Gene editing for human reproduction is ‘irresponsible’, says panel assembled by the World Health Organisation after Chinese researcher He Jiankui revealed his experiment
- The experts also called for the UN health agency to create a database of scientists working on gene editing
- Last year, Chinese researcher He Jiankui rocked the scientific community with his announcement that he helped make the world’s first gene-edited babies
A panel convened by the World Health Organisation said it would be “irresponsible” for scientists to use gene editing for reproductive purposes, but stopped short of calling for a ban.
The experts also called for the UN health agency to create a database of scientists working on gene editing. The recommendation was announced on Tuesday after a two-day meeting in Geneva to examine the scientific, ethical, social and legal challenges of such research.
“At this time, it is irresponsible for anyone to proceed” with making gene-edited babies since DNA changes could be passed down to future generations, the experts said in a statement.
Last year, Chinese researcher He Jiankui rocked the scientific community with his announcement that he helped make the world’s first gene-edited babies, altering the DNA of twin girls to try to make them resistant to HIV, the virus that causes Aids.
WHO’s announcement comes after an international group of scientists and ethicists called for a temporary ban on gene-edited babies in the journal Nature last week.
Margaret Ann Hamburg, co-chair of the WHO panel, and her colleagues declined to call for a similar prohibition.