ZCZC
BFF-27
CHINA-HONGKONG-SCIENCE-GENETICS-RESEARCH
Science conference slams ‘deeply disturbing’ baby gene-editing claim
HONG KONG, Nov 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A scientist who upended a Hong Kong
conference with his claim to have created the world’s first genetically-
edited babies cancelled a fresh talk and was heavily criticised by organisers
Thursday, who labelled him as irresponsible.
He Jiankui had told a packed biomedical conference Wednesday he was
“proud” to have successfully altered the DNA of twin girls born to an HIV-
positive father, an apparent medical breakthrough.
But details of the experiment, which has not been independently verified,
triggered an immediate backlash and He said the trial had been halted.
He was supposed to speak at the summit again Thursday but disappeared from
the schedule.
David Baltimore, a Nobel laureate and chairman of the organising
committee, told reporters it was He’s decision not to attend.
Organisers of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing
denounced He’s “unexpected and deeply disturbing” claim that human embryos
had been edited and implanted, and called for closer supervision of the field
at the conclusion of the conference Thursday.
“Even if the modifications are verified, the procedure was irresponsible
and failed to conform with international norms,” they said in a statement.
“Its flaws include an inadequate medical indication, a poorly designed
study protocol, a failure to meet ethical standards for protecting the
welfare of research subjects, and a lack of transparency in the development,
review and conduct of clinical procedures,” it added.
University professor He, based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen,
said the twin girls, born a few weeks ago, had their DNA altered to prevent
them from contracting HIV. Eight volunteer couples — HIV-positive fathers
and HIV-negative mothers — signed up to the trial, with one dropping out
before it was paused.
He said there had been “another potential pregnancy” involving a second
couple, but it is unclear whether that pregnancy is still ongoing.
Experts warned that editing human embryos can create unintended mutations
in other areas — so-called “off-target effects” — which can have an impact
through the lifetime.
Southern University of Science and Technology distanced itself from He,
saying he had been on unpaid leave since February and had “seriously violated
academic ethics”.
He, who was educated at Stanford University, said the twins’ DNA was
modified using CRISPR, a technique which allows scientists to remove and
replace a strand with pinpoint precision.
Co-creator of the technology Jennifer Doudna said she felt “horrified” at
hearing He’s talk, adding she felt deeply concerned for the people affected
and questioned whether they really understood the procedure.
Summit organisers said germline genome editing could become “acceptable”
in future if rigorous criteria are met, including “strict independent
oversight”.
However they added that there were too many scientific and technical
uncertainties to permit clinical trials at this stage.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1420 hrs