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The genetic modification of the embryos was carried out with the new CRISPR-Cas9 technique, in order to make the newborns resistant to HIV.
Hong Kong, China, November 28, 2018. Today, the Chinese scientist defended the work that led to the birth of the first genetically modified babies, a case with profound medical and ethical implications that sparked a strong rejection by the global scientific community.
Science must do more to help people with diseases, he said at a conference on genome research in Hong Kong, during which he answered questions from international experts gathered at this meeting. in law. Many of them have questioned the medical utility of the experiments and have drawn attention to the risks that, in their opinion, exist for twins and their offspring.
It was his first public appearance since he announced the birth of the Lulu and Nana twins through a video posted on YouTube on Sunday.
According to him, the genetic modification of the embryos was carried out with the innovative technique CRISPR-Cas9, with the aim of ensuring that the newborns, whose identity is sought by the scientist, resist the virus of Human immunodeficiency (HIV). ). However, up to now, there is no independent confirmation of this claim.
The scientist pointed out that he had given a specialized journal documents related to his research and said that this information had been unexpected. A rather surprising statement, since it is he who announced the birth of babies on YouTube shortly before the start of the congress.
In Hong Kong, he convinced many childless couples, in which the woman was healthy and the father infected with HIV, to participate in their experiences. Finally, one of the couples had twins. "I am really proud of this particular case," he said. After the babies were born, he said, he received a message from the father in which he promised to work hard, earn money and take care of his wife.
"Millions of people will be able to get help if technology is available more quickly," he said. The scientist reported at the Hong Kong conference that another woman was pregnant with an embryo handled by her.
"I spoke in a big hall of the university that was packed," said dpa biochemist Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, who attended the congress. "He gave the impression of being very well prepared and was very sure of himself."
Winnacker stated that at the conference he did not find any other scientists who agreed with He's experiments. US virologist and Nobel laureate David Baltimore said the Chinese researcher's work was "irresponsible" and "from a pointless medical point of view." The case shows, he added, that "self-regulation of science" has failed.
The French microbiologist Emmanuelle Carpentier, who has largely participated in the development of the Crispr / Cas9 technique, is said to be "very worried".
"He Juankui has clearly crossed a red line, especially because he has ignored in his research the concerns of the international scientific community regarding the issue of human germ lines," said Carpentier, director of infectious biology at the 39, German research institute. Max Planck.
Two other major scientists who participated in the development of the Crispr / Cas9 technique, the Americans Jennifer Doudna and Feng Zhang, were already away from He on Monday.
Other researchers have accused him of endangering the search for all genomes with his "non-transparent" experiments. Apparently, the scientist had not reported his experiences either to the Chinese authorities or to his university in Shenzhen City. The Chinese government said it had ordered an investigation of the experiments.
Text: Jörn Petring and Walter Willems / DPA / Photo: Special
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They are investigating the announcement of the birth of genetically modified babies
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