Research activities of people arrested following an incident involving a gene-modified baby – Xinhua

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) – Chinese authorities ordered Thursday to suspend research activities of those involved in the incident involving geniuses of genes, denouncing the case as "extremely abominable by nature "and constituting a violation of Chinese laws and science. L & # 39; ethics.

The case of twins modified by a gene reported by the media violently violated Chinese laws and regulations and violated the foundation of scientific ethics, which is both shocking and unacceptable, Xu Nanping Deputy Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology, Xu said the ministry was strongly opposed to the research, stressing that the clinical procedures of editing genes on human embryos for reproductive purposes were explicitly prohibited in China.

The ministry ordered the units concerned to impose the suspension, Xu said.

He Jiankui, a Chinese researcher based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, said on Monday he had changed the DNA of twins born a few weeks ago to contract HIV. His claim has still not been proven, but the incident sparked a heated debate within the scientific community and on social networks.

The National Health Commission (NHC) of China also pronounced against the incident. Zeng Yixin, deputy head of NHC, said that illegal activities in this area would be investigated and that wrongdoing would be dealt with resolutely.

As science and technology progress rapidly, research and applications in this area must badume more responsibilities and codes.

The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), a research company composed mainly of researchers and scientists, said that He Jiankui's candidacy for a prize for young scientists would be disqualified, La CAST adopts an attitude of "zero tolerance" vis-à-vis those who violate ethics and scientific standards.

Huai Jinpeng, party leader and executive vice president of CAST, described the case as "extremely abominable by nature" and said that it had seriously damaged the image . and the interests of the Chinese scientific community.

The people and institutions involved in this case have "launched a brazen challenge at the bottom of the ethics of scientific research and desecrated the spirit of science," Huai said.

"The Chinese scientific community is committed to its original aspiration that science and technology will always serve humanity and a healthy and sustainable development of society," he said.