Chinese scientist, (1984– ), Hunan, China
Areas of Specialization: Biophysics
Jiankui He is a biophysics researcher, former professor at Southern University of Science and Technology, and the creator of the first gene-edited babies. He earned a BS from the University of Science and Technology of China and a PhD from Rice University. While at Rice University, he began working with CRISPR, and throughout his career, has used CRISPR on human embryos, mice and monkeys.
He is the founder of two biotechnology companies, Direct Genomics and Vienomics Biotech. His most notable accomplishment, a successful gene-editing experiment, resulted in the birth of the very first gene-edited babies. His supposed intent was to protect the offspring of an HIV positive father from contracting the disease.
The reception to their announcement quickly went from exultant to ominous. The scientific community writ large condemned his research methods and felt that he had breached ethical and moral codes of conduct.
Having implanted gene-edited embryos in two different mothers, three genetically engineered children were born. The potential implications for the procedure on the future health and wellbeing of the children is not yet known.
Chinese authorities declared his work abominable and he was detained by the government for some time. He was later sentenced to three years in prison and a substantial fine.
Featured in Top Influential Biologists Today
According to Wikipedia, He Jiankui is a Chinese biophysics researcher who was an associate professor in the Department of Biology of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. Earning his Ph.D. from Rice University in Texas on protein evolution, including that of CRISPR, He learned gene-editing techniques as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University in California.
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