Doubts about the announcement of the "first genetically modified baby"

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PA

There has been much doubt about the announcement by a Chinese researcher of the birth of the world's first genetically modified baby.

Professor Heih Jiankui said he changed the DNA of two girls born a few weeks earlier to protect them from AIDS.

The Chinese researcher, quoted by the Associated Press as a photographer, did not confirm the authenticity of the allegations, but angered some scientists who described the operation as brutal.

Most countries in the world prohibit such genetic modifications.

Future generations

Genetic modification can help prevent genetic diseases by modifying or disrupting fetal pathogen genes.

But scientists warn that a genetic modification of a fetus can harm the same person as well as subsequent generations of modified genes.

Many countries, including Britain, prohibit the genetic modification of embryos to help human reproduction.

Scientists can adjust artificial insemination embryos provided they get rid of them immediately and do not produce children.

"Children's Design"

But Professor Hee, who studied at Stanford University in the United States and works in a laboratory in Shenzhen City, southern China, said he used the genetic modification that led to the birth of Lulu twins. and Nana.

He explained in the video how he removed a CRC5 from Murcia to make girls resistant to HIV if they were exposed to it.

He added that his job was to have children not exposed to the disease and not to conceive children with certain characteristics such as eye color or high intelligence.

"I know my work will be controversial, but I think families need this technology and I'm ready to take the blame," he said.

"Treatable disease"

Many organizations, including the hospital to which the researcher belongs, denied any connection with what he had done.

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Other scientists have said, "If the story is true, Professor Hee crossed the border by testing the embryos in a healthy and unjustified manner."

"If this fits with their medical ethics, their morale is different from that of the rest of the world," said Dr. Doshko Elich, stem cell specialist at the University of Keynes College London.

He added that HIV could treat him and that if we controlled the infection with medication, there would be no risk of transmission of the virus from parents to the baby.

Many risks

"These tests are really brutal," said Professor Julian Savolisco, professor of medical ethics at Oxford University.The fetus is in good health and does not suffer from any known disease. "

"Genetic modification is still in the experimental stage and can lead to immediate or subsequent problems, including cancer."

"There are many ways to avoid AIDS, including safe bad, and effective treatment is offered to those infected," he said.

Scientists say that genetic modification may be acceptable someday, but that it should be allowed to be subject to additional testing.