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A Chinese scientist who claims to have created the first genetically modified babies in the world said the trial was suspended following an international outcry sparked by this highly controversial procedure.
Professor He Jiankui said at a medical conference held in Hong Kong that he had succeeded in altering the DNA of binoculars born to an HIV-positive father.
A total of eight couples of volunteers – HIV – positive fathers and HIV – negative mothers – had registered for the trial, one of them having been abandoned before being suspended. .
"I have to apologize, the result was leaked unexpectedly," said Professor He.
"The clinical trial was halted because of the current situation," he added.
The Chinese hospital linked to Professor He's experience denied his involvement.
Shenzhen Harmonicare Hospital for Women and Children said in a statement yesterday that it suspected the signing of a document approving the experiment, especially its adherence to ethical standards, had been falsified.
He also asked the police to investigate.
"We have always strongly opposed the development of genetic experiments that violate human ethics and morality," said the hospital on its website.
During interviews with Chinese media, Cheng Zhen, the hospital's general manager, said that the hospital had not been badociated with Professor He and that he was not there. Had never even met the man before.
Scientists have warned that exposing genes and healthy embryos to gene editing was irresponsible, while others have denounced Professor He's experience as being premature and dangerous.
Chinese scientists and institutions have also criticized the experiment, a hundred scientists having issued a joint statement calling for better legislation on the part of the state.
"This is a blow to the global reputation and development of biomedical research in China," said the statement released on the Weibo Twitter platform.
The university where he worked is also distant from the scientist's experience.
"This research work was done by Professor He Jiankui outside of school," said Monday the University of Science and Technology South in a statement.
He has been on leave without pay since February and his research is a "serious violation of ethics and academic standards," he said.
Professor He told the Hong Kong conference that his study had been submitted to a scientific journal for review, without naming it.
Professor He, who said that his work was self-financing, dismissed concerns that research had been conducted in secret, explaining that he had mobilized the scientific community over the past three years.
In videos posted online this week, Professor He said he used a gene modification technology called CRISPR-Cas9 to modify the embryonic genes of binoculars born this month.
He added that gene editing would help protect girls from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Conference moderator Robin Lovell-Badge said the organizers were not aware of the story until it started this week.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to cut and glue DNA, which gives hope for genetic solutions to the disease. However, there are concerns about security and ethics.
In a statement released yesterday, the Chinese Society of Cell Biology strongly condemned any application of gene editing to human embryos for reproductive purposes and said that this was contrary to the law and medical ethics of the China.
More than 100 scientists, most of them in China, said in an open letter that the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to alter human embryo genes was dangerous and unjustified. "The Pandora's box has been opened," they said.
Professor He's research focuses on genome sequencing technology, bioinformatics and genome editing, according to his biography on the conference website.
He earned his Ph.D. from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Stephen Quake's laboratory at Stanford University, according to the site.
David Baltimore, President Emeritus; Robert Andrews Millikan, professor of biology, spoke after Professor He's speech, stating that it was irresponsible to have proceeded until the security problems were resolved.
"I do not think it's a transparent process, it's only after the children are born that it happened," he said.
He said his findings could be used for millions of people with inherent illnesses. He said he would monitor both newborns for the next 18 years and hoped that they would support continued surveillance eventually.
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