VOA慢速英语2019 中国出台基因编辑新规定（在线收听）

After Scandal, China Proposes New Rules for Gene Editing

China has proposed new rules for gene editing and other “high risk” biomedical technologies. The proposals come three months after a Chinese researcher was widely criticized after claiming he had created the world’s first genetically-edited babies.

中国出台了针对基因编辑和其它“高风险”生物医学技术的新规定。在该提案出台的三个月前，中国一名研究人员声称他创造了全球首批基因编辑婴儿，他也因此受到了广泛批评。

A draft of the measures was published this week on the website of China's National Health Commission. The new rules would cover gene editing, stem cell experiments and biological products created for the human body, the Chinese government-supported Global Times newspaper reported.

本周在中国国家卫生委员会网站上公布了该措施的一份草案。据政府支持的《环球时报》报道，该新规定将会覆盖基因编辑、干细胞实验以及为人体制造的生物制品。

Future projects considered high-risk would have to be approved and managed by health department officials from the State Council, China's national cabinet, the report said. Biomedical research projects considered to have small or medium risk would be managed by local health departments, it added.

该报道称，未来被认为存在高风险的项目必须得到中国国务院卫生部门官员的批准。报告还称，被认为具有中低风险的生物医学研究项目将由当地卫生部门管理。

The new rules would also require research experiments to pass academic and ethical examinations, the Global Times reported.

据《环球时报》报道，这些新规定还要求研究实验需要通过学术和道德审查。

Violations of the rules would result in punishment for medical organizations or individuals, the draft proposal said. Punishments could include large fines or a ban on future research. Individuals could also face criminal prosecution.

这份提案草案称，违反规定的医疗组织或个人将会受到处罚。处罚包括巨额罚款或是禁止参与未来研究，个人可能还会面临刑事指控。

The back story

新闻背景

These rules come after Chinese researcher He Jiankui reported last November that he had helped make the world's first genetically edited babies. He said he had edited – meaning changed – the genetic material of two human embryos. The embryos developed into twin girls, who were born.

去年11月中国研究人员贺建奎报告称，他帮助创造了全球首批基因编辑婴儿，中国政府在此之后出台了这些规定。贺建奎称他编辑了两个人类胚胎的遗传物质。这些胚胎发育成一对双胞胎女婴并出生。

He Jiankui said he had performed the gene editing to help protect the babies from infection with HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS. He said the process had "worked safely" and the two girls were "as healthy as any other babies."

贺建奎称，他进行基因编辑是为了帮助这些婴儿免受艾滋病毒的感染，这种病毒会引发艾滋病。贺建奎表示，这一过程“安全地工作”，这两个女孩和其他婴儿一样健康。

His claims were quickly condemned by members of the world scientific community, who denounced them as "irresponsible." The Chinese government ordered a halt to the work soon after news media reported on the experiment.

他的声明很快受到了全球科学界成员的谴责，大家谴责他“不负责任。”中国政府在媒体报道该实验后很快下令停止这项工作。

This kind of gene editing is banned in the United States and many other countries. Such changes to a person's DNA can pass to future generations and risks harming other genes.

这种基因编辑在美国和其它许多国家都被禁止。人类遗传物质的这种改变可以传给下一代，并可能会危害其它基因。

The researcher's employer, Southern University of Science and Technology of China, said it did not know about his activities. China's Ministry of Science and Technology called the experiment "unacceptable."

这位研究人员的工作单位中国南方科技大学声称对贺建奎的行为并不知情。中国科技部称该实验“不可接受。”

He Jiankui spoke to a reporter with The Associated Press the month before his project was made public. At the time, he said he believed gene editing of human embryos resulting in live births was legal in China. The country had no law specifically banning it.

贺建奎在项目公开前接受了美联社一位记者的采访。当时他声称他认为对人类胚胎进行基因编辑并出生在中国是合法的。该国并没有专门的法律禁止这类行为。

But China's official Xinhua News Agency reported last month He Jiankui had broken national guidelines and would be punished for any legal violations. Xinhua did not specify which laws were violated, but noted he had created a false ethical examination.

但是中国官方的新华社上个月报道称，贺建奎违反了国家指导方针，并将因违法行为受到惩罚。新华社并未具体指明贺建奎违反了哪些法律，但是指出贺建奎制造了一份虚假的伦理审查。

Along with the twins, another embryo yet to be born reportedly resulted from He Jiankui's experiment. All three are to remain under medical observation with regular visits from government health department officials, Xinhua reported.

据报道，除了这一对双胞胎，贺建奎的实验中还有一个胚胎尚未出生。据新华社报道，这三者都将继续接受医学观察，并受到政府卫生部门官员的定期探访。

Words in This Story

draft – n. a plan or proposal that has not yet reached its finished form

manage – v. be in control of a project, company, team, etc.

ethical – adj. relating to what is right or wrong

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) – n. a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals