Chinese scientist who edited babies’ genes, jailed for three years

The scientist who created the world’s first “gene-edited” babies has been sentenced to to three years in prison by a court in China.

He Jiankui said in November 2018 that he had used gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-cas9 to change the genes of twin girls, causing a backlash in China and globally about the ethics of his research and work.

The court in Shenzen found him guilty of illegal practice and also fined him 3m yuan (US$430,000), according to the state news agency Xinhua. Two other people on He’s research team received lesser sentences and fines.

“The three accused did not have the proper certification to practice medicine, and in seeking fame and wealth, deliberately violated national regulations in scientific research and medical treatment,” the court said, according to Xinhua. “They’ve crossed the bottom line of ethics in scientific research and medical ethics.”

Read more at The Guardian