The expected course for gene editing in China remains uncertain.

Genetic engineer He Jiankui was imprisoned for 3 years and fined 3 million yuan in December, as revealed, for his unapproved experiments with CRISPR gene editing on human embryos.

, and Administrator

2025 September 28 . 11:32 AM

2 min read

The prospect for genetic editing in China: an outlook

The expected course for gene editing in China remains uncertain.

In late November 2018, the world was shocked by the news of the birth of twin girls, Nana and Luna, in China. This wasn't just an ordinary birth; it was the result of a scientific experiment involving several couples, where the male was an HIV carrier. The experiment, led by researcher He Jiankui and his team, made history as the first time viable human embryos were used and, more than that, allowed to be born in a Chinese experiment with CRISPR-Cas9.

He Jiankui and two of his team members were convicted for their role in the genetic modification of the twin babies. The purpose of the modification was obscure, with some speculating that it aimed to create more intelligent human beings. However, the actual goal was to make the babies HIV immune using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, which involved disabling the CCR5 genes.

This incident raised a huge outcry worldwide, and the criticism is justified. He Jiankui's genetic intervention was reproachable due to the lack of scientific evidence predicting all consequences of using CRISPR-Cas9, and because HIV is no longer a life-threatening condition.

The story of He Jiankui's genetic modification might dictate the future of gene editing in China. The Chinese government needs to create more accurate regulation to establish which kind of genetic interventions are allowed, considering the effects, aims, and conditions. The existing Chinese regulations, such as the Implementation Measures for Administration of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Specification, and Ethics Rules of Human-assisted Reproductive Technology and Sperm Bank, are insufficient, unclear, and unfit to be used to solve individual cases.

It's important to note that gene editing can be a useful tool to combat diseases like cancer, Tay-Sachs disease, Huntington disease, and prevent their transmission or contagion. Sperm washing, a widely used technique around the world, can fight the risk of transmission of HIV to progeny.

The condemnation of He Jiankui should not be seen as the condemnation of genetic interventions. China might aspire to have a leading role in this domain, as long as it invests in a proper legal framework. The normative framework for gene-edited research in the latest draft of China's Civil Code is established by the relevant Chinese legal authorities responsible for biotechnology regulation, typically under the auspices of national legislative and scientific ethics bodies; however, the specific institution is not explicitly named in the provided search results.

This article, published by Vera Lúcia Raposo, Ph.D., is a legacy post, tagged under Clinical Ethics, Clinical Trials & Studies, Ethics, Genetics, HIV/AIDS, and Public Health. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for clear and stringent regulations in the field of genetic interventions to ensure the safety and ethical conduct of such experiments.

In conclusion, the genetic modification of the twin girls is a significant event that has raised important questions about the ethical and legal boundaries of genetic interventions. As the world continues to advance in the field of genetic engineering, it is crucial for nations like China to establish clear and comprehensive regulations to guide and govern these advancements.