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A researcher from Shenzhen Hei Jianqiu said that he had modified the embryos of seven couples to create a feature that naturally has very few people – the ability to resist a possible infection with AIDS. The South Shenzhen University of Science and Technology, to which he works, believes he has violated the university ethics and code of conduct.
A Chinese researcher claims that he helped create the first babies born with a gene-shaped gene in the world – twins born earlier this month and, allegedly, with the new tool, the genetic code was amended. If his claims are true, it is a major leap in the development of science, but also an ethical issue, says the Washington Post.
A researcher from Shenzhen Hei Jianqiu said that he had changed the embryos of seven couples during the course of artificial insemination treatment and that there has been until now only one birth. He said his goal was not to create a man who would not get sick, nor prevent the development of hereditary diseases, but his desire was to create a characteristic that few people naturally have – the ability to resist a possible infection of the anus.
He said the parents involved in the experiment did not want their names to be disclosed and that he did not want to reveal anything about them.
No independent source has yet been confirmed, and his claims are unsupported by any media statement. Jianqiu shared his achievements with one of the organizers of the Hong Kong International Conference on Gene Modification. He also told the Associated Press.
"I feel a great responsibility, not only because I do it first, but because I want to do it, for example, and society will decide what will happen next," said Jiankjui, noting that his work would only speak.
An American scientist said that he was participating in the work on the project in China, but that this type of genome regulation in the United States is banned because changes in DNA can affect future generations. Many scientists believe that any kind of work with genes is dangerous and that such experiments on humans are totally dangerous.
However, the Chinese researcher explained that his motive was noble. In China, the virus is a big problem for the whole society. This is why Jiankjui tried to modify the CCR5 gene, which is the protein input allowing the HIV virus to enter the cell. All men who participated in the experiment were infected with a sidewalk and their wives were not, and the goal was to offer these couples the opportunity to release their children of the same fate.
Here is how Jiankjui described the whole process:
Genetic modification occurred during IVF or breastfeeding in the laboratory. First, the sperm is "washed" to separate the seeds, the fluid in which HIV can hide. After separation, the gene editing tool was added. When the embryos were three to five days old, several cells were removed and the effects of editing were checked. Tests have shown that one of the twins has changed both copies of the CCR5 gene, while the other has only changed one and that it will not be resistant HIV, but its immunity and general health will drop much more slowly than the usual pace.
Jianqiu works at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, and revealed after revealing that he had performed a genetic modification.
"In the media reports of November 26, 2018, we learned that Dr. He Jiankjui, who was on leave without pay from February this year to January 2021, had informed the public that he had undergone a genetic modification of 39 Human embryos Knowledge shocked us deeply and we asked for explanations from Điankjui, and the Biology Department, of which he was a member, requested a meeting of the Academic Committee based on the information collected up to the date of publication. what this official publication is made public, we consider the following:
The survey was conducted off campus and neither the university nor the department was informed of such activities.
We believe that Dr. Điankjui's gene modification has undermined the ethics and code of conduct of academics.
All research carried out within the University respects laws, as well as ethical codes of conduct.
For this reason, the University will form an independent committee to investigate this incident and publish the results, "said South University of Science and Technology.
According to the New York Times, it is very unusual for a scientist to announce a revolutionary breakthrough without at least providing data that can be reviewed by academic experts. Dr. Jianqiu said that he had received authorization to work from the Shenzhen Hospital Ethics Committee, but the hospital denied this during interviews with the Chinese media. Cheng Jen, chief executive of the hospital, has asked police to investigate what they suspect to be "fake documents for ethical review", according to a report from Beijing.
Although illegal emission of human embryos is illegal in the United States and in many other countries, it is not against the law to do so in China, but many researchers are 39, oppose this practice. A group of 122 Chinese scientists described Dr. Heights as "madness" and claiming that his claims "were a blow to the reputation and development of Chinese science around the world."
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