I remember as a kid, the reports of some sensational claims made by a scientific group which was affiliated to a controversial religious organization. Human cloning was said to be done and the world media went into a tizzy! Although, experts downplayed those episodes, the said discovery quickly faded away from the public memory. Sometimes, scientific breakthroughs attain that unnecessary glamour quotient and somewhere we fail to scrutinize its merits or demerits objectively in the wake of too much of spotlight!

Recently, a Chinese scientist Dr He Jiankui, walked nervously to the podium at The second international summit for Human Genome Editing in Honk Kong which caught the glare and glamour of the world media! Dr He delivered a talk which spoke about editing human genomes and delivering perhaps the first generation of ‘designer babies’!! My childhood fantasy about Jurassic Park suddenly came alive and the world went crazy about his ceremonious achievement! Undoubtedly, the prospects may be mouth watering and these claims definitely are in a better light compared to human cloning fiascos which happened in South Korea (which was a fraud) and the great Cloniad cloning fantasy connected to the religious group, ‘the Raelians’

Dr He, used CRISPR technology to modify the gene CCR5, a doorway for HIV, in embryos created through IVF for HIV discordant couples (father HIV positive) and dubbed it as an HIV vaccine trail. This feat potentially will make the twin girls (gene edited babies) delivered after this process as HIV resistant! 

Nevertheless, the scientific community present at that given point of time peppered Mr He with a string of questions. He did answer a few and remained silent to a few other critical questions. However, if we set aside the pandemonium of joy around his work, caution and restrain are certainly important! And so is a thorough analysis along with some important ethical considerations!

Firstly, his supporters will say even IVF was initially demonized by the medical community which later was accepted. However, there is a fundamental difference! IVF was born out of trials and tribulations, was scrutinized effectively and had the medical communities in contention or picture. Its progress was tracked! In this case of Gene Edited Babies, the development seems to be spontaneous and perhaps didn’t adhere to enlightening the scientific community about the happenings. The Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, where He is an associate professor, has said it had no knowledge of his research. The scientist has said his project was approved by an ethics committee at Shenzhen women and children’s hospital, which has also denied any involvement. Scientific breakthroughs cannot happen in the realm of secrecy and obliviousness of the entire scientific community.

Secondly, the fist reason I mentioned will give rise to the second concern. Owing to the above aspects, lack of transparency will follow which may give rise to poorly designed protocols, absence of fairness in meeting ethical standards for protecting the welfare of research subjects, the possibility of the patients becoming guinea pigs in this experimentation and unforeseen results emanating from the same will all together contribute to terrible consequences.

Thirdly, some experts are of the view that making HIV resistant off springs may be unnecessary. There may be other suitable means to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus and some pointed out that Huntington’s  or Tay Sach’s disease which may be averted only coz of Gene Editing are better choices for these procedures!

Fourthly, in the conference, a string of important questions asked to the scientist remained unanswered! This can give rise to many ethical concerns which may demonize gene editing procedure rather than making it mainstream. His actions could invariably impede responsible development of gene edited babies.  Questions such as, how the patients were taken into the loop and was the explanation  about any harmful effects emerging from the experimental treatment given to them and why did he proceed with the experiment in spite of a clear consensus amongst scientists that such research shouldn’t be done  failed to get any answers from him.

 The biggest drawback of experimenting with genetics is unknown future and unknown after effects! Deleting or adding a gene may help you get that desired result but you will not immediately know if it has created another Frankenstein genetic condition! Although, procedures such as ICSI and PGD too are about tampering with nature, their sustainable results aided by overseeing of the regulatory agencies made the difference! Even with respect to them, their excessive use is unwarranted. In case of Mr He, even the pioneer of CRISPR technique has doubts and has being critical of his work. Speculations of the possibilities of mutations may always hover in such scenarios and his sporadic work and attention may derail the momentum of a meaningful research in gene editing.

Lastly, absurd or unsubstantiated claims on human cloning made it difficult for the scientific community to sustain and it was banned in many countries. The biggest problem in He’s work is the reaction of the Chinese govt which has raised ethical concerns and also reprimanded him for his work, termed it as a violation of the law and has asked him to suspend all related activities. This may lead to the same cataclysmic effect which human cloning had to bear, as other nations may notice and usher in tough laws to counter gene editing. Perhaps, if gene editing meets the same fate as that of human cloning, then it will be a big loss to many patients who are hopeful about development of it as a clinical procedure!

China has been investing heavily in gene editing technology and was the first to use CRISPR to modify non viable human embryos in 2016. China is trying to match US in Research and Development where it has spent a mammoth 254 billion dollars recently in this process to dub it as ‘Sputnik 2’, taking a leaf out of the space race with the erstwhile Soviet Union and spurring an impending genetic arms race! In the midst of this, 120 Chinese scientists have condemned He’s work and this perhaps may be the biggest casualty of them all!

More than a persevering path breaking scientific feat, He’s work seems to be a byproduct of personal ambition and a vague regulatory environment in a country that been trying to position itself as giant in gene editing technology!

Whilst, internet and the social media may be going gaga over this possible scientific revolution, its important to investigate his work, ensure that research in gene editing will be properly conducted and transparency with respect to the scientific community be maintained!

Jurassic Park and dinosaurs were a cinematic marvel or genetic fantasy, gene editing is certainly not!!!