Scientists call baby genetic editing ‘crazy’ in open letter
SHANGHAI: More than 100 scientists, most of them in China, have condemned as “crazy” and unethical altering human genes after a geneticist claimed he had changed the genes of twin girls to create the first gene-edited babies.
In an open letter circulating online, the scientists said the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the genes of human embryos was risky, unjustified and harmed the reputation and development of the biomedical community in China.
In videos posted online, scientist He Jiankui defended what he claimed t o have achieved, saying he had performed the embryonic gene editing to help protect the babies born this month from infection with HIV, the virus that causes Aids. “The biomedical ethics review for this so-called research exists in name only. Conducting direct human experiments can only be described as crazy,” the scientists said in their letter, a copy of which was posted by the Chinese news website the Paper.
“Pandora’s box has been opened. We still might have a glimmer of hope to close it before it’s too late,” the approximately 120 scientists said in the Chinese-language letter. Prof He did not respond to a request for comment.
The Southern University of Science and Technology, where Prof He holds an associate professorship, said it had been unaware of the research project and that Prof He had been on leave without pay since February. China’s National Health Commission said on Monday it had ordered provincial health officials “to immediately investigate and clarify the matter”. The government’s medical ethics committee in the city of Shenzhen, said it was investigating the case, as was the Guangdong provincial health commission, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a state media outlet.
The Chinese hospital linked to the experiment also denied its involvement. Shenzhen Harmonicare Women and Children’s Hospital said in a statement that it suspected the signature on a document approving the experiment, specifically its adherence to ethical standards, was falsified.