Context:

He Jiankui, known for creating the first gene-edited babies, served three years in prison but has resurfaced as a vocal advocate for gene editing in China, which aims to become a biotechnology leader. Despite his controversial past, he argues that societal acceptance of gene editing is growing, evidenced by public support for its use in disease prevention. Dr. He is now focused on research involving Alzheimer’s and muscular dystrophy while navigating new Chinese regulations that, while restrictive, hint at future possibilities for gene editing. As the U.S. faces ethical constraints, He believes China is poised to dominate the field, framing himself as an essential pioneer in this emerging landscape.

Dive Deeper:

• He Jiankui's controversial experiment in 2018 led to the birth of twin girls and a third child, which ignited global outrage due to safety concerns regarding gene editing and its implications for eugenics.

• After his release, He was offered a position at a government-funded academy in Shenzhen and resumed research focused on eradicating diseases like Alzheimer's and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, though he claims current experiments are limited to mice.

• Recent public opinion polls indicate significant support among Chinese citizens for gene editing aimed at disease prevention, reflecting a shift in social attitudes towards his work.

• China's government is heavily investing in biotechnology, with Xi Jinping setting a goal for global leadership in technology by 2049, emphasizing the need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for scientists.

• New regulations by the State Council ban modifications to human reproductive cells but leave room for oversight in gene editing research, which Dr. He interprets as a sign of potential future acceptance of his methods.

• He Jiankui's past work has led to mixed responses from the scientific community, as many who previously denounced him have since remained silent, suggesting a softening stance towards his contributions.

• Despite concerns about the health of the gene-edited children he created, Dr. He defends his actions, stating he is proud of his work and has no intention of allowing researchers to exploit gene editing for intelligence enhancement.