

In 2026, the list covers a wide range of fields—from energy and artificial intelligence to space technologies. However, this review focuses on biotechnology and medicine. Key areas include gene editing in infants, work with ancient DNA from extinct species, and technologies for selecting embryos based on specific traits.

Base Editing: The Case of K.J.

In August 2024, K.J. Maldun was born with a rare genetic disorder that causes toxic ammonia to accumulate in the body. Without treatment, the condition could be fatal. The only standard therapeutic option was liver transplantation.

The solution came in the form of an experimental personalized therapy based on base editing—a method that allows for precise correction of mutations in DNA. After three doses of the drug, the child's condition stabilized: by the end of the year, he began walking and was able to celebrate the holidays at home.

This case is viewed as important evidence of the potential of personalized genetic therapies. The developers of the method plan to expand clinical trials to other patients with similar mutations and expect expedited approval procedures from regulators. In the long term, this could reduce the cost of such interventions, which currently stands at around one million dollars per treatment.

Meanwhile, Aurora Therapeutics is developing a universal gene-editing platform. Its goal is to create adaptable therapies without the need for separate clinical trials for each patient.

Reviving Ancient Genes

Colossal Biosciences, a company involved in projects to restore genetic traits of extinct species, has attracted significant interest in the industry. In 2025, it introduced "woolly mice"—laboratory animals with modified genes that mimic certain characteristics of the mammoth.

Later, the company announced the creation of three animals genetically modified using DNA from ancient wolves. To achieve this, dozens of changes were made to the genomes of modern gray wolves, reconstructed from fossil samples.

The question of whether such organisms can be considered a full "return" of extinct species remains open. Nevertheless, the technologies used—extraction, analysis, and editing of ancient DNA—are already finding applications beyond such experiments, including in biodiversity conservation programs.

Embryo Selection

Modern in vitro fertilization (IVF) methods have long included preliminary assessment of embryos based on their viability. However, advances in genetic technologies have significantly expanded the possibilities for such analysis.

Today, laboratories can examine an embryo's DNA and detect a wide range of hereditary diseases. At the same time, commercial offerings have emerged that propose selecting embryos based on additional traits, such as height, eye color, and predicted cognitive abilities.

Such practices have sparked serious ethical debates. Complex traits, including intelligence, are influenced by numerous factors and cannot be accurately predicted at the genetic level. Moreover, critics point to the risks associated with the resurgence of eugenics ideas and the exacerbation of social inequality.

Despite this, several companies, including Nucleus, already offer corresponding services, positioning them as tools for "optimizing" the future child.