Chinese scientist comes back alarmed by second genetically created pregnancy

Report of the voice of America

The Chinese researcher He Jiankui, criticized after his recent statements that he collaborated in the creation of two genetically modified twins, was alarmed Wednesday by the scientific community to announce that there could be a second pregnancy in the making.

He is a 34-year-old associate professor from the southern city of Shenzhen. He revealed the possibility of a new pregnancy in his first public statements about the controversial project at an international conference in Hong Kong.

The modification of DNA before or at the time of conception is a very controversial issue, because changes can be inherited or damaged from other genes. This practice is prohibited in some countries, including the United States, with the exception of laboratory research.

Experts said his work is unethical and unscientific.

I defended his work alleging that he had modified the DNA of two twins born earlier this month to try to immunize them against the AIDS virus.

"They need this protection because there is no vaccine available," he said amid criticism.

But the scientific community has condemned the experience, and universities and government groups are studying the situation.

The second possible pregnancy is in a very early phase and it takes longer to see if it will continue, he said.

The second possible pregnancy is at a very early stage, said He Jiankui on Wednesday, November 28 at a conference in Hong Kong.
The second possible pregnancy is at a very early stage, said He Jiankui on Wednesday, November 28 at a conference in Hong Kong.
Critics rain and China investigation

Renowned scientists say they are increasingly concerned about this problem.

The conference director he attended described the experience as "irresponsible" and stated that the scientific community had failed in its self-regulation plan and avoided attempts of alteration of the DNA.

For his part, he claims to have chosen HIV instead of a deadly congenital disease to test genetic publishing, and insisted that girls could benefit from it. But his colleagues did not seem satisfied.

"This is a truly unacceptable advance," said Jennifer Doudna, a scientist at the University of California at Berkeley and one of the inventors of the tool for modifying the CRISPR genes, which he said he used.