CHINA — A scientist in China has been under scrutiny for allegedly using CRISPR, a gene-editing tool, to create the first gene-edited babies.<br /><br />In describing his process of gene-editing, He Jiankui said he first "washed" the sperm to separate it from semen and then placed the sperm into a single egg to create an embryo during in vitro fertilization.<br /><br />After the embryo was 3 to 5 days old, CRISPR-cas9 was used to remove a gene called CCR5.<br /><br />The scientist claims he previously experimented on editing the DNA of mice, monkey and human embryos in his lab for several years.<br /><br />He claims he altered the DNA to make the babies immune to HIV, according to the Associated Press. <br /><br />He also claims the gene surgery was a success and produced twin baby girls.<br /><br />The participants of the study were reportedly told that gene-editing was similar to a vaccine and were made to sign a consent form in which they were told that gene editing on an embryo has never been tried before and carries risks.<br /><br />An immediate investigation has been ordered into He's claims of having created the world's first genetically-edited babies, according to the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.<br /><br />The hospital He claims to have conducted the research in has denied any involvement with the surgery and said the babies weren't born there.<br /><br />Shenzhen Hermonicare Women's and Children's Hospital also said they plan to conduct an internal investigation on two doctors in their hospital that the Chinese scientist claims were also involved.
