The scientist of the twins speaks with the modified DNA: "Sorry but I would do it again"

He does not repent of the experience that in a few months could lead to new births. But he regretted that the news of the twins with genetically modified DNA has exploded before the publication of the study, currently being reviewed by an unspecified scientific journal.

To say that it was the same He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who broke the last taboo, acting hereditarily on the human genome using the CRISPR technique. And this time he did not do it with a video on YouTube but live in front of the most difficult audience: scientists and bioethicists gathered in Hong Kong for the second International Summit on Human Genome Publishing .

A graduate in physics from China, he studied biophysics at Rice University in Texas, was a postdoc at Stanford, before returning home in 2012 at the University of Shenzhen with the Brain Recovery Program.

JK, as his American acquaintances call him, seems calm and little shaken by events, considering that his run to the fore risks to harm the entire research sector and that the Chinese authorities still have to decide on the legitimacy of its work.

His speech at the summit, planned before the scoop "MIT Technology Review" and from the exclusive entrusted to the AP, it is highly anticipated and lasts about twenty minutes. The scientist first defends the experimental framework, and in particular the choice to induce resistance to the HIV virus by inactivating the CCR5 gene. Then he illustrates

preliminary experiments on mice and monkeys.

He explains that he compared the DNA of genetically modified embryos to that of his parents, identifying a possible mutation that is not targeted but that has changed from one to another. 39 neither for him nor for the couple regarding the opportunity of a transfer in the uterus.

In the end, during the debate that follows, gives some figures, but with the dropper. Thirty or so embryos would be published. Another pregnancy is in progress, at an advanced stage. The other five couples in the trial will have to wait, because the clamor of those days has forced a pause for reflection.

The issues confronting colleagues and journalists, instead of clearing the field of perplexities, end up reinforcing them.

This does not convince the ease with which it dispels fears of adverse effects of CCR5 gene activation, which could impact cognitive activity as well as the immune system's ability to fight against other infections such as influenza and West Nile virus.

They raise more than one eyebrow in the way they were interviewed and obtained the informed consent of the prospective parents, who had an informal two-hour interview with a member of the research group and a brief formal interview with He himself. even instead of with specially trained third parties. For the experiments, the scientist drew on the funds from the university, while the medical expenses of the subjects involved were treated in the first person.

Ultimately, the dangers of a risky genetic intervention, designed to prevent a theoretical risk rather than cure a disease, and carried out with a technique still immature for use on human embryos, seem far superior to the expected benefit.

At best, only one of the twins would be resistant to HIV, because in the other case, the editing would have occurred in a partial way. Not to mention the fact that, to defend against the AIDS virus, there are much simpler and more conventional approaches, from condoms to antiretroviral drugs.

The Chinese researcher said that in a recent survey, most of his compatriots said they were in favor of modifying the germ line to prevent AIDS. It is perhaps also because of the strong social stigma that the father of twins (HIV-positive like other future fathers recruited in the experiment) wanted to offer their daughters the most durable protection.

You do not need to ask for information about the actual names of the people involved. In China, it is forbidden to reveal the identity of HIV-positive patients, He says. Also for girls, Lulu and Nana, he chose fantastic names. The last question of the debate comes from the media: "Would you have done the same thing if it was your son?" The audience roars, the answer is positive. "Under the same conditions, I would have been the first to try".

(The original of this article was published on the CRISPerMANIA blog on November 28, 2018. Reproduction authorized, all rights reserved.)