Self-monitoring of gene editing ordered

The Ministry of Education sent a notice to universities nationwide ordering them to conduct self-examinations of any gene-editing research they may be undertaking after a Chinese scientist's recent attempt to produce the world's first gene-edited babies sparked heated controversy at home and abroad.

According to online notices issued by Suzhou University of Science and Technology and Guangzhou's South China Agricultural University, the ministry issued the order to examine whether gene-editing research carried out in the country complies with ethics, standards, laws and regulations.

The focus of the self-examination is on projects conducted by university-affiliated hospitals, those working with foreign research partners and projects concerning the human genome.