CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
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Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#2Direct gene editing was invented about 45 years ago. I am surprised, even shocked, that no one tried this until now. CRISPR has certainly made it easier to do, but other techniques have existed since the 70s.
He Jiankui is being vilified now, but I wonder how history will remember him (if at all)
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#3Atrocious! Babies' interest in science should be supported, not squashed.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#4Direct gene editing was invented about 45 years ago. I am surprised, even shocked, that no one tried this until now. CRISPR has certainly made it easier to do, but other techniques have existed since the 70s. He Jiankui is being vilified now, but I wonder how history will remember him (if at all)
I am not at all opposed to the idea of gene editing, but I wonder if the issue here isn't that he didn't have proper medical authorization to do this. Most countries have laws against cowboy medicine for a reason.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#5> The investigation also found that He’s experiment ran counter to national regulations forbidding people with HIV from using assisted reproduction — an allegation reported for the first time in the Xinhua article.
What is the rationale behind this regulation? Is it that the baby is likely to be infected with HIV or is there some other reason?
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#6I've read that He self-funded the project. Anyone know if he comes from wealth or how he got the funds to run a team of scientists? Also, it's interesting that he was a trained physicist who turned to gene modification experiments. Is CRISPR and gene editing the popular draw in academia and research? I've always assumed academics mainly stayed in their lane, so to speak.
As for the ethics, if gene editing research is inevitable and/or simple as claimed, then perhaps it should be carried out in public universities so as to prevent glory seeking people from causing unnecessary harm. Also, perhaps anyone who carries out gene editing should be held financially liable and even criminally liable for any damage to individuals.
If CRISPR and gene editing lives up to its hype, it feels like we are on the cusp of a brave new world.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#7Does anybody really believe that China is upholding strong ethical standards here? Sure the uni dumped this guy, but I'd assume there is a large project that the government is at minimum aware of to edit genes.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#8Atrocious! Babies' interest in science should be supported, not squashed.
Babies have the same interest in science as the rest of us, to be squashed or supported as required by various groups and institutions or human aspirations as might exist.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#9Direct gene editing was invented about 45 years ago. I am surprised, even shocked, that no one tried this until now. CRISPR has certainly made it easier to do, but other techniques have existed since the 70s. He Jiankui is being vilified now, but I wonder how history will remember him (if at all)
It has certainly been tried before, but in secret or without publicity.
He Jiankui is being fired for publicly announcing his experiment and the subsequent backlash (mostly deserved) from his peers.
Re: CRISPR-baby scientist fired by university
#10I've read that He self-funded the project. Anyone know if he comes from wealth or how he got the funds to run a team of scientists? Also, it's interesting that he was a trained physicist who turned to gene modification experiments. Is CRISPR and gene editing the popular draw in academia and research? I've always assumed academics mainly stayed in their lane, so to speak. As for the ethics, if gene editing research is…
A lot of private donors or individuals act as patrons for labs and even individual scientists or artists. Don’t see why a leading scientist in the field would have trouble attracting this funding.