He Jiankui

He Jiankui

He Jiankui (Chinese: 何建锐; born 1984) is a Chinese biophysicist who became a controversial figure in the field of genetics after claiming to have created the first human genetically edited babies. He announced this breakthrough in November 2018, stating that he had used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to modify the embryos of twin girls, known as Lulu and Nana, to make them resistant to HIV. This announcement was met with widespread criticism from the global scientific community, raising ethical concerns and debates about the regulation and implications of gene editing in humans.

Early Life and Education

He Jiankui was born in 1984 in China. He received his Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He then moved to the United States, where he earned a Ph.D. in biophysics from Rice University. Following his Ph.D., He Jiankui continued his research in genome sequencing and editing as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.

Career

After his postdoctoral fellowship, He Jiankui returned to China and took a faculty position at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, where he focused on genome sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. He also founded several biotechnology companies, aiming to apply his research to medical treatments and procedures.

CRISPR Babies Controversy

In November 2018, He Jiankui announced that he had successfully edited the genomes of twin girls, Lulu and Nana, using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to introduce a mutation that could potentially make them resistant to HIV. This work was not published in a peer-reviewed journal, and the scientific community raised concerns about the ethical and safety implications of his actions. Critics argued that the technology was not yet safe or ethical for use in human embryos and that the procedure could have unforeseen consequences on the genetic makeup of the human species.

Following the announcement, Chinese authorities suspended all of He Jiankui's research activities, and he was subjected to an investigation. In December 2019, a Chinese court found He Jiankui guilty of illegal medical practices and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Legacy and Impact

The work of He Jiankui has sparked a global debate on the ethics and regulation of gene editing in humans. While some see the potential for CRISPR technology to cure genetic diseases, others fear the ethical implications and the possibility of creating "designer babies." His actions have led to calls for clearer regulations and guidelines to govern the use of gene-editing technologies in humans.

See Also

• CRISPR
• Genetic engineering
• Bioethics