Stanford University has begun an investigation following claims that some of its staff knew long ago of Chinese scientist He Jiankui’s plans to create the world’s first gene-edited babies.
A university official said a review was under way of interactions some faculty members had with He. who was educated at Stanford. Several professors including He’s former research adviser have said that they knew or strongly suspected that He wanted to try gene editing on embryos (胚胎).
The Chinese genetic scientist posted a video on You Tube in November 2018. He claimed in the video that he had used a gene-editing tool Crispr-Cas9 to modify (修改) a particular gene in two embryos before they were placed in their mother’s womb (子宫). He, who works in a lab in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, said the twin girls, known as Lulu and Nana, were born using an egg that was modified. He focused on HIV infection prevention because the father is HIV positive. “Now the father has a reason to live, a reason to work, he has a purpose,” He said.
Editing the genes of embryos, which can change other genes, is banned in many countries because DNA changes are passed to future generations and could have unforeseen effects on the entire gene pool.
China’s national health commission ordered officials to “seriously investigate” He’s claims. Shenzhen’s health and family planning commission said it was investigating the review process around He’ s work.
Research institutions connected to He have distanced themselves from him. “This research work was carried out by Professor He Jiankui outside of the school,” said the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen. It called his research a “serious violation of academic ethics (道德)”.
【小题1】What did He Jiankui claim in the video posted on You Tube?| A．He was wrong in trying gene editing on embryos. |
| B．He prevented the twins from developing cancer. |
| C．He modified a gene in Lulu and Nana’s embryos. |
| D．He was influenced by his research adviser in Stanford. |
| A．The effect of DNA changes on the gene pool is unforeseeable. |
| B．It causes disabilities to the gene-edited babies. |
| C．The future generations will rely on gene editing. |
| D．It will affect all the healthy genes of the embryos. |
| A．It ordered investigations to be conducted. |
| B．It called the incident a big shame for the nation. |
| C．It declared not related to He’s research. |
| D．It kept a distance from the media. |
| A．The USA Bans Gene-editing |
| B．What are the Ethics of Medical Treatment? |
| C．Scientists Find the Idea of Gene-edited Babies Crazy |
| D．Stanford Investigates Links to Scientist in Gene Editing |
