Remember the Scientist Who Changed Everything?
Back in 2018, the world was taken aback by He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who made waves by using CRISPR technology to genetically modify embryos. This groundbreaking experiment led to the birth of twins, who are now regarded as the first genetically engineered humans on the planet.
The announcement ignited a firestorm of criticism, with experts and regulatory bodies expressing outrage over what they deemed serious ethical and scientific misconduct. As a result, He faced severe repercussions, including imprisonment in China and the loss of his position at the Southern University of Science and Technology.
Fast forward to today, and according to a recent update from MIT Technology Review, He has been released from prison. Interestingly, he even answered a brief phone call, but when asked about his current status, he only said, “It’s not convenient to talk right now,” before hanging up.
What lies ahead for He remains uncertain. Those who know him describe him as “idealistic, naïve, and ambitious.” It appears that the backlash to his experiment caught him off guard, especially since he had aspired to earn a Nobel Prize for his pioneering work.
Before his incarceration, He had considered launching a designer baby clinic, potentially in China or Switzerland, to commercialize his technology. However, those aspirations never got off the ground.
The ongoing discourse around human DNA manipulation raises profound scientific and ethical questions, particularly given the intricate nature of genetic codes in living organisms. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the future, it’s undeniable that He’s experiment has ushered in a new chapter of genetic engineering that warrants serious attention.
As we look to the future, the saga of He Jiankui serves as a potent reminder of the complex ethical and scientific challenges that accompany the manipulation of human DNA.
