China puts the scientist in jail that “edited the infant genes”

He Jiankuu had said at an international conference on gene editing in November last year that he had led a project that had resulted in the birth of twin babies with increased resistance to Aids disease infections.

Although Dr. He did not offer any evidence, following an investigation by Chinese authorities confirmed that the work had been done and that researchers “deliberately avoided monitoring”.

Dr. He was convicted Monday of illegal practice of medicine and breaking China's scientific research regulations. He was sentenced to three years in prison and fined a total of 350 thousand euros [3m yen].

This sentence was reported by the Chinese state medium Xinhua, who for the first time confirmed that a third baby from another mother by two twins was born as part of the project in question.

Two others were also imprisoned in connection with the case. /Periscope