China's Controversial Genome Scientist Plans More Research
Chinese researcher He Jiankui shocked the scientific community in 2018 when he announced that he had helped create the world's first genetically edited babies.
Now, after spending time in prison for his role in that project, he's back in the laboratory, and he's been telling a Japanese newspaper about his latest plans.
He used a gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to alter the genomes of twin baby girls who were born in 2018. The modification was intended to make their cells resistant to HIV infection.
His announcement caused significant controversy at the time, with some calling his work "unethical" and "monstrous."
Some scientists said it would lead to a demand for "designer babies" — embryos whose genes are selectively edited to give them certain characteristics.
He was fined about $430,000 and sentenced to three years in prison for "illegal medical practice."
Genome editing involves cutting out certain genes and putting in new ones with precise functions.
He has since said that he acted too quickly in going ahead with the procedure. But in an interview published in April, he told the Mainichi Shimbun: "I'm proud to have helped families who wanted healthy children."
He was released from prison in 2022, and he told the newspaper that he is not currently planning to help produce any more genome-edited babies.
However, He said he was still researching human embryo genome editing with the intention of treating rare genetic diseases, including Alzheimer's.
He said: "We will use discarded human embryos and comply with both domestic and international rules."
He added that "society will eventually accept" genome editing.
When He first published proposals related to his new research in 2023, it was called a "publicity stunt" by some.
Editing of the genes of embryos for use in pregnancy is illegal in many countries, including the US. In the UK, embryos can only be edited for research purposes after approval has been granted.
It's not yet known how genome editing might affect individuals later in life.
