Rice opens an investigation into a researcher who has worked on babies treated with CRISPR®.

RThe University of Ice announced Monday that she had opened a "thorough investigation" on the involvement of one of her professors in a study that would have resulted in the creation of the world's first babies born with a Modified DNA.

Michael Deem, a professor of bioengineering at Rice, told the Associated Press in an article published Sunday that he had contributed to research work in China.

The research was led by He Jiankui, a scientist based in Shenzhen who claims to have helped provide a set of binoculars whose genomes were modified while they were embryos. Deem served as a counselor when he was a graduate student at Rice.

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Outside scientists have not yet verified his claims and the research has not been published in a newspaper. But many scientists and ethicists have expressed outrage over reports that DNA-modified girls were born.

The editing of embryo genomes is controversial because the changes would be passed on to future generations. Such research is illegal in the United States. Even the researchers who one day support the modification of the embryonic DNA to prevent the diseases that are reproached to the project. There is no lack of guarantees and transparency.

In her statement, Rice stated that she was not aware of the research in advance and that "no matter where they were conducted, this work described in newspaper articles violated the guidelines. scientific conduct and are contrary to the ethical standards of the scientific community and Rice University. "

Deem did not immediately return a request for comment.

In embryos, he used the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool to disable a gene called CCR5, which produces a receptor that allows HIV to enter cells. People without functional CCR5 genes are immune to HIV infections. The girl's father was HIV-positive and wanted to avoid passing on the virus to his children, he told the AP, who announced for the first time that the twins were born.

Deem told AP that he was in China when study participants agreed to join the research. Deem also stated that he had "a small stake" in the scientific advice of his two companies.

Andrew Joseph

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