Genetically-modified babies

At a scientific conference held in Hong Kong last November, researcher Hie Jiankui announced having successfully brought to term the first ever genetically-modified babies in the world.

The DNA of these new-born twin girls was modified to create resistance to the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As embryos, they were modified before being implanted in the
mother’s uterus for in vitro fertilisation.

Understandably, this announcement caused an outcry, with the entire scientific community quickly
giving voice to their dismay. The University of Shenzhen, where Jiankui conducted his research, also
wasted little time before distancing themselves from the researcher, stating that he had “seriously
violated ethics and academic codes of conduct”.

In response, the researcher justified his trials, saying that the families who served as guinea pigs
were fully aware of the risks. At present, there is still a pregnancy that has not yet reached term, but
the study has definitively been stopped.