Chinese science minister warns scientists not to overstep ethical bounds after He Jiankui’s gene-edited babies scandal
- Wang Zhigang condemns research such as He Jiankui’s manipulation of twins’ DNA
- Minister admits developments in fields such as Artificial Intelligence pose ethical concerns as the law struggles to keep up with technological changes
China’s science minister has warned scientists not to cross an ethical boundary in the wake of the scandal over rogue scientist He Jiankui’s gene-edited babies late last year.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress on Friday, Wang Zhigang condemned such practices and said the ministry had a “clear position” on ethical issues.
Wang also said rapid developments in fields such as Artificial Intelligence raised further questions about privacy and ethics. He admitted that technology is developing at a rapid pace, and that the law was struggling to keep up with these developments.
The minister also condemned scientists who falsified their research, a frequent concern in China, saying such actions violated their professional code.
“This should be prohibited in scientific research and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s stance on this is clear,” he said.