‘Pursuit of Fame’ Drove Controversial Gene-Editing Project, Investigation Says

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By Tang Ziyi / Jan 21, 2019 07:06 PM / Society & Culture

Photo: VCG

A preliminary investigation into He Jiankui’s controversial gene-editing project has found that He personally raised funds and organized the project’s team out of his own pursuit of fame, the state-affiliated Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

Chinese authorities also said that a total of eight couples participated in He’s experiment, and two women became pregnant. One of the women is still pregnant. (The other is the one who gave birth to the world’s first ever gene-edited babies.)

The investigation said He breached both ethical and scientific standards, as well as national regulations. It also blamed He for setting a "baneful" example domestically and internationally.

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