The experiment with the two genetically adulterated twins was suspended

(ANSA) – The Chinese doctor who announced the birth of two twins with an altered gene said that he was not sorry for what he had done and that it was up to him proud, despite the criticisms made.

He Jiankui made these statements at the International Summit on the Human Genome Publishing held in Hong Kong and from where, however, came the news that the experience is now suspended precisely because of the controversy that arose.

The scientist spoke to a crowd of more than 700 international researchers, who subjected him to a "bombardment" of issues. Who consulted if other current pregnancies were part of the study, he replied that there was another "potential", even at the beginning, but that a series of responses successive did not allow to know if there had been miscarriage or pregnancy are going on

I admitted that there were eight couples involved in the experiment, which aimed to "silence" the gene that produces the protein that allows the entry of the HIV virus into the cells. The scientist said he was "proud" of the results obtained, ignoring the main objection made by the experts about the test, namely that the Crispr technique used for genome editing often results in unwanted changes in other areas of the DNA.

"The volunteers – confirmed again to have stopped the tests for the" current situation "- were informed of the risks of unwanted modifications by the DNA, although they also decided to implant the embryos" . During his speech, He Jiankui explained the different phases of the test, starting with the tests on animals a few years ago. All data will have been sent to a scientific journal for publication, although this has not been specified.

The experiment, admitted the researcher, took place outside the University of Science and Technology of the South, where he worked until February, with personal resources of himself. The announcement, published last Sunday with a video on YouTube and taken over by Mit Technology Review magazine, sparked protests around the world, from China itself, where more than 120 scientists signed a letter in the newspaper. that the experience is defined as "crazy" and that the National Health Commission has opened an official investigation. In Italy, too, the critical voices were numerous, starting with the Minister of Health, Giulia Grillo.

"Now science has reached a very high level in the field of genetics," he said in an interview with SkyTg24: "We need to establish this issue as an international community and understand exactly how the world is doing. humanity must go, because it is clear that scientific research without brakes, it can do everything, even turn human beings into a test tube. "