Rice University investigates professor's involvement in genomic editing of human embryos
HONG KONG - A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies -- twin girls -- whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life.
The researcher, He Jiankui of Shenzhen, also claims that Dr. Michael Deem, a Rice University bioengineering professor, took part in the work in China, but this kind of gene editing is banned in the United States because the DNA changes can pass to future generations and it risks harming other genes.
Deem who would have worked on the project with Jiankui, according to the researcher, after he returned to China, was his adviser at Rice, where Jiankui was a student. The researcher also claims that Deem holds what he called "a small stake" in his two companies, in addition to being on the scientific advisory boards.
If the Chinese researcher story is true, it would be a profound leap in science and ethics. Meanwhile, Rice University denied on Monday any knowledge of Deem's potential involvement in the project, and announced a full investigation of his involvement.
"Regardless of where it was conducted, this work as described in press reports, violates scientific conduct guidelines and is inconsistent with ethical norms of the scientific community and Rice University,” said Doug Miller, Rice University’s director of news and media relations.
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