"Over the years the unthinkable hasbecome thinkable and today we sense we are close to being able to alter humanheredity œ#)." These were the words of David Baltimore of the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology, on December 1st, when he opened a three-day meeting inWashington to discuss the morality and use of human gene editing. Dr Baltimoreis an old hand at these sorts of discussions, for he was also a participant inthe Asilomar conference, in 1975, which brought scientists together to discussa safe way of using the then-new tcchnology of recombinant DNA, and whoserecommendations influenced a generation of biotechnology researchers.

Four decades on, the need for a similarsort of chin-wag has arisen. The InternationalSummit on Human Gene Editing has been held by the national scientific academiesof three countries — America, Britain and China. They are particularlyconcerned about whether gene editing should be used to make heritable changesto the human germ line, something Dr Baltimore described as a deep andtroubling question. Like those of Asilomar, the conclusions of this meetingwill not be binding. But the hope is that, again like Asilomar, a mixture ofcommon sense and peer pressure will create a world in which scientists aretrusted to regulate themselves, rather than having politicians and civilservants do it for them. The meeting is being held against a backdrop of rapidscientific advance, Since 2012 research into a new, easy-to-use editing tool calledCRISPR-Cas9 has blossomed. This technique involves a piece of RNA (a chemicalmessenger, which can be used to recognise a target section of DNA) and anenzyme (酶)called a nuclease that can snip unwanted genes out and paste new ones in.

Public interest was aroused in April,when Chinese scientists announced they had edited genes in non-viable ( 无活力的) humanembryos, and again in November when British researchers said they hadsuccessfully treated a one-year-old girl who had leukaemia ( 白血病),using gene-edited T-cells. T-cells are part of the immune system that attack,among other things, tumour cells. The researchers altered T-cells from ahealthy donor to encourage them to recognise and kill the patient's cancer, tomake them immune to her leukaemia drug, and to ensure they did not attack herhealthy cells.

In another recent development, a firmcalled Edit as Medicine, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has saidit hopes, in 2017, to start human clinical trials of CRISPR-Cas9 as a treatmentfor a rare genetic form of blindness known as Leber congenital amaurosis (伯氏先天性黑蒙).Though other companies are already testing gene-editing therapies, these employolder, clunkier forms of the technology that seem likely to have lesscommercial potential. Moreover, researchers at the Broad Institute, also inCambridge, said this week that they had made changes to CRISPR-Cas9 whichgreatly reduce the rate of editing errors — one of the main obstacles to thetechnique's medical use.

On the subject of germ-line editing,Eric Lander, the Broad's head, told the meeting it would be useful only in rarecases and said it might be a good idea to "exercise caution? before makingpermanent changes to the gene pool. The need for caution is advice that mightalso be heeded by those pursuing work in animals other than people, and inplants — subjects not being covered by the summit.

    Anne LaBastille was born in New York City and grew up in New Jersey. Her first experience with the wilderness was in the Adirondacks in the northeast of New York, where she worked at a summer resort to earn money for college tuition by caring for the horses, giving riding lessons, and working as a waitress. And she has many chances to begin her adventure in the Adirondack wilderness.

    Anne returned to school in the fall, but she continued to spend as much time as she could in the Adirondacks. She grew to love her time alone in the mountains. Anne graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in conservation of natural resources and began working for the National Audubon Society in Florida as a wildlife tour leader.

    Although Anne took great pleasure in showing people the animals living in the Florida Keys and the Everglades National Park, she longed for the mountains in the northern parts of New York. Eventually, she decided to build a cabin near Black Bear Lake. Over the years, however, more and more tourists began hiking near her cabin. As a result, Anne decided to build another cabin deeper in the woods at Lily Pad Lake.

    Anne lived in the woods for most of her life. She enjoyed living alone in the woods, and her life was far too busy for her to be lonely. When she was not writing books, she wrote articles for National Geographic, Reader's Digest, and other magazines. In her later years, Anne conducted research in Guatemala on an endangered bird called the grebe. She also lectured nationwide about ecology. Besides, Anne worked with a number of organizations dedicated to conservation.

    As a respected guide, author, and conservationist, Anne not only loved the land but also had found a way to become part of it.

    When it comes to gifts, it's not easy to shop for someone when you're not sure what they're into. Thankfully, Crate and Barrel's sister store — the modern, fancy version — CB2 has a gift collection that is just as beautiful as it is practical. They're known for their modern designs. We've edited a list of some of our favorite gift ideas from CB2 so you'll know just what to get.

