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Hong Kong –
A Chinese researcher claimed on Monday that he had conducted in vitro fertilization with modified genes giving birth to twins resistant to the AIDS virus, an announcement that had provoked ethical criticism for a considered act "dangerous" e "irresponsible."
He Jiankui, a professor at the University of Shenzhen in southern China, posted on YouTube a video announcing the birth of two twins whose DNA was modified to be resistant to the AIDS virus. He specified that the father was HIV-positive
The researcher, trained at Stanford in the United States and head of a genome laboratory in Shenzhen, explained that he had used the Crispr-Cas9 technique , called "genetic scissors", that allows for the removal and replacement of unwanted parts of the genome, such as the correction of a computer failure.
Babies, called "Lula" and "Nana", were born from in vitro fertilization of a modified embryo before being
"Just after injecting the husband's sperm into the # Egg, an embryologist injected a Crispr-Cas9 protein responsible for modifying a gene to protect girls from future HIV infection, "Jiankui explained.
The genetic modification of a DNA can be used to prevent diseases, but this practice is problematic because genetic changes will be inherited from new generations. [19659002] The MIT Technology Review recalled that "technology has an ethical responsibility"
The announcement of this medical experiment was announced on the eve of the launch of an expert conference on the global genome in Hong Kong, on the occasion of which the Chinese researcher he must present his results in detail.
However, after the criticisms received, his intervention in this congress of genetics is not badured.
This self-proclaimed medical experiment has not been independently verified. The Chinese team did not publish its findings in a scientific journal.
– A "very problematic" experiment –
As a result of the announcement, many Chinese scientists and organizations criticized this experience.
The University in which He reported that he had stopped receiving his salary since February and that he considered that fertilization with modified genes constituted "a violation of the ethical criteria of the". 39, academy and its standards ".
"This survey was conducted outside the confines of the university," said Monday the University of Science and Technology South in a statement.
A hundred Chinese scientists also issued a joint statement criticizing the experiment and asking for legislation in vitro fertilization.
In addition, international researchers have criticized the announcement made through a video on YouTube
"Announcement These results in a video on YouTube is a very problematic scientific practice," said Nicholas Evans, professor of philosophy at the University of Mbadachusetts Lowell, United States, which works on bioethics issues.
"This removes the control processes on which many scientific advances, such as peer badessment, are based," he added, interviewed by AFP.
Whether it is announced or not, the subject raises "serious ethical concerns", Sarah Chan, of Edinburgh University, cited by the Science Media Center .
"It is irresponsible to make such statements, apparently to deliberately seek maximum controversy (…)."
He Jiankui he did not respond immediately to AFP's questions. (I)
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