VOA慢速英语--科学家和基因编辑婴儿的谜团

Mystery Surrounds Scientist and Gene¹-Edited Babies

Chinese scientist He Jiankui shocked the world last year when he claimed to have helped make the first gene-edited babies.

Now, it is unclear what has happened to him and the babies.

The scientist has not been seen in public since January, and nothing is known about the health of the little ones.

His work has not been published.

"That's the story — it's all cloaked in secrecy," said bioethicist William Hurlbut of Stanford University in the United States. Hurlbut spoke² with He Jiankui many times before He reported on his research at a Hong Kong science conference.

He claimed to have used a tool called CRISPR to change a gene in human embryos⁴. His goal was to try to help the embryos resist infection with the virus that causes the disease AIDS.

"I feel a strong responsibility that it's not just to make a first, but also make it an example," He told The Associated Press last year. "Society will decide what to do next," he said.

Many experts denounced his work as medically unnecessary and unethical. They said it was unclear what harm the changes might have caused.

Since then, many experts have called for better rules or even a ban on similar work. But it is unclear who would set policies and who would enforce them.

"Nothing has changed," said Kiran Musunuru, a geneticist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Musunuru just published a book about gene editing and the case of the CRISPR babies.

Where are He Jiankui and the babies?

He Jiankui was last seen in early January at an apartment building. Armed guards were standing⁶ nearby, leading some to suspect he was under house arrest.

The university dismissed him from his position with the school after his work became known.

A few weeks later, China's official news agency said an investigation⁷ had found that He acted alone out of desire for fame. It also said he would be punished for any violations⁸ of the law.

Since then, efforts by The Associated Press to reach the scientist have been unsuccessful. Ryan Ferrell, a media relations person working for He, refused to comment.

William Hurlbut, who has been in contact with He earlier this year, refused to say when he last heard from him.

A Chinese investigation seemed to confirm the existence of the two babies, both girls. The report said they and people involved in a second pregnancy⁹ using a gene-edited embryo³ would be closely watched by government health agencies. Nothing has been said about the third possible baby, which should have been born in late summer.

Chinese officials have seized the remaining edited embryos and records from He's laboratory.

"He caused unintended consequences in these twins," Musunuru said of the gene editing. "We don't know if it's harming the kids."

Who Helped He?

It is unclear who else may have helped He Jiankui in his research.

Rice University in Texas said it is still investigating the actions of Michael Deem, whose name was on a paper He sent to a scientific publication. Deem served as He's adviser¹⁰ when he attended Rice years ago.

The AP and others have reported on other scientists in China and the United States who knew or strongly suspected what He was doing.

"Many people knew, many people encouraged him. He did not do this in a corner," Hurlbut said.

Words in This Story

edit – v. to change and improve with the goal of making ready for a specific purpose

cloak – v. to cover (someone or something)

embryo – n. a human or animal in its early development before it can survive on its own

unethical-- adj. morally bad; not ethical⁵

unintended - adj. not planned as a purpose or goal

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

4 embryos   

n.晶胚；胚，胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段，而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
• Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句

5 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。