2nd GENE-EDITED BABYONWAY, SCIENTIST SAYS

HONG KONG A Chinese researcher who claims to have helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies says a second pregnancy may be underway.

He Jiankui revealed the pregnancy Wednesday while making his first public comments about his controversial work at an international conference in Hong Kong.

He claims to have altered the DNA of twin girls born earlier this month to try to make them resistant to infection with the AIDS virus. Scientists have condemned the experiment, and universities and government groups are investigating.

The second pregnancy is in a very early stage and needs more time to be monitored to see if it will last, He said.

Leading scientists said there are now more reasons to worry, and more questions after He’s talk. The leader of the conference called the experiment “irresponsible” and evidence that the scientific community had failed to regulate itself.