China scientist defends gene-editing babies as trial paused

Specifically, Chinese laws limit in vitro human embryonic stem cell research to a maximum of 14 days, said Xu.

But former Chinese health ministry official Qiu Renzong said lax regulations in China mean that scientists who break the rules often face no punishment.

China’s National Health Commission ordered an “immediate investigation”, the official Xinhua news agency reported, while the Shenzhen hospital meant to have approved the research denied its involvement.

A union of Chinese scientists issued a statement saying it “resolutely opposes so-called scientific researches and biotech applications that violate the spirit of science and ethics,” Xinhua said.

There is a history of fraud within China’s academic community — including a scandal last year that led to the withdrawal of 100 “compromised” papers.

He has not released the identities of the participants of his trial.

“It would be really unfortunate… to have the world looking at the first two genome-edited children because think of the pressure that’s going to put them under,” said Lovell-Badge.

But University of Massachusetts Lowell assistant professor Nicholas Evans tweeted: “(D)on’t get me wrong, privacy is vital here. But I am concerned that no one is ever going to get to independently corroborate the story.”