China stopped research on genetically modified babies

News24xx.com -  China has stopped research by scientists who claim to have created the world's first genetically engineered baby. The Chinese government will investigate the research. Earlier this week, He Jiankui sparked a wave of anger when he told a genetic engineering conference that he had engineered the genes of a pair of twins to be immune to HIV.

These claims have not been confirmed, but if it is true it is a violation of strict regulations related to the use of genetic engineering in humans. The university where Professor He conducted his research stated that they did not know anything about the experiments carried out by the professor.

The Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen said earlier last week that He had been on unpaid leave since last February. They will also investigate the professor's claim.

On Thursday (11/29), the Chinese Ministry of Science said that they had "asked the organization to stop the scientific activities of the people concerned." The Chinese National Health Commission has stated that Professor He's research "has seriously violated Chinese law, rules and ethical standards" and that they will investigate the claim.

Professor He claimed to have changed the embryo DNA of a pair of twin girls named Lulu and Nana, with the intention of preventing both of them from getting HIV. In a conference on human genetic engineering at the University of Hong Kong, he stated that both babies were born normal and healthy, and their development would be monitored for the next 18 years.

He stated that he personally funded the experiment and admitted that his university did not know anything about the research.