China has opened an investigation after the birth of genetically modified babies

China opened an investigation Monday after the announcement of a Chinese researcher who claimed to have proceeded to in vitro fertilization with modified genes who gave birth to twins resistant to the AIDS virus, an experience considered "dangerous" and "irresponsible". He jiankui, professor at the University of Shenzhen, South of China, posted on YouTube a video announcing the birth, a few weeks ago, of two twins whose DNA It has been modified to resist the AIDS virus. It is said that the father is HIV positive.

After Chinese scientists and institutions received this announcement with many critics, the National Health Commission in China ordered an "immediate investigation" into the case, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The Stanford-based researcher in the United States, who runs a genome laboratory in Shenzhen, said he used the Crispr-Cas9 technique, called "genetic scissors", to remove and replace unwanted parts of the genome. genome. correct an error in a computer.

Babies, called "Lula" and "Nana", are born from the in vitro fertilization of a modified embryo before being implanted in the womb of the mother. "Just after injecting the husband's sperm into the void, an embryo injected a Crispr-Cas9 protein to modify a gene to protect the girls from future HIV infection," said He Jiankui.

An unverified experience

The genetic modification of a DNA can be used to prevent diseases, but this practice is problematic because genetic modifications will be inherited from new generations and could involve a new form of eugenics. The MIT Technology Review recalled that "technology has an ethical responsibility".

The announcement of this medical experiment came on the eve of the beginning of a global genome experts conference in Hong Kong, during which the Chinese researcher was to present his findings in detail. However, after the criticisms received, his intervention in this congress of genetics is not guaranteed. This self-proclaimed medical experience has not been independently verified. The Chinese team did not publish its findings in a scientific journal.

Practice "very problematic"

After the announcement, many Chinese scientists and organizations criticized this experience. The university in which he works has informed me that he had ceased receiving his salary since February and considered that fertilization with modified genes represented "a violation of the ethical criteria of the academy and". of its standards ".

"This research was conducted outside of the university," said Monday the University of Science and Technology South in a statement. About 100 Chinese scientists have also issued a joint statement criticizing the experiment and calling for the legislation on in vitro fertilization to be amended.

This medical experiment was known for a long time, but no scientist dared to use it because "no one can predict the uncertain impact of these genetic modifications", criticizes this group of scientists who believe that this opened "a Pandora's Box".

In addition, international researchers have criticized the announcement made through a video on YouTube. "The announcement of these results in a YouTube video is a very problematic scientific practice," lamented Nicholas Evans, professor of philosophy at the University of Mbadachusetts Lowell, in the United States, who works on the issues of biotechnology. "This departs from the control processes on which many scientific advances, such as peer badessment, are based," he added, questioned by AFP.

Whether it is announced or not, the subject raises "serious ethical concerns," says Sarah Chan, of the University of Edinburgh, cited by the Science Media Center. "Making such statements, apparently deliberately seeking maximum controversy (…), is irresponsible," he added. He Jiankui did not immediately respond to AFP's questions.