- He Jiankui , a scientist associated with the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, has claimed that he had altered the genes of twins born earlier this month, creating the first gene edited babies.
- He said in five videos posted on November 26, 2018, that he used a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genes of twin girls.
- The editing process, which he calls gene surgery, “worked safely as intended” and the girls are “as healthy as any other babies”, he said in one video. It was impossible to verify the claims as Mr. He did not provide any written documentation of his research.
- He also said that he began his work in the second half of 2017 and enrolled eight couples. All of the potential fathers involved were HIV-positive. Five chose to implant embryos, including the parents of the twin girls, identified only by the pseudonyms Mark and Grace. The babies’ names are Lulu and Nana, He said in one video.
- After the YouTube video of scientist surfaced, Chinese health and medical ethics authorities started an investigation on the claim.
- The institute said that it had been unaware of the research project and that Mr. He had been on leave without pay since February. It also said that the work is a “serious violation of academic ethics and standards”.
- Southern University of Science and Technology said it would form an independent committee of experts to investigate. It said Mr. He is on unpaid leave until 2021.
What is CRISPR-Cas9?
- CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut-and-paste DNA, raising hope of genetic fixes for disease. However, there are also concerns about its safety and ethics.
- “If true, this experiment is monstrous,” said Julian Savulescu, director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford.
- He said he was aiming to bestow on the gene edited babies “lifetime protection” against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
- In 2015, scientists at Sun Yat-sen University sparked a global controversy after they published results of an experiment that used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genes of non-viable human embryos.
