December 2019

A Chinese researcher caused a global shock by claiming to have given birth to the first genetically modified babies. It was November 28, 2018, during the second international summit on genome editing. Chinese researcher He Jiankui claimed in front of a crowded amphitheater in Hong Kong that he had achieved the feat of creating the first "genetically modified babies". This researcher said he was proud to have allowed the birth of twins, nicknamed “Lulu” and “Nana”. Their DNA would have been modified to make them resistant to the AIDS virus from which their father was infected. Unusual: The chimeras that men have created and their reasons for being He Jiankui, explained that he used the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 tool, known as "genetic scissors", which makes it possible to remove and replace unwanted parts of the genome, like correcting a typo on a computer. Although this technique started from a good intention by opening perspectives of fight in the field of hereditary diseases, it was violently criticized because the modifications carried out would be transmitted to the future generations. These modifications could also end up affecting the entire genetic heritage. What is biohacking? Many experts had denounced the fact of having exposed healthy embryos to genetic modifications which could indeed generate unwanted mutations in areas different from those targeted. The incident flagrantly violated Chinese laws and regulations and blatantly exceeded the bounds of morals and ethics adhered to by the academic community, China's Vice Minister of Science and Technology told state broadcaster CCTV. , Xu Nanping. It is shocking and unacceptable. We display our firm opposition, he underlined, by demanding the suspension of the scientific activities of those involved. Condemned by his peers, dropped by his country: the pressure had increased on He Jiankui and Beijing now calling to suspend his activities. The Chinese National Health Commission had announced the opening of an investigation, while the Shenzhen hospital supposed to have approved this research had denied any involvement. Researcher He Jiankui had claimed that "Volunteers were informed about the risks of potential side effects and decided on the implantation", adding that the South University of Science and Technology of Shenzhen, to which he is attached, n was "not aware of the study" He had not disclosed the identities of those directly involved in the study. Chinese authorities had confirmed in January 2019 that a second woman was pregnant with a DNA-altered child, in addition to the two twins already born, but the birth of this baby had not been confirmed. Chinese researcher He Jiankui was sentenced on December 23, 2019 to 3 years in prison plus an almond of 3 million yuan (252,176,395.16 cfa francs) for illegal practice of medicine. And you, what do you think of GMO babies?

China: The "father" of the first GMO baby is sentenced to 3 years in prison

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