A group of scientists in China claim that they have helped bring two genetically edited twin babies to life. The goal in doing so was to bestow the twin girls with the ability to prevent HIV infection and avoid AIDS. The scientists claim they were successful, according to reports in Associated Press and MIT Tech Review.
The claims haven’t been independently verified, but if they are true, then both science and ethics have entered unchartered territories.
More than 100 Chinese scientists have co-signed a letter, released on China’s social media site Weibo, condemning the experiment for using gene-editing technology on humans. The signatories include scientists from some of China’s most prominent universities and from overseas institutes like MIT.
Quartz has translated the letter into English.
Regarding the recent news from domestic and foreign media on human embryo gene-editing and two babies born using CRISPR technology, as rational human beings, with respect for scientific theories and concerns regarding the future scientific developments in China, our statement is as follows:
The bioethics approval for this so-called “study” was insufficient. We can only use the word “crazy” to describe the experiment conducted directly on human beings. We have much to debate inside the scientific community about the accuracy and off-target-effects brought by CRISPR. Any attempts to alter human embryos and make babies carry huge risks without strict examination beforehand.
It is scientifically possible, but scientists and medical experts have chosen not to use the technology on human beings because of uncertainties, risks, and most importantly, the ethical problems that follow. Such irreversible alterations on human genes will inevitably go into the human gene pool. We should have a thorough and in-depth discussion with scientists and people across the world about these potential effects. We cannot rule out the possibility that the babies, born using this technology, can be healthy for a period of time. But the potential risks and dangers brought along by the unjustified procedure, especially if such experiments carry on, are hard to measure.
At the same time, this is a strike at the reputation and development of China’s science, especially in biomedical research. It’s extremely unfair to most of the scientists and scholars who work hard to innovate and adhere to ethical guidelines.
We urge related regulatory departments and affiliated research institutes to establish laws and regulations on [gene-editing], and conduct a full investigation. They should also reveal the findings to the public.
Pandora’s Box has been opened. We need to close it before we lose our last chance. We as biomedical researchers strongly oppose and condemn any attempts on editing human embryo genes without scrutiny on ethics and safety!
Signed by 122 scientists:
Bi Guoqiang, University of Science and Technology of China
Cai Xuyu, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Cang Chunlei, University of Science and Technology of China
Cao Gang, Huazhong Agricultural University
Chen Xiaoke, Stanford University
Chen Yelin, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry
Chen Yongjun, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
Chen Yu, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chou Zilong, Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Deng Chunshan, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dong Peng, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Dong Wei, South West Medical University
Dong Zhifang, Chongqing Medical University
Fan Pu, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Basic Medical Science Institute
Fei Jifeng, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University
Feng Weijun, Fudan University
Fu Yu, Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Ge Wuping, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Gong Hui, the Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Gu Yu, Fudan University
Guan Jisong, School of Life and Science, ShanghaiTech University
Guo Yiping, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Han Yungeng, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
He Kaiwen, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry
He Miao, Fudan University
He Shuijin, ShanghaiTech University
Hu Ronggui, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, China Academy of Sciences
Huang Lianyan, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University
Huang Rui, Chongqing University
Jia Jiemin, Westlake University
Jiang Man, the Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Xie Yunli, Fudan University
Jin Xinchun, Suzhou University
Kang Lihui, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Ke Jiangbin, Sun Yat-Sen University
Lei Peng, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University
Li Anan, Xuzhou Medical University
Li Boxing, Sun Yat-Sen University
Li Chengyu, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li Huiliang, University College London
Li Lu, Sun Yat-Sen University
Li Nan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Li Qian, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine
Li Yan, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li Yanqing, Tsinghua University
Li Yulong, Peking University
Liang Feixue, Southern Medical University
Liang Zhifeng, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lin Sen, Army Medical University
Liu Haikun, German Cancer Research Center
Liu Huisheng, Beihang University
Liu Kai, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Liu Qiang, the University of Science and Technology of China
Lu Qi, School of Medicine, Wayne State
Luo Huan, Peking University
Lu Hui, the George Washington University
Ma Chaolin, Nanchang University
Ma Huan, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Ma Quanhong, Suzhou University
Ma Yuanye, Kunming University of Science and Technology
Mao Yu, Kunming Institute of Zoology, China Academy of Sciences
Mei Lin, Case Western Reserve University
Pan Bingxing, Nanchang University
Pan Yufeng, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University
Pang Zhiping, Rutgers University
Peng Bo, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peng Jiyun, Nanchang University
Qin Song, Fudan University
Qu Yibo, Jinan University
Ren Chaoran, Jinan University
Shao Zhiyong, Fudan University
Shen Qin, Tongji University
Sheng Nengyin, Kunming Institute of Zoology, China Academy of Sciences
Shi Lei, Jinan University
Song Yan, Peking University
Song Binggui, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine
Sun Wenzhi, Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing
Sun Xiangdong, Guangzhou Medical University
Sun Xiaoli, Fudan University
Sun Yi, Tongji University
Qian Hongtao, Hunan University
Tan Guohe, Guangxi Medical University
Tao Yanmei, Institute of Life Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University
Tong Xiajing, ShanghaiTech University
Tu Jie, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wang Hao, Zhejiang University
Wang Shirong, Beijing Institute of Technology
Wang Fei, China Medical University
Wang Liming, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine
Wang Liping, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wang Liang, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine
Wang Lupeng, National Institutes of Health
Wang Shouyan, Fudan University
Wang Wenyuan, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, China Academy of Sciences
Wang Xiaoqin, Tsinghua University
Wang Xiaodong, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine
Wang Xiaoqun, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wu Qingfeng, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wu Longjun, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Xiao Xiao, Fudan University
Xiong Wei, Tsinghua University
Xiong Wei, University of Science and Technology of China
Xu Nanjie, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine
Xu Ying, Suzhou University
Xu Zhenzhong, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine
Xu Junyu, Zhejiang University
Xu Xiaohong, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xu Zhiheng, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xue Tian, the University of Science and Technology of China
Yang Yan, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yang Yang, ShanghaiTech University
Yang Zhengang, Fudan University
Ye Haihong, Capital Medical University
Yu Yongchun, Fudan University
Yuan Kexin, Tsinghua University
Zhan Cheng, National Institutes of Biological Sciences, Beijing
Zhang Bo, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
Zhang Erquan, National Institutes of Biological Sciences, Beijing
Zhang Jiayi, Fudan University
Zhang Jie, Xiamen University
Zhang Luoying, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Zhang Siyu, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine