He Jiankui: Baby gene experiment 'foolish and dangerous'
Source: BBC
He Jiankui: Baby gene experiment 'foolish and dangerous'
By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News
3 June 2019
Prof He Jiankui shocked the world when he genetically altered the twins to try to give them protection against HIV.
But a study in Nature Medicine shows people who naturally have the mutation he was trying to recreate were significantly more likely to die young.
Experts said Prof He's actions were "very dangerous" and "foolish".
What was Prof He trying to do?
Prof He was targeting a gene called CCR5.
It is a set of genetic instructions that are important for how the immune system functions.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48496652
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Related: CCR5-∆32 is deleterious in the homozygous state in humans (Nature Medicine)
