First GM Babies,Scientist In Danger

China - A Chinese scientist is said to be facing death penalty as the report said for doing a GM babies or genetically modified babies which he made public that he did.



"Chinese scientist may face death penalty for gene-editing babies...." (Sky News)

He edited the  DNA  of the babies to spare them from HIV infection.The babies are the first to be genetically modified babies in the world. They were born with their edited DNA.

The Chinese scientist is He Jiankui. "He Jiankui...is a Chinese biophysics researcher who is an associate professor in the Department of Biology of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen,China.He became widely known in November 2018 after he had claimed that he had created the first human genetically edited babies,twin girls known by their pseudonyms,Lulu.... and Nana.....The announcement of Lulu and Nana reportedly born on 8 November 2018 was met with widespread condemnation and on 29 November 2018,Chinese authorities suspended all his research activities.As of news reported on 28 December 2018,He is sequestered in a university apartment and under guard." (Wikipedia)

" GM baby scientist could face the death penalty,colleagues say Chinese scientist He Jiankui takes part in a question and answer session after speaking at the Second International Summit on /Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong on November 28,2018.The Chinese scientist who claims to have created world's first genetically edited babies is living under armed guard and could face the death sentence,leading scientists said. He Jiankui caused an outcry in November when he unexpectedly announced that he had gone behind the back of the Chinese government and scientist community and illegally to produce the first GM babies.They had been altered to resist HIV." (iNews)

"Editing DNA is highly controversial and is only allowed in the US and ?UK in laboratory research." (Sky News)

"He [He Jainkui] could face both corruption and bribery charges which carry the death penalty in China." (Sky News)

He is facing a corruption and bribery case for being quiet doing the job and bribe some to do the same;for how can he do it alone without others participation,as the reports said.

"One key area they will look into is how Mr.J iankui manged to keep the whole project quiet,given that it would have had to involve many people,and whether any strings were pulled or payments made...corruption and bribery can carry the death penalty in China..." (iNews)

" "He has a lot of money.How did he persuade relevant people to get involved. Did he just pay them lots of money to keep them quiet?" asked Prof. Lovell-Badge,who spent more time with Dr.Jiankui than anybody else during the period in which he made his shock announcement in November." (iNews)

What He Jiankui did as the authorities in China say is illegal.

"The Chinese government is hugely embarrassed about Dr. Jiankui work,which authorities say is illegal." (iNews)

He Jiankui (image from Wikipedia website)