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The Chinese scientist who claims to have created the first genetically modified baby in the world has defended his work and revealed that there is "another potential pregnancy" for a genetically modified embryo, but he is still there. at a very preliminary stage, reports Reuters. At an expert conference in Hong Kong, He Jiankui said he was proud of his work despite criticism from the scientific community.
Earlier this week, He Jiankui claimed to have modified the embryos of seven couples during fertility treatments, one of the pregnancies having been successful. The genetic modification was carried out in two twins whose scientist claims to have modified the DNA using a technique called CRISPR / Cas9. In this case, the goal is not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to build resilience to a possible HIV infection. The announcement was not well received and the experience was deemed unethical and "monstrous" by some of his peers.
The Chinese Society of Cell Biology is among the critical voices. She vehemently condemned any request for gene modification in human embryos for reproductive purposes and said that this practice was against the law and the country's medical ethics.
The South China University of Science and Technology in Shenzen, where research and experience will have been developed, said that he was unaware of the scientist's work and stated that he would conduct an investigation into the case.
The second summit on human genome editing, which was held at the University of Hong Kong, brought together 700 scientists, including Nobel laureate David Medicine, winner of the 1975 award.
On Wednesday, in his first statements after the revelation of his work, He Jiankui also said that initially the investigation had been funded with his money. He also revealed that he had submitted the research to a scientific journal, without identifying the publication.
The scientist pointed out that the two twins, Lulu and Nana, "were born healthy and happy." Jiankui also pointed out that it was against "genetic improvement", but that "these people need help", adding that "we have technology for that".
"I'm proud, I feel proud because the father [das gémeas] I had already lost hope. It is not a question of "drawing babies", but simply of a healthy child. "
He Jiankui insisted that the purpose of his research was not to create a "smarter, to change the color of the eyes or the appearance" and that it was only "maybe to be the only way to cure a disease. "
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