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Update
November 28, 2018 18:03:22
A Chinese scientist at the center of a controversy over what he claims to be the world's first genetically modified children is excused for the leaked outcome.
Key points:
- He Jiankui claimed to have used CRISPR to edit the embryos of two girls born this month
- A group of about 100 scientists said about this statement: "The Pandora's Box has been opened."
- He says his study has now been submitted to a scientific journal for review.
He Jiankui, badociate professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology of Shenzhen, China, presented his findings to about 700 people at the Summit on Human Genome Publishing at the University of Hong Kong.
"I have to apologize for the unexpected escape of this result," he said.
"This study has been submitted to a scientific journal for review."
He did not name the newspaper and said his university was not aware of his study.
In videos posted online this week, Associate Professor He said he used a gene editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the embryonic genes of binoculars born this month.
He defended the work, saying that gene editing would help protect girls from HIV infection, the virus that causes AIDS.
Scientists and the Chinese government denounced the work he said he had done and a hospital related to his research suggested that his ethical approval was forged.
Conference moderator, Robin Lovell-Badge, said the summit organizers were not aware of the story until the case went off this week.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to cut and glue DNA, which gives hope for genetic solutions to the disease, but there are concerns about safety and ethics.
An inventor of the CRISPR asks for a moratorium on the edition of embryos
More than 100 scientists, mainly in China, said Tuesday in an open letter that the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to alter human embryo genes was dangerous and unjustified.
"The Pandora's box has been opened," they said.
Even one of the inventors of CRISPR, Feng Zhang, told the Mbadachusetts Institute of Technology (Mbadachusetts Institute of Technology) that it was not worth the risk of starting to modify the genes of Embryos for the moment.
Gene editing involved the removal of a protein called CCR5 that HIV uses to enter the immune system, and Dr. Feng said its removal could make children vulnerable to West Nile virus.
Equally important, there are already common and highly effective methods of preventing HIV transmission from a parent to an unborn child, he said.
"Given the current state of technology, I am in favor of a moratorium on the implantation of published embryos … until we have first established a thoughtful set of security requirements, "he said.
"Not only do I consider this to be risky, but I am also deeply concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding this test.All medical advances, whether in gene editing or in gene modification, especially those that affect vulnerable populations must be tested carefully and thoughtfully, and discussed openly. " with patients, doctors, scientists and other members of the community, and implemented fairly. "
Associate Professor His research focuses on genome sequencing technology, bioinformatics and genome modification, according to his biography on the summit's website.
He earned his Ph.D. from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Stephen Quake's laboratory at Stanford University, according to the site.
Reuters / ABC
Topics:
science and technology,
genetic,
health,
medical ethics,
medical procedures,
medical research,
China,
Hong Kong
First posted
November 28, 2018 17:54:40
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