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The controversial genetic mutation used to curb HIV infection in twin babies born last year may ultimately shorten their lifespan.
A study by the University of California, Berkeley, suggests the genetically edited infants are at risk of a 21 percent increase in mortality in later life.
Chinese scientist He Jiankui (HEH JEE’-an-qway) made headlines last year when his lab allegedly used CRISPR technology to alter the DNA of sisters Lulu and Nana*, born in November to Grace and Mark.
Grace began her pregnancy via in vitro fertilization (IVF)—with a twist: After inseminating her eggs, an embryologist sent in “a little bit of protein,” plus instructions for a gene surgery to disable the CCR5 gene, through which the human immunodeficiency virus enters.
UC Berkeley’s analysis of more than 400,000 genomic records from the UK Biobank, however, found that people with two mutated copies of CCR5 had a “significantly higher” death rate between ages 41 and 78 than those with one or no copies.
“Beyond the many ethical issues involved with the CRISPR babies, the fact is that, right now, with current knowledge, it is still very dangerous to try to introduce mutations without knowing the full effect of what those mutations do,” according to UC Berkeley professor Rasmus Nielsen.
“In this case, it is probably not a mutation that most people would want to have,” he said in a statement. “You are actually, on average, worse off having it.”
That’s bad news for the twins, one of whom reportedly had one copy of the gene modified, while the other had both copies edited—a so-called homozygous mutation.
Not since the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978 has so much fuss been made about assisted reproductive technology.
Branded by some as “China’s Frankenstein,” He reportedly revised embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments. Only one pregnancy has so far been confirmed successful, though there were rumors of a second.
The news set the scientific community alight; an angry mob of researchers carried proverbial pitchforks and torches, calling He’s conduct unethical.
The scientist—apparently MIA since making an appearance at the second International Summit on Human Genome Editing in early December—as well as other relevant personnel and organizations, are expected to face undisclosed punishment for their actions.
“I think there are a lot of things that are unknown at the current stage about genes’ functions,” postdoctoral fellow and study co-author Xinzhu “April” Wei said. “The CRISPR technology is far too dangerous to use right now for germline editing.”
A full report was published this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
* Names of the twins and their parents have been changed by the He Lab for privacy reasons.
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