Chinese Genetics Firms Call for Ethical Behavior From Peers After GM Baby Births
Dou Shicong
DATE:  Dec 01 2018
/ SOURCE:  yicai
Chinese Genetics Firms Call for Ethical Behavior From Peers After GM Baby Births Chinese Genetics Firms Call for Ethical Behavior From Peers After GM Baby Births

(Yicai Global) Nov. 30 -- Thirty two Chinese genetics firms have called for adherence to ethical norms after scientist He Jiankui genetically modified human zygotes and allowed them to develop until birth.

"As responsible institutions of life science research and technology applications, we fully support the investigation and accountability of relevant state departments on the parties involved," an open letter posted by sector leader BGI Genomics on social media read. "[We] strongly call on our counterparts to jointly uphold ethical norms and never use the promotion of scientific and technological progress as an excuse to break the bottom line."

Other top-tier names, including Zhejiang Dian Diagnostics, Berry Genomics, Xiamen Amoydx and Polytron Technologies, added weight to the message.

He Jiankui and a team of researchers edited the genes of human twins to make them immune to human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. He announced the babies' births earlier this week, resulting in worldwide controversy as people questioned the ethics of his behavior.

Gene-edited zygotes in China are not supposed to be allowed to develop for longer than 14 days.

Several genetics companies have been feeling the burn on the stock market, including BGI and Berry, which lost 3 percent on the day but have since clawed most of that back. Harmonicare Medical Holdings also dropped around 8 percent but has pulled back half of the loss.

China's Ministry of Science and Technology firmly opposes gene-edited babies and has suspended He and his associates from conducting scientific activities, state-backed broadcaster CCTV reported today, citing an official at the agency.

Editor: James Boynton

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Keywords:   BGI Genomics,Gene Editing,He Jiankui