He Jiankui works at a computer at a laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province. Photos / AP
He Jiankui works at a computer at a laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province. Photos / AP
A Chinese scientist triggered alarm, shock and confusion across the scientific community today with the claim that he had edited the DNA of human embryos to create twin baby girls.
He said that Lulu and Nana had been born "crying into the world as healthy as any other babies" a few weeks ago.
The controversial experiment, publicised through the media and videos posted online by He Jiankui of Southern University of Science and Technology of China, was criticised by many scientists worldwide as premature and called "rogue human experimentation".
More than 120 Chinese scientists called the experiment "crazy" in a letter, adding that it dealt a huge blow to the global reputation of Chinese science.
Southern University said in a statement it would be investigating the experiment, which appeared to have "seriously violated academic ethics and codes of conduct".
He's unverified claim came on the eve of an international summit dedicated to discussing the emerging science and ethics around powerful tools that give scientists unprecedented potential to tweak traits and eliminate genetic diseases - but that have raised fears of "designer babies".
By editing the DNA of human embryos, scientists change not just the genes in a single person, but all their potential offspring - in effect, altering the human species.
"Here you have a scientist changing the human race, and you have a YouTube video about it, with no [scientific] paper. It's just almost surreal," said Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who said he has seen some of the data behind the experiment.
"This guy must have just remarkable chutzpah to proceed. Basically for the first time in history, he has used this powerful tool in a reckless way for no good reason."
A physicist by training, He told AP that embryos from seven couples who underwent in vitro fertilisation had been edited. He said he used a tool called CRISPR-Cas9 that can make targeted cuts to DNA - to disable a gene that allows HIV to infect cells - with one successful pregnancy so far.
A microplate containing embryos that have been injected with Cas9 protein and PCSK9 sgRNA is seen in a laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province.
He did not respond to attempts to reach him by email and phone.
"I think this just shows the time is now that you have to talk about the ethics of genome editing, because the world may not wait," said Insoo Hyun, a bioethicist at Case Western Reserve University.
"We don't know how much of this is true or verified. These are all kinds of . . . rumors at this point . . . but in terms of scientific and medical rationale, I don't think there is one."
According to a description of the experiment posted online, He created embryos from couples with an HIV-infected father.
The use of the technology immediately raised questions from ethicists since there are other ways to prevent HIV transmission to a fetus, and many think that the first applications of gene editing should be reserved for diseases that are deadly with no treatment options.
In a video released on YouTube, He said that only a single gene had been changed, but gene editing is known to introduce unintended genetic effects that could raise concerns - either for the children themselves or the human gene pool if the children grow up to pass on their genes.
This kind of gene editing is banned in the United States. But that didn't stop a doctor in China https://t.co/8llMmA0dWM
In a series of videos posted on YouTube, He explained that his experiment had worked and that the gene editing hadn't made any unintentional changes to the children's DNA, but Topol said that it was "frankly not possible" to make that claim and added that now Nana and Lulu's offspring would be affected in ways that no one fully understands.
He, who is also a founder and chairman of Direct Genomics, a DNA sequencing company, sought to differentiate himself from those who would recklessly use the ability to tweak the genome to create designer babies.
"Gene surgery is and should remain a technology for healing. Enhancing IQ or selecting hair or eye color is not what a loving parent does. That should be banned," He said in one of the videos. "I understand my work will be controversial, but I believe families need this technology, and I'm willing to take the criticism for them."
The public announcement was highly unconventional, with no supporting data provided to verify the claims and no submission to the traditional process of peer review. It raised deep questions for scientists about whether traditional oversight channels were followed, as well as what to believe about the experiment and the results. He posted an ethical approval form for the process on his website.
The claim, coming from a researcher in China, marks a controversial leap for CRISPR gene editing technology. via @naturehttps://t.co/PmYE2I8xql
Jennifer Doudna, one of the pioneers of genome editing from the University of California, Berkeley, said that the experiment appeared to be a "clear break" from the cautious and transparent approach recommended by international leaders.
"The lack of transparency and disregard for risk are deeply concerning," Doudna said. "There are safe and effective ways to protect children from HIV transmission, so the study as reported does not appear to address an unmet medical need."
Feng Zhang, a leader in the field from the Broad Institute, called for a moratorium on implanting edited embryos until safety requirements have been set.
"If it's true as reported then it's an extremely premature and questionable experiment in creating genetically modified children," said Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. "There's much to understand and discuss about oversight or lack thereof."
