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When the Chinese scientist He Jiankui created the first genetically modified children, he dreamed of improving the world. He thought that the genetic alteration he had added to twins born last year would protect them from HIV. Publishing human embryos, he says, would bring new hope to millions of people.
Instead, he may have put the twins at risk for an untimely death.
A new report reveals that genetic mutations similar to those created by Il, on a gene called CCR5, shorten the lives of people by 1.9 years on average.
"This is clearly a powerful mutation," says population geneticist Rasmus Nielsen of the University of California, Berkeley. "You can not have a lot of mutations doing that, or you would not live that long."
The discovery offers a warning witness to anyone looking to improve human beings. This is because many genes have more than one role, and scientists tinkering with balance may have unexpected or expected side effects.
Read the full original message: CRISPR babies in China could be killed sooner
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