Scientist who edited babies’ genes says he acted ‘too quickly’

The scientist at the heart of the scandal involving the world’s first gene-edited babies has said he moved “too quickly” by pressing ahead with the procedure. He Jiankui sent shock waves across the world of science when he announced in 2018 that he had edited the genes of twin girls, Lulu and Nana, before birth. He returned to China in 2012 to pursue Crispr-Cas9 gene-editing research, launching a variety of biotechnology business ventures. “Lulu and Nana are living a normal, peaceful, undisturbed life and we should respect them,” he said. “According to Chinese law, when a person has served the prison [sentence], after that they begin again with full rights,” he said.