China investigates doctor who claimed he edited babies’ genes

A researcher who claimed to have created the world’s first genetically edited babies will face a Chinese police investigation.

Self-professed gene editor He Jiankui. Picture: AP

A researcher who claimed to have created the world’s first genetically edited babies will face a Chinese police investigation, as authorities confirmed that a second woman fell pregnant during the experiment.

He Jiankui in November told a human genome forum in Hong Kong he had successfully altered the genes of twin girls born last year to prevent them from contracting HIV.

He said there had been “another potential pregnancy” involving a second couple. A Guangdong investigation has confirmed the existence of the second mother and the woman was still pregnant, the Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

The expectant mother and the twins from the first pregnancy were under observation.

Xinhua said the probe found Dr He, reportedly under house arrest, had “forged ethical review papers” and “deliberately evaded supervision”.

He had “privately” organised a project team that included foreign staff and used “technology of uncertain safety and effectiveness” for illegal human embryo gene-editing. Investigators told Xinhua that the scientist was “pursuing personal fame” and used “self-raised funds” for the controversial experiment.

Details of the experiment — which has not been independently verified — triggered a backlash from the global scientific community and the Chinese government ordered a halt to Dr He’s research work days after it was publicly announced.

AFP