A Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, who was jailed for three years for creating the world's first gene-edited babies, is now planning to pursue more genetic editing projects. In 2018, He made headlines by announcing that he had successfully edited the genes of twin girls born in China, aiming to protect them from HIV infection. However, his attempt at making history was short-lived as the Chinese government banned genome editing for reproductive purposes and sentenced him to prison.
He has since emerged with a new goal: preventing Alzheimer's disease through germline gene editing - the process of altering human genes passed on from parents to offspring. He believes that this technology holds great promise for improving human health, but also acknowledges its potential risks and challenges.
The scientist says he has established an independent lab in Beijing, where he is working on a gene therapy for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, his focus is now shifting towards preventing Alzheimer's disease, which He believes can be achieved through the introduction of a specific genetic mutation found in Icelanders who are immune to the condition.
He has raised $7 million in funding from donations and investors, but notes that more money - around $10 million - will be needed to complete his research and initiate human trials. While some critics have labeled his efforts as a form of eugenics or "designer babies," He argues that this is not the case, emphasizing the need for responsible regulation and open communication about scientific advancements.
He has already begun working on the germline editing process using human cell lines, mice, and monkey embryos, aiming to develop a system capable of performing 12 simultaneous genetic edits. If successful, his research could potentially prevent a range of major diseases - including cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV, and more - by modifying human genes.
He's not planning to avoid potential run-ins with Chinese authorities, instead choosing transparency and openness as he continues his work. However, some critics argue that this approach may be insufficient in addressing concerns about the ethics and implications of germline editing technologies.
Overall, He Jiankui's plans to prevent Alzheimer's disease through gene editing mark a significant turning point in the ongoing debate over the benefits and risks of genetic engineering technology.
He has since emerged with a new goal: preventing Alzheimer's disease through germline gene editing - the process of altering human genes passed on from parents to offspring. He believes that this technology holds great promise for improving human health, but also acknowledges its potential risks and challenges.
The scientist says he has established an independent lab in Beijing, where he is working on a gene therapy for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, his focus is now shifting towards preventing Alzheimer's disease, which He believes can be achieved through the introduction of a specific genetic mutation found in Icelanders who are immune to the condition.
He has raised $7 million in funding from donations and investors, but notes that more money - around $10 million - will be needed to complete his research and initiate human trials. While some critics have labeled his efforts as a form of eugenics or "designer babies," He argues that this is not the case, emphasizing the need for responsible regulation and open communication about scientific advancements.
He has already begun working on the germline editing process using human cell lines, mice, and monkey embryos, aiming to develop a system capable of performing 12 simultaneous genetic edits. If successful, his research could potentially prevent a range of major diseases - including cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV, and more - by modifying human genes.
He's not planning to avoid potential run-ins with Chinese authorities, instead choosing transparency and openness as he continues his work. However, some critics argue that this approach may be insufficient in addressing concerns about the ethics and implications of germline editing technologies.
Overall, He Jiankui's plans to prevent Alzheimer's disease through gene editing mark a significant turning point in the ongoing debate over the benefits and risks of genetic engineering technology.
I mean, he already got in trouble for messing with human genes in the past, but now he's trying to make a comeback with Alzheimer's disease. It's like, I get it, he wants to help people live longer and healthier lives, but at what cost? 
He's raising money from donations and investors, which is cool, but we need to see more transparency about how he's gonna use that cash and whether he's gonna get caught again 
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but also kinda concerned at the same time...like He Jiankui is literally trying to change the course of human history with germline editing, which is already a super sensitive topic 
But at the same time, preventing Alzheimer's disease is like a dream come true for so many people's loved ones 
and I love how he's not ignoring the concerns of critics 
. That being said, I do think we need to have way more open and responsible conversations about this tech before we start making changes on a massive scale 
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...is that just a necessary step in getting his research off the ground or is there something else going on? 
. Like, didn't we learn from his previous mistake with the twin girls? He's now saying he wants to prevent Alzheimer's, which sounds all good and well, but let's be real, it's still gene editing we're talking about 
. Plus, how much more money does he need to make sure his research doesn't turn into a disaster? $10 million is just throwing good money after bad 
, so if he can find a way to prevent it, that'd be EVERYTHING 
. but, germline editing is still super new and untested, you feel? what are we even talking about here? 
should we just let scientists experiment and hope for the best or do we need some stricter regulations in place? 
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, and if his tech can deliver on that promise, it'll be huge for humanity. But on the other hand, we've seen what happens when unchecked ambition meets ethics 
... remember the whole CRISPR controversy? 
It's like, I get that He wants to make a difference, but gotta have a more nuanced discussion about the risks and responsibilities that come with playing with human genes 
.
!
. He says he wants transparency and regulation, but can we really trust anyone in power to make those calls? 
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. And what's with the lack of transparency about how he plans to handle the potential risks and challenges? 
. I know he messed up big time with those gene-edited babies, but it looks like he's learned from his mistakes and is now focused on using this tech for good 
. We need more people pushing boundaries and trying to solve some of humanity's biggest problems 
it's one thing to try to cure diseases, but it's another thing entirely to play God. and let's not forget all the risks involved... like, what if he creates some new disease that we can't even imagine yet?! 
I mean, we need to have a discussion about this stuff, not just let him do whatever he wants. 
, who needs ethics guidelines when you're trying to alter human DNA? $10 million is like, pocket change for a genius like him... meanwhile, the rest of us are over here wondering if we should be worried about our genes being messed with 
. I mean, it's great that he's all transparent and open, because, you know, transparency is key when it comes to playing God 
... that would be pretty cool 