    Galactic Jewelry Box ($21)

    This jewelry box is not only a place to store your jewels, but it looks like one itself. “Designed by UK-based Seascape Curiosities, the jewelry box brings deep space to your room. Open storage space lined with light grey cotton velvet holds most-precious possessions,” CB2 states. The best part? It's under $25.

    Flamingo Catchall ($29.95)

    Designed by the British fashion designer Matthew Williamson, this flamingo catchall is a pop of color in every room and offers a secure place to store some of your favorite rings, earrings, or little items. Not only is it an awesome addition to just about any home, it's also a great conversation starter at dinner parties.

    Heritage Navy Leather Activity Ball ($49)

    It's a great gift for the man in your life who loves sports. Crafted with design and function in mind, handmade activity ball (think of it as a smaller basketball) stands up to years of play and even gets better looking with age. It's a super addition to any bookshelf.

    Black Nickel Cocktail Shaker ($24.95)

    This cocktail shaker starts off with a smoky black finish and fades into grey. It's fashionable, functional, and — above all — easy to clean.

    Who is the most beautiful woman in the world? This question can't be answered as quickly as the magic mirror I answers the queen in Snow White. However, PEOPLE, a US magazine has been trying to answer that question since 1990. The magazine has its own Most Beautiful Woman every year. And last year it announced its pick for “World's Most Beautiful Woman” of 2017. It was Julia Roberts, who had won the title five times. “I am very happy,” said the Hollywood star. “I think I'm now peaking.”

    Roberts has been named “Most Beautiful” more times than anyone else. She first appeared on the magazine in 1991 at the age of 23. Roberts is perhaps not the perfect choice in all people's mind. There are so many beautiful ladies in different fields after all. But PEOPLE has its own reasons, and it's not just about her looks. Julia has never looked better. Her beauty also lies in her self-confidence and good humour. It lies in her ability to develop while keeping the best parts of herself. It lies in her talent for creating characters and telling stories that take us to new places. It lies in her beautiful smiles.

    In Julia's view, the most important secret for beauty is being happy! “Beauty is about your spirit. Be happy and live the life you want to live. That's the key to looking your best,” said Julia.

    “Freelance retail consultant” refers to daigou in Chinese, or overseas people who buy goods for customers in the Chinese mainland.

     It's estimated that there are 40,000 daigou in Australia, most of whom are young migrants or international students looking for ways to help cover their rent and university cost.

    These freelance retail consultants have created thousands of trading routes, both small and big, into China.

    Shops in Australia sold out of instant formula （婴儿配方奶粉）, leaving many Australian parents unable to buy their preferred brands. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last year that half of Australia's infant formula sold went to China through customers selling to other customers.

    Because of this, daigou have received criticism from Australian media. The Sydney Morning Post even suggested that the Australian government should put a limit on instant formula exports.

    However, not everyone dislikes daigou. “We think daigou are good for the local economy and they are very good for our business,” Peter Nathan, the chief executive of A2 Milk, a New Zealand infant formula maker, told Reuters. “We clearly believe they are a positive force.”

    Others agree that nothing is wrong with the practice. “People are buying these products legally on the Australian market… they're not illegally being exported to China,” Tim Foulds, head of research at Euro monitor Australia and New Zealand, told The Washington Post.

    Four books that will inspire you to travel the world

    There's truly nothing like travel when it comes to gaining perspectives and exposing yourself to other cultures. To get you in the adventuring mood, we asked Amazon Senior Editor Chris Schlep to help you come up with a list of books that transport readers to another time and place. Below, see his list of four books that will inspire you to travel the world.

    ITALY: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

    This book by the popular author Jess Walter is a love story that begins on the Italian Coast in the early 60s and eventually concludes in contemporary Hollywood's screen. As the settings shift from Italy to Edinburgh and Los Angeles, you will find yourself longing to go as well. Buy it on Amazon. Price: $28.90

    SEATTLE: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

    Maria Semple's first novel is not exactly a love story in Seattle, but if you read it, you just might want to come here to see if people are really as self­involved as the characters in her book. What really shines through is the strange storytelling and the laughs. Buy it on Amazon. Price: $26.60

    ENGLAND: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

    You can't travel to Thomas Cromwell's England without a time machine, but reading Mantel's prize­winning novel is the next best thing. It will make you long to see the ancient buildings and green grass of the English countryside, most of which are still there. Buy it on Amazon. Price: $25.10

    NANTUCKET: Here's to Us by Elin Hilderbrand

    Elin Hilderbrand has built a writing career out of writing about her hometown island of Nantucket. Her latest book is Here's to Us, which, perhaps not surprisingly, is a great beach book. Buy it on Amazon. Price: $30.80