Gene editing should be met with an ethical response and penalties
- The shocking revelation that Chinese scientist He Jiankui performed the world’s first such experiment on baby twins has stoked international fears
Rogue genetic tinkering with human embryos remains one of the worst nightmares of science and governments. The shocking revelation two months ago by Chinese scientist He Jiankui that he had created the world’s first gene-edited babies stoked fears.
The risks to humankind of such experimentation are still regarded as too great and are banned for reproductive purposes in China. It is therefore reassuring to hear from the authorities that a preliminary probe has found He wholly responsible for the secret, unauthorised work and that the scientist faces punishment to deter others.
According to investigators quoted by state news agency Xinhua, He recruited eight couples for an experiment which resulted in the birth of twins with genes altered to protect them against HIV carried by their parents.
The reason for concern and censure is that altering a single gene in an embryo cell could lead to unknown consequences for the child and the risk that edited genes could be passed down generations.
China confirms gene-edited babies; scientist and staff to face punishment
While bureaucrats may remain in control of funding and research approvals, it is increasingly difficult for them to exercise effective oversight as science and technology gets more specialised and capital intensive, amid a race to catch up with the United States.
As a result, scientists tend to enjoy more freedom for legitimate research, with the unintended parallel of more latitude for unauthorised work.
In much of the West, the scientific community has long established basic moral and ethical standards maintained by self-discipline for the sake of credibility and integrity. That is not to reflect on the morals and ethics of Chinese scientists generally.
But it remains a fact that they have access to newly available resources and greater opportunity to shine on the international stage. For talented young people, the incentive is huge – and so is the temptation to break rules and conventions that underpin scientific integrity.
Tightening party control over laboratories is not the answer. Commitment to ethical values is more effective, with deterrent penalties for not upholding them.
The gene-editing incident should prompt reflection on how to encourage scientists to safeguard a more liberal environment by developing an ethical and moral culture and code of research integrity, secured by transparent peer review.
