China, modified DNA, the scientist suspends the second pregnancy

Another "potential pregnancy", in the initial phase. This time from another couple. Another made with embryos from altered genes. But this time suspended. Probably for a miscarriage. To reveal it, at a conference on genetics in Hong Kong, he was the scientist He jiankui. A name that in recent days has gone around half the world.

Experimentation

On Monday, the researcher had informed the international scientific community of having contributed to the birth of two twins, Lulu and girl, with modified DNA. The scientist would have managed to modify the genetic inheritance of the two girls, born of the father Hiv-positive. And to complete the experiment, eight pairs of volunteers were involved, with HIV-positive fathers and HIV-negative mothers. They had registered for the experiment.

Excuses

But after the communication of second pregnancyfailed, the Asian scientist announced the suspension of experiments. And he said, "I have to apologize for the unexpected spread of results"His statements had provoked strong reactions from the Chinese scientific community and the opening of investigations by the National Health Commission and the Beijing Ministry of Science and Technology.

The defense of the study

But He Jiankui, at the summit on the editing of the human genome, revealed that "The study was submitted to a scientific journal for review"but without specifying which one." And he wanted to confirm that the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, in southeastern China, where he worked until February 2018, before the start of unpaid leave, n & # 39; He was not aware. study he was leading, but he said that he was "proud" because he thinks he can protect the two little ones from each otherHIV, which causes AIDS.

Pandora's box"

The methodology applied by the researcher, known in the medical field as Crispr-Cas9 for the modification of DNA, has aroused much criticism from many Chinese scientists, 122 of whom have denounced his research, defining as "a Pandora's box"close as soon as possible"before it's too late"The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science, Xu NanpingHe said he was "shocked" by the scientist's statements, recalling that such experiments would be banned in the country since 2003.