He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who shocked the world when it was revealed that he had altered the genetic code of in-vivo fertilization embryos, is likely to be remembered for the birth of twins who are likely the world's first genetically modified humans.
The news led to a lot of outrage among scientists, ethicists and regulators because they found the experiment to be morally reprehensible.
He, who lost his research position at the Southern University of Science and Technology in China and was imprisoned in China, is no longer employed by MIT Technology Review.
He told MIT Tech that it was not convenient to talk right now.
It is not clear what he will be doing next. He was shocked by the outrage generated by the experiment, having previously anticipated that he would win a prize.
He didn't seem opposed to commercializing the technology when he was in prison. He had preliminary discussions about starting a designer baby clinic in China or Switzerland.
There are immense and unanswered scientific and ethical questions surrounding the idea of tinkering with human DNA, starting with the fact that leading experts still have no idea how genetic code even operates in the totality of an organisms.
The fact that it has been done for the first time is a bell that can not be un rung.
He Jiankui: Researcher Who Gene-Edited Babies Answers Critics.
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