CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university

Nature ^ | 1/22/2019 | David Cyranoski

[jmcenanly]

Investigation by Chinese authorities finds He Jiankui broke national regulations in his controversial work on gene-edited babies. The scientist who announced last year that he had produced the world’s first gene-edited babies has been fired by his university.

The decision, announced on 21 January by the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, in China’s Guandong province, follows a report of findings from an investigation into He’s work by provincial health authorities.

A probe by the Guangdong health ministry found that He broke national regulations against using gene-editing for reproductive purposes, Chinese state media agency Xinhua reported on 21 January.

[jmcenanly]

I had heard earlier reports that he was to be executed, but being fired is probably bad enough in China. Secondly, I had always assumed that human genetic engineering would be to produce a human who is either stronger or more intelligent than average, or possibly both.

[humblegunner]

Crispers, Toaster ovens, Microwaves..
ALL bad places for babies.
Everyone knows this.

[rjsimmon]

[BlackbirdSST]

...a report of findings from an investigation into He’s work...

Shouldn't that be 'They's' work? This is all so confusing.

[ifinnegan]

“...He’s experiment ran counter to national regulations forbidding people with HIV from using assisted reproduction”

[flamberge]

Secondly, I had always assumed that human genetic engineering would be to produce a human who is either stronger or more intelligent than average, or possibly both

I would guess that the scientist faked his results for a high-profile experiment and got caught. Execution would be a conventional Chinese response to such things.

I am certain that other Chinese scientists have active research programs along the lines that you suggest. They have published findings claiming to identify 50+ gene complexes which correlate with higher intelligence.

Snip, Snip, Splice, Splice.

生日快樂的孩子

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Secondly, I had always assumed that human genetic engineering would be to produce a human who is either stronger or more intelligent than average, or possibly both.

You know what assuming does.

The fact is that we have NO idea what genetic engineering will do because we only have the vaguest of ideas what genes control what systems.

We are like toddlers who decide to cut apart a tapestry with the idea of improving it.

We don't know what we are doing, there is no improvement and we will hurt our selves in the process.

Heck we can not even breed smarter humans, what makes us think we can design them?

[xenia]

Well said.

[Robert DeLong]

He provoked international outcry last November when he revealed that he had used the gene-editing technique CRISPR–Cas9 to modify human embryos in an effort to make them resistant to HIV; the embryos were then implanted into a woman and produced twin girls, Nana and Lulu, in November.

So are they resistant to HIV? If so, it could be that these twin girls will be able to provide a cure for HIV. Nothing wrong in that, as long as his "experimentation" was really successful.

Remember that Clinton was embroiled in a scandal that allowed prison inmates to donate blood, and that these donors actually infected people with their tainted blood. That coincided with the rise of AIDS in the United States, and infecting a great number of others with hepatitis.

My point is that there are a lot of people who did not engage in risky lifestyles that were affected by this scandal, worldwide.

[RedStateRocker]

We could if “eugenics” wasn’t such a dreaded phrase amongst the panty twisters and pearl clutchers.

Actually, if we could have designed our kids, my wife and I might have had some.

[jmcenanly]

The literature on the subject would suggest that. However, art does not always imitate life.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

There are places where there are no such restrictions.

Still haven't managed it.

The whole thing is far more complicated than people think.

We know that sub normal IQ couples have normal or even bright children and smart couples have normal or even sub normal IQ children.

What we have found is that diet during pregnancy, mental stimulation and diet after birth does contribute to learning ability.