Chinese scientists voice their opposition of gene-editing baby case
Updated 13:38, 02-Dec-2018
By CGTN's Wu Guoxiu and Chen Jiaye
["china"]
02:06
Many Chinese scientists are strongly opposing the use of gene-editing technology on human embryos, like in the case involving controversial Guangdong geneticist He Jiankui. Professor Wang Haoyi, who works in the State Key Lab of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, expressed his concerns about the health of the twin babies born after the gene editing process, in an interview with CGTN.

Gene-editing is not a new technology

"Actually gene editing technology has been developed for many years, and currently it's been a routine procedure for many labs across the world," Wang told CGTN. "We are using them to change the gene modes of cell lines, animal models and other species. Many labs can do this," he said.

No worries for "supermen", but risks not yet controllable

Some people are scared by this, they worry if the technology goes wrong, or like what we've seen in the movies. On methods to address safety concerns, Wang said, "There are many ways to define going wrong, but I don't think you should worry about having a super-human or mutant, like Spiderman, command this experiment."
"But it does pose a very serious risk to the experimental subject, and it could have unforeseen outcomes of this mutation, which mostly post health threats to human beings," he said.

"He doesn't represent us"

Wang said he and his colleagues feel offended by the gene-editing case. "He doesn't represent us, I wouldn't even call him a scientist. He is a ruthless person who knows very little about science and did a very irresponsible experiment on human beings."
He says scientists have been obeying the red line. "We can of course apply this technology to change the gene precisely in animals and cell lines to help us study biology and disease. But we don't do this thing, applying this for human reproductive application."

Twin babies face health risks

For the twin babies, "I don't think they would pose any threats to other people, but there might be potential risks for their own health, which I think need to be monitored much closer to make sure they will be healthy," Wang said.

"There are other people involved in this case"

Wang believes the experiment involved other people, and the results need to be clarified.
"Because now it's all from this guy himself. And we need an independent authority to go onsite, and confiscate all the experimental data, the ethical files, the materials, samples, everything. And make sure we understand which hospital did this, who else is involved in the project." 
Wang added, "Clearly I see, there are other people involved not only from China, and we have to think about this in a whole picture. I don't think he is capable of doing this by himself and we need to make sure whether his claims are true."
Most importantly, Wang suggested to quickly initiate a legislation procedure to set up more international regulating laws.