Worth your time 

When Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) openly blasted Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless in a letter, BioCentury raised the question: Does this doom Sharpless’s chances of a potential confirmation? — Erin Mershon

A key congressional committee is set to vote today on whether to drop a ban on altering the genomes of human embryos intended for pregnancy — so STAT took a look at what that policy change means in the context of the broader debate about China’s “CRISPR babies.” 

The Washington Post has a great curtain raiser about the incoming drama surrounding a new draft bill that would allow drug makers to patent genes. Keep an eye on this! — Nicholas Florko