"I'm proud": scientist, he defends babies from genetic experiment

Chinese scientist He Jiankui today defended the work that led to the birth of the first genetically modified babies, a case with profound medical and ethical implications that has sparked a strong rejection by the global scientific community.

Science must do more to help people with diseases, he said at a conference on genome research in Hong Kong, during which he answered questions from international experts gathered at this meeting. in law.

It was his first appearance since he announced the birth of the Lulu and Nana twins through a video released Sunday on YouTube.

According to He, genetic modification of embryos was performed with the new CRISPR-Cas9 technique, with the aim of making infants resistant to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, until now, there is no independent confirmation of this claim.

In Hong Kong, he reiterated that he had convinced many childless couples to participate in their experiences in which the woman was healthy and the father infected with HIV. Finally, one of the couples had twins. "I am really proud of this particular case," he said. After the babies were born, he said, he received a message from the father in which he promised to work hard, earn money and take care of his wife.