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A Chinese researcher says his laboratory was the first baby in the world to be genetically modified.
Scientist He Jiankui (HEH JEE'an-qway), who previously worked for the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, reportedly used CRISPR to modify the DNA of binoculars born this month.
As reported by the Associated Press, he revised the embryos of seven couples during fertility treatments. Only one pregnancy has succeeded so far.
"Two beautiful little Chinese girls, named * Lulu and Nana, came crying in this world as healthy as any other baby a few weeks ago," he said in a YouTube video (below). "The girls are now at home with their mother, Grace, and their father, Mark."
Grace began her pregnancy by in vitro fertilization (IVF) – with a twist: after inseminating her eggs, an embryologist sent "a little protein", as well as instructions for a gene surgery to protect girls from the future HIV infection.
This procedure removed the portal through which the virus enters to infect people.
Before bringing Lulu and Nana back into Grace's womb, the researchers used complete genome sequencing to confirm the surgery. They then monitored the pregnancy and, after birth, again sequenced deep into the baby's entire genome.
"This made it possible to verify that gene surgery was working safely," he said. "No gene has been changed, with the exception of one that prevents HIV infection."
In its current form, CRISPR / Cas9 is about to become the gene editing tool of the future.
It works much like the cut-and-paste function of a word processor: Scientists target a specific place in the genetic code of an organism, cut the DNA strands, and insert a new gene or let them repair themselves.
But the technology may not be quite as good. And he certainly has a lot of critics.
This type of gene editing is prohibited in the United States; National Intelligence Director James Clapper in 2016 described the potential weapons process as a weapon of mass destruction.
This did not stop the rogue Chinese researchers like Him.
The Southern University of Science and Technology, from which the scientist is on leave without pay to teach until January 2021, learned the news "through media reports".
"The university was deeply shocked by this event and immediately took steps to contact Dr. Jiankui He to seek clarification," he said in a statement.
SUSTech made it clear that the project was conducted off-campus (although it has a laboratory at the school) and without formal authorization.
"[We believe] The fact that Dr. Jiankui He, who used CRISPR / Cas9 to edit human embryos, has seriously violated university ethics and codes of conduct, "the statement said.
An independent committee should investigate the incident and disclose the results to the public.
There was no independent confirmation of the laboratory's request; He revealed it during exclusive talks with the AP.
"I feel a strong responsibility that it's not just about making a first, but also making it an example," he said in a statement. "Society will decide what to do next" to allow or prohibit such science.
CRISPR, which is still the newcomer, has shown that it is promising in creating potential treatments for HIV, cancer, ALS and autism.
But the goal of He Lab is not to cure or prevent hereditary diseases. They just want to give people the ability to resist a possible future infection by using a trait that some already have.
"Parents do not want a designer baby. Just a child who will not suffer from an illness that drugs can now prevent, "he said in his video. "Gene surgery is and should remain a healing technology. Improving the IQ or choosing the color of the hair or eyes is not what a loving parent does. This should be prohibited.
"I understand that my work will be controversial," he continued, "but I believe that families need this technology and I am ready to accept the criticisms made to them."
* The names of twins and their parents have been modified by the laboratory for confidentiality reasons.
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