What Happened To The Gene Edited Babies? A Look At The Ethical Controversy.

A third gene-edited child was born a year after the first two. The scientist who conducted this research, He Jiankui, was imprisoned in China for three years for his unethical practices. He recently told the South China Morning Post that all three children are doing well. He said they have a “normal, peaceful, and undisturbed life.”

He Jiankui’s actions were controversial and widely condemned by the scientific community. He used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to modify the embryos of the children, targeting a gene called CCR5, which is a receptor protein that allows HIV to enter cells. The goal of the experiment was to make the children immune to HIV. However, the experiment raised serious ethical concerns about the potential for off-target effects, the safety of gene editing, and the implications for future generations.

The whereabouts of the children and their families remain a mystery. The Chinese government has been tight-lipped about their location and well-being, and there have been few updates on their condition. It is unclear whether the gene editing was successful and whether the children have any long-term health issues as a result of the experiment.

The case of the gene-edited babies has highlighted the need for robust ethical guidelines and regulations for gene editing research. Scientists and policymakers are working to establish frameworks to ensure that gene editing is used responsibly and ethically, and to protect the rights and well-being of future generations.