Chinese researcher states that a second pregnancy with a modified gene baby is underway

A Chinese scientist who claims to have helped create the first babies in the world with modified genes, announced Wednesday that a second pregnancy was underway, prompting growing concern from renowned scientists who are questioning the future. # 39; ethic of the experience.

He Jiankui, from Shenzhen, spoke at the conference on the human genome publishing in Hong Kong, where his experience was described as "irresponsible." It is banned in some countries, including the United States.

He stated that his goal was not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to confer a trait that few people have naturally – a capacity to resist a possible infection with HIV, the AIDS virus .

Until now, he has claimed to have helped to create binoculars whose DNA he has modified to make them resistant to possible infection with the AIDS virus.

It is too early to tell if the second potential pregnancy will last, as he has said, so watch it carefully as it is at a very early stage.

He Jiankui, who goes through "JK", studied at the American Rice and Stanford Universities before returning to his homeland to open a laboratory at the China University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, where he also owns two companies. genetic.

Associated Press contributed to this report.