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BBC Inside Science

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Gene-edited Babies

Duration: 14 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FM

Available for over a year

When the news broke last November that Chinese biophysicist He Jiankui had successfully edited the genomes of twin girls using the technique known as CRISPR-Cas9, scientists and the public were rightly outraged that such a procedure had taken place. Jiankui is currently being investigated by Chinese authorities for breaking legal and ethical guidelines on human genome editing. There have also been calls for a global moratorium on gene editing in the clinic. Yet rules are already in place that should stop this happening. Dr Helen O’Neill, a Lecturer in Reproductive and Molecular