Dr. HE Jiankui is associated with a genetics laboratory in China’s southern Guangdong province. The scientist has stated the claim that he has “made” the world’s first genetically altered humans. The twin girls have had their DNA altered. International outrage over unspeakable ethics.
The international scientific community is outraged, his university is outraged, and in fact, they have stated that Jiankui “has seriously violated academic ethics and codes of conduct.”
Fertility Treatment Surprise
Even before I delve into a few of the broader ethical considerations of this scandal, I want to point out an obvious and immediate outrage. China has long diminished and demeaned women. Though it has presumably loosened its stance a bit, there is a long history of forced abortions, adoption, and sterilization of female babies. I would be ethically remiss to not note that Jiankui chose twin girls in his experimentation. The twins just born are one of seven altered embryos he has “designed.” I don’t know the gender of the other embryos. I would not be shocked to learn they were predominantly female.
As for the scientist’s rationalization, Dr. HE Jiankui said it was his purpose was “to bestow a trait that few people naturally have — an ability to resist possible future infection with HIV, the AIDS virus.”
It is a disingenuous argument wrapped in a socially acceptable, but highly flawed bow. There have been great advances in drugs used to treat or prevent AIDS. Given the pace of research and the increased awareness of the disease, it can certainly be slowed, stopped or even eradicated given enough funding and knowledge.
Before going out on a ledge here, I would add that the claims by the doctor have not been independently confirmed. It may be a hoax, also not uncommon in scientific reports out of China. If so, it would be the subject of another topic of unethical scientific behavior.
Seems true though
The university where Dr. Jiankui works, Southern University of Science and Technology, has already issued a statement denouncing him:
“The University was deeply shocked by this event and has taken immediate action to reach Dr. HE Jiankui for clarification. Dr. HE Jiankui previous affiliation, the Department of Biology (hereafter the Department) called an emergency meeting of the Department Academic Committee.”
The university has also made it clear that the research was conducted outside of their campus and they had no knowledge of it, that the scientist seriously violated its code of ethics and that his work should have complied with international academic ethics and codes of conduct.
It is certainly worth pondering what might have happened had the genetic modification been hailed by the scientific community. Would the university have cheered him as well?
Southern University of Science and Technology has called for a thorough investigation. A scientist working in the same field as Dr. HE from UC Berkeley, Dr. Jennifer Doudna said that the work needs to be verified.
“If verified, this work is a break from the cautious and transparent approach of the global scientific community’s application of CRISPR-Cas9 [gene splicing] for human germline editing.” She added,” It is essential that this report not cast an untoward shadow on the many important ongoing and planned clinical efforts to use CRISPR technology to treat and cure existing genetic, infectious, and common disease in adults and in children.” Dr. Doudna is hardly alone in her thinking.
In a statement made to the Associated Press, Dr. HE said he “strong responsibility that it’s not just to make a first, but also make it an example, (and that) society will decide what to do next” whether it will be allowed or forbidden. However, “an example,” is incorrect. Many examples have been created.
Who’s to say?
Dr. HE feels he is some type of bold pioneer. The “world” sharply disagrees. Was his bravado borne solely out of ego? That he was the first to push aside all ethical debate and plunge into his need for fame?
The sophisticated, gene splicing technology (CRISPR) plus a lack of supervision, allowed him an opportunity. The scientist might have pictured himself as a scientific “daredevil.” It is illegal to climb the Empire State Building, but some climbers would badly like to try. The point being that ethically, because something is there, it does not give us carte blanche to do it.
In this case, however, if Dr. HE’s claims are true, he could be bringing 10 or more children into the world with altered genetics against all recognized protocol. What should the world do now, kill those children? Obviously not, but Dr. HE Jiankui has opened an ethical box that may never again be closed. What is next? Who is next? International outrage over unspeakable ethics.
