Now out of jail, this controversial biophysicist continues to defend gene-edited 'designer babies'
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“To be clear, genetic editing is something the scientific community greatly respects for its potential and already realized benefits. However, there was little benefit to this human genetic editing experiment, and a whole lot of detriments, from reducing trust to potentially turning these kids’ genomes into a jigsaw puzzle. The technology is not yet ready to be applied to humans safely, and the steps that this scientist took to get around this limitation did not reduce risk, but only increased it, while additionally giving all of the future human genetic editing programs a bad reputation before they ever started.” — Reddit user @FallenSword0
He Jiankui, the Chinese biophysicist who shocked the world by creating the first gene-edited baby, is back in the lab.[] His groundbreaking but highly controversial experiment in 2018, which aimed to produce children immune to HIV, led to global outrage and a 3-year prison sentence.
Now released, He has resumed his research in gene editing, sparking yet again a debate on the ethical and scientific boundaries of altering human DNA.
The landmark experiment
In 2018, He announced the birth of two of the world's first-three gene-edited babies: twin girls dubbed "Lulu" and "Nana." Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, He edited the Ccr5 gene in the embryos to create immunity against HIV.[]
This bold move was met with immediate backlash at the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, where the experiment's findings were first presented. The summit’s organizing committee labeled the experiment “irresponsible,” criticizing its ethical shortcomings, inadequate protocols, and lack of transparency.[][]
As the edits made to these embryos were heritable, they could be passed down to future generations, raising serious concerns about unintended consequences. Furthermore, as noted in The Guardian, the documents required for this research were forged to bypass regulatory checks.[]
@laurahigh5 There must be mandatory couseling in place to help parents understand that this just doesn’t work, and put in regulations that would prohibit baby designer practices ##greenscreen##donorconceived##baby##donorconception##ivf##pregnant##pregnancy##genetics##dna##dnatest##fo##fypシ##fyp ♬ original sound - Nintendo
Ethical controversy
The incident was condemned by the World Health Organization (WHO), which urged international regulatory bodies to tighten restrictions on germline editing. China, in particular, introduced stringent laws criminalizing such procedures.[] Leading geneticists criticized He’s actions, with Fyodor Urnov, PhD, describing him as a scientific “pyromaniac” who recklessly pushed the boundaries of responsible science.[]
Yet, despite the criticism, there is still massive potential in the CRISPR technology. Dr. Urnov says, "[We] can build enough CRISPR for the entire planet. I really, really think that [this idea of] gene editing in a syringe will grow. And as it does, we’re going to start to face very clearly the question of how we equitably distribute these resources."
Public sentiment also remains divided on the adoption of such techniques. In 2023, a poll published in Science found that 30% of respondents would consider editing an embryo for traits that could increase a child’s chance of academic success.[]
A closer look at CRISPR
CRISPR-Cas9, often called "genetic scissors," is a highly precise gene-editing tool discovered in 2012 by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who earned a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. Adapted from a bacterial defense against viruses, CRISPR-Cas9 cuts and disables foreign DNA, allowing researchers to edit human genes to correct mutations or add desired traits.[]
Since its development, CRISPR has shown promise in treating cancer, protein deficiencies, and metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders, and possibly enhancing immune defenses to protect against infections like HIV.
However, its use in germline editing is still in its infancy, with concerns about off-target effects, increased mosaicism, and unknown long-term consequences. This is evident from a study presented at the 2023 ESHRE congress, where researchers noted a high incidence of segmental aneuploidy following CRISPR-induced DNA breaks, causing them to question the feasibility of this technology in human embryos.[]
Amid the controversy, research resumes
Since his release from jail in 2022, He Jiankui remains firm in his belief that his gene-editing work was justified.[] He has repeatedly stated that the children are "perfectly healthy" and free of any unintended genetic alterations. In a recent interview, he remarked, "The results of analyzing [the children’s] entire gene sequences show no modifications other than the intended medical objectives, providing evidence that genome editing was safe."
He has recently shifted his focus towards non-reproductive applications of gene editing.[] He has opened several new laboratories to explore CRISPR’s potential in treating genetic disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and familial Alzheimer’s disease. His current research utilizes a refined CRISPR technique known as base editing for precise single-nucleotide changes without causing double-strand breaks in DNA.
What this means for you
The potential for CRISPR’s therapeutic applications is immense, but so are the risks. The conversation sparked by He’s experiments has only just begun, and its implications will shape the future of human genetics for generations to come. In the meantime, there is an urgent need to establish globally consistent regulatory guidelines and uniform practices for research in germline editing.