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A Chinese scientist who claims to have created the first genetically modified babies in the world said Wednesday that his actions were safe and ethical and that he was proud of what had been done. However, many other scientists are extremely skeptical and the forum organizers have described his actions as irresponsible.
"Especially for this case, I'm proud"Professor He Jiangui said in front of his colleagues at an international conference on gene modification in Hong Kong, where he presented his experience on altering the DNA of two twins so that he could have a better time. they can not be infected with the AIDS virus.
In her words, there is now a chance to preserve another pregnancy with a genetically modified embryo.
The only thing he apologized for was the unexpected news that he had used genetically modified CRISPR technology to change the embryos and then implanted them into the womb of a woman who had given birth to two binoculars this month .
The affirmation of his scientific achievements has so far no independent confirmation, notes the BBC, but the news shook the scientific community. Many scholars have condemned He Jianguy, some have even called his idea monstrous. Scientists are working diligently to prevent such a sham to use advanced technology to alter human DNA.
In many countries of the world, this research is prohibited.
Hong Kong scientists, including leading genetics experts, consider He Jiangsu's behavior to be unethical. They stress that the safety of the "modification" of embryos has not yet been resolved and that it is therefore necessary to carry out these tests in a transparent and controlled manner to avoid any misuse of the technology.
Professor He's presentation on Wednesday failed to calm his colleagues.
Immediately after his presentation, Nobel laureate David Baltimore, chairman of the conference's organizing committee, said Dr. He was irresponsible, the New York Times reported.
"I did not think it was a transparent process, and we only understood it after it had already happened after the birth of the children, and personally, I do not think that it was. 39, was a medical necessity, "said Dr. Baltimore. .
Robin Lovell-Bege, professor of genetics and embryology at the Franks Crickeys Institute in London, asked Ha Jianguy why he needed such a secret, especially since he was aware of the opinion of the scientific community that he was not going away. to such actions.
The current accusation is that you broke the law. If you had asked the Chinese authorities, they might have said you could not do that, Lovell-Bege noted.
It is the University of Science and Technology of Southern University in Shenzhen.
He confirmed that his university ignored him and added that he had funded the experiment with his own funds.
He said that the newborn twins, whom he called "Lulu" and "Nana", are "born normal and healthy" and that he intends to follow their development over the next 18 years.
He Jiangsu explained that eight couples composed of HIV-positive fathers and HIV-negative mothers had written consent to voluntary participation in the experiment. The teacher then selected one of these pairs.
He also stated that he had entrusted his scientific work to a scientific journal for review and evaluation, without, however, specifying what this publication consisted of.
The CRISPR technology genetically modified that he claims to have used is not new in the scientific world. It was first discovered in 2012. It uses "molecular scissors" to change a very specific DNA thread – cut it, replace it or fix it.
Genetic publishing can potentially help avoid hereditary diseases by removing or modifying the problem code in embryos.
Experts, however, warn that interference in the embryo's genome may not only harm the individual, but also future generations who will inherit the same corrections.
Hundreds of Chinese scientists published a signed letter in their social media in which they "categorically" opposed Professor He's actions.
Professor Julian Sevourlescu, an expert on ethics at Oxford University, told the BBC: "If that is true, this experiment is monstrous and the genetic modification itself is experimental and it is always badociated with mutational deviations, capable of causing genetic problems early in life or later, including the development of cancer. "
"This experience puts children in good health at risk of gene modification without real benefit," he said.
Many countries, including the United Kingdom, have laws prohibiting the genetic modification of embryos in the context of badisted human reproduction.
Scientists can do such research on rejected embryos that are fertilized in vitro and must immediately destroy them and not use them to create babies.
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