In China, Gene-Edited Babies Are the Latest in a String of Ethical Dilemmas
"China
has set its sights on becoming a leader in science, pouring millions of
dollars into research projects and luring back top Western-educated
Chinese talent. The country’s scientists are accustomed to
attention-grabbing headlines by their colleagues as they race to
dominate their fields.
But when He Jiankui announced
on Monday that he had created the world’s first genetically edited
babies, Chinese scientists — like those elsewhere — denounced it as a
step too far. Now many are asking whether their country’s intense focus
on scientific achievement has come at the expense of ethical standards.
