China orders investigation into a case of genetically modified twins

Health Authorities and Medical Ethics of China They launched Monday an investigation into the statements of a scientist who posted on YouTube videos claiming to have modified the genes of twin more born early this month, which would mean that he created the first genetically modified babies.

The University of Science and Technology South of Shenzhen City, in southern China, where the scientist He Jiankui has an badociate president, said that he did not go to school. was unaware of the project and the researcher was on leave without pay since February.

I defended the project. who claims to have succeeded, claiming that he had carried out genetic editing to help protect babies from a future infection with the AIDS virus. But the university said the investigation constituted a "serious violation of ethics and academic standards" and experts around the world condemned it, calling it "monstrous and dangerous." ".

The entity issued a statement as a result of what I said in Five videos released Monday using a genetic editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 for modifying genes twins Lulu and Nana, baby names according to He.

The National Health Commission of China said that it was "very worried" and ordered the provincial health authorities "to investigate immediately and clarify the matter." "We must be responsible for the health of the population and we will act according to the law, "he said in a statement.

The Shenzhen Medical Ethics Committee declared that he was investigating the case.

videos that the editing process, which he called genetic surgery, "worked as safely as expected" and that girls are "as healthy as any other baby". It was impossible to verify the claims, as the expert did not provide written documentation regarding his study.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to cut and glue DNA, offering hope for genetic solutions to fight disease. However, he also raises concerns about his safety and ethics.

"If true, this experience is monstrous," said Julian Savulescu, a specialist in medical ethics at the University of Oxford in the UK. Kathy Niakan, an expert at the Francis Crick Institute in London, said: "If this is true (…), it would be a very irresponsible, unethical and dangerous use of genomic publishing technology. "

Southern University of Science and Technology He said that he would be on leave until 2021. Contacted for comments, he said – without specifying a date – that he was on leave volunteer for several years to devote himself to his research.

"I understand that my work will be controversial, but I believe that families need this technology and I am willing to accept their criticism," says the scientist in one of the videos.

In a previous interview with Reuters, he said his goal was to give babies "lifelong protection" against HIV. He started work in the second half of 2017 and recruited eight HIV-positive couples. Five chose to implant embryos, including the parents of the twins, identified only by the pseudonyms Mark and Grace.

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