In a dangerous and potentially alarming scientific development, Chinese scientists claimed to have helped produce the first genetically engineered children in the world by modifying DNA.
A Chinese scientist said he helped modify the DNA of two twin babies born in November. He said he used a new tool to rewrite the twins' genetic code before they were born.
If the news is true, it will be a huge scientific and moral leap, according to the Associated Press.
An American scientist said he was partly involved in this achievement, knowing that genetic modification or genetic engineering of humans is banned in the United States because any genetic engineering of DNA will be passed on to subsequent generations and thus endanger other human genes.
The vast majority of scientists believe that trying to do so is considered unsafe at all, and other scientists have gone to denounce and condemn these Chinese news as human experiences.
The Chinese scientist, Hiy Jianqui, said he had made genetic modifications to the embryos of 7 women during their treatment of enrichment, and gave birth to one of them so far.
He pointed out that what he did was not a form of treatment or prevention of a genetic disease, but an attempt to give a status that is only natural in a few people, the ability to resist future infectious diseases such as disease or HIV.
The doctor refused to disclose the parents of the two genetically modified generators, and refused to disclose their place of residence, clinic or hospital where the genetic modification was carried out.
There is no independent confirmation of the validity of what he has done, nor has it been published in a scientific journal so that other experts and scientists can judge its validity or accuracy.
However, the doctor revealed what he had done on Monday in Hong Kong to one of the organizers of the International Conference on Genetic Engineering, which will begin on Tuesday, as he did in a previous interview with the agency.
During the interview, the Chinese scientist said, "I feel great responsibilities, because it was not only to be the first to do so, but to make it a model and an example ... and society will decide the next step.
Scientists such as Kieran Mosonoro, a genetic engineering expert at the University of Pennsylvania, were quick to condemn it after they learned about it and considered testing human beings morally unacceptable.
"We are dealing with the genes responsible for carrying out orders in the human race," said Erik Topol, a genetic engineering researcher at the California Institute of Organ Transplantation.
However, Harvard genealogist George Church has defended the Chinese expert's attempt to engineer the AIDS gene, which he sees as a serious and growing public health threat. "I think it is justified," he said.
The American scientist, who was partially involved in this genetic modification, is Professor of Biological Engineering and Physician, Michael Demm, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of two companies belonging to the Chinese scientist Giancoi.
The Chinese scientist Jianqui stressed that the engineering of genes against AIDS because the disease is a major threat in China, and sought to disable the gene responsible for infection, "CCR-5", which is the protein that allows HIV to enter the cell.
What did Giancoi do?
Genetic modification or genetic engineering in the laboratory begins during the first fertilization process by laboratory, by sorting the sperm to isolate it from the organic fluid produced by the testicles, the fluid in which HIV can be found.
A sperm is injected into one female egg to be vaccinated for fetal development, and the gene editing tool is added.
When the embryo reaches 3-5 days, some cells are removed and examined for modification. At this stage, the couple can choose between the transgenic or non-transgenic embryo in an IVF and pregnancy attempt.
According to the agency, 16 genetically modified embryos were used out of 22, and 11 fertilized eggs were used in 6 uterine transplants, before the genetically modified twins were born.
Many scientists have said that the details of the scientific process, which Giancoi conducted and presented to the Associated Press, indicate that experiments are still not enough to say that the genetic modification he has done is free from harm or harm.
They referred to the process of genetic modification, which he did incomplete, replacing some cells does not prevent the incidence of AIDS, as noted George Church.
Lorsque l’embryon atteint 3 à 5 jours, certaines cellules sont retirées et examinées afin de déterminer si elles sont modifiées. À ce stade, le couple peut choisir entre un embryon transgénique ou non transgénique dans une FIV et une tentative de grossesse.
Selon l'agence, 16 embryons génétiquement modifiés ont été utilisés sur 22 et 11 œufs fécondés ont été utilisés pour 6 greffes utérines, avant la naissance des jumeaux génétiquement modifiés.
De nombreux scientifiques ont déclaré que les détails du processus scientifique, que Giancoi avait conduit et présenté à Associated Press, indiquaient que les expériences ne suffisaient pas encore pour affirmer que la modification génétique qu'il avait effectuée était indemne.
Ils ont évoqué le processus de modification génétique, ce qu'il a fait de manière incomplète, le remplacement de certaines cellules n'empêchant pas l'incidence du SIDA, comme l'a noté George Church.
