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Post Backlash, Chinese Government Stops Gene-Editing Of Human Babies, Calls It “Extremely Abominable”
Professor He Jiankui who claimed that he had successfully altered the DNA of twin girls (Source: @RLCscienceboss/Twitter)
Following the gene-edited twin girl incident, Chinese authorities have ordered the suspension of persons involved in the research. The move came on 29 November 2018 when the authorities denounced the research calling it “extremely abominable in nature” and in violation of Chinese laws and science ethics, as reported by Xinhua Net.
At a genome editing conference in Hongkong on 25 November 2018, professor He Jiankui claimed that he had successfully altered the DNA of twin girls born a few weeks ago to prevent them from contracting HIV. His claim remains unproven and has caused a backlash from the scientific community.
“The gene-edited twins matter reported by the media has brazenly violated Chinese laws and regulations and breached the science ethics bottom line, which is both shocking and unacceptable,” said vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Xu Nanping.
The Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, where He Jiankui works as a professor said that it is unaware of the research. Jiankui has claimed that he funded the project himself.
China's National Health Commission and the China Association for Science and Technology have also condemned the research. Hundreds of Chinese scientists have also signed a letter on a Chinese social media condemning the research.
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