The scientist who edited embryos and went to prison

In November 2018, the Chinese researcher He Jiankui announced that twin girls, given the names Lulu and Nana, had been born after he used CRISPR to edit their genes as embryos. He said he had changed a gene called CCR5 to try to make them resistant to HIV, the virus their father carried. The edits would be passed on to any children they have.

Scientists, ethicists and Chinese authorities reacted quickly. Critics pointed out that there were already safe ways to prevent a father passing HIV to a child, that the edits did not match the natural protective version of the gene, and that some cells may not have been edited the same way. The parents' consent process was also questioned. A third baby was later reported to have been born from the experiment.

In December 2019 a court in Shenzhen sentenced He to three years in prison and a fine of 3 million yuan for illegal medical practice. In 2021 the World Health Organization issued recommendations on governing human genome editing, including a global registry of research.

The experiment broke basic rules of medical research. The risks were unknown and could affect future generations, the medical need was not real because safer options existed, and outside review was weak. Being able to do something with a new tool did not make it safe or right.

The AI angle: powerful AI tools can also be used before anyone has checked the risks. Independent review, honest consent and clear rules matter most when a mistake cannot be undone.

The idea behind this caseLesson: Review AI like a manager →

1. 1Ask whether a new procedure meets a real need that safer options cannot.
2. 2Look for independent ethics review, not only the approval of the people doing the work.
3. 3Be extra careful with changes that cannot be undone or that affect other people.
4. 4Before joining any medical study, ask your doctor to help you check that it is approved and that you understand the risks.