China orders halt to human gene-editing after outcry
The Chinese government yesterday ordered a temporary halt to research activities for people involve in the editing human genes, after a Chinese scientist said he had edited the genes of twin babies.
Scientist He Jiankui said this week that He used a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the embryonic genes of the twin girls born this month.
He's announcement, which has not been verified, sparked an international outcry about the ethics and safety of such research.
"The nature of this incident is extremely nasty, and relevant bodies have been ordered to temporarily halt the scientific research activities of relevant personnel," the state news agency Xinhua said, citing the health ministry, science and technology ministry and China Association for Science and Technology.
The organisers of a conference where he claimed to have edited the genes also condemned the work yesterday, calling it "deeply disturbing" and "irresponsible".
He said gene editing would help protect the girls from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Chinese scientists have also condemned the work and the Southern University of Science and Technology, where He is on leave from his position as an associate professor, has announced an investigation.
The Guangdong province Health Commission said on its website on Wednesday it and Shenzhen city had set up a team to investigate the case.
He said after his presentation on Wednesday he was proud of what he had done.
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