"Reckless experiments"
Scientists have condemned the statement of a Chinese researcher about changing the DNA of an embryo
More than 100 scientists have signed a letter condemning "reckless experiments" on human genes, after scientist He Jiankui's statement about participating in the first-ever DNA modification of a human embryo.
He Jiankui claims that he participated in the first editing of embryo DNA in the history of mankind. According to the Associated Press, the scientist changed the DNA of the embryos of seven couples during reproductive treatment. To date, only one pregnancy has brought results, twin girls were born in November with altered DNA, the scientist claims. According to him, the goal was not to cure or prevent a hereditary disease, but to try to instill an ability that is very rare in ordinary people, namely the ability of the body to resist HIV and AIDS.
"As for any experiments that are currently being carried out without strict ethics and safety checks, blind attempts to carry out hereditary changes in the genes of the human embryo, I, as a researcher in the field of biomedicine, strongly oppose," the text of the letter published by the Chinese scientific portal Zhishi Fenzi (Intellectual) on the Weibo microblog.
According to scientists, the use of the described technique of genetic modification in relation to people poses huge risks, there is nothing innovative in its application, and no one has taken it up before because of the unpredictable consequences.
In the scientist's experiment, as previously reported by the Associated Press, all fathers had HIV, while mothers were healthy. The scientist added that with effective treatment of HIV, the disease can be contained and not infect the child. However, the scientist's experiment is aimed at protecting the child from infection in the future. It was clarified that the specialist conducted experiments on gene modification in mice, monkeys and human embryos in the laboratory for several years.
Earlier it was reported that the Southern University of Science and Technology, where He Jiankui worked, published a statement saying that he had temporarily left the position since February 2, 2018 with salary retention until January 2021. After the information about the experience appeared, the educational institution immediately contacted the scientist to clarify the situation, after which it convened the academic council. The university stated that the use of gene modification technologies on a human embryo is a gross violation of scientific ethical principles and scientific practice. The educational institution announced that it would convene an expert council and publish the results after a thorough investigation.
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