Abstract

On November 26, 2018, the world awoke to the news that genome editing had for the first time been used to create genetically modified human beings. He Jiankui, a scientist then employed by Southern University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen, announced via social media and the popular press that he had performed genome editing on embryos with the aim of disrupting the CCR5 gene in order to induce immunity to HIV, implanted the embryos, and that twin girls had been born.In the wake of this announcement, arguments, claims, and accusations flew. Most commentators declared He's actions "irresponsible," pointing to various statements by scientific organizations agreeing that human embryo genome editing was...