Bioethics experts call for greater oversight

Four leading ethics scholars in China are urging government authorities to intensify their supervision over scientific research to reduce the chances of unethical use of biomedical technologies involving gene editing and stem cells.

The appeal, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, referenced a major ethical scandal in November, when a Chinese scientist announced he had produced the world's first twin human babies whose genes were altered to make them immune to HIV.

Hundreds of Chinese scientists voiced opposition and questioned the safety and effectiveness of the procedure following the announcement by He Jiankui, 35, who was an associate professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.