Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reportedthat He Jiankui‘s gene editing experiments led to the birth of three babies. He Jiankui is the researcher behind the world’s first gene-edited babies.
Recently he had been sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of illegally practicing medicine. He was also fined three million yuan ($430,000).
According to Xinhua, He Jiankui was sentenced by a court in Shenzhen for “illegally carrying out the human embryo gene-editing intended for reproduction,”
Back in November 2018, He revealed that two gene-edited human babies had been born in China. He Jiankui, claimed he had altered the twins’ DNA to remove a specific gene with the goal of conferring a natural immunity to HIV infection.
Many scientists, ethicists, and government officials have criticized He, raising questions about bioethics. They even put a spotlight on China’s careless oversight of scientific research.
The China has quietly confirmed the birth of a third gene-edited baby. But the report doesn’t reveal any additional information about on the babies.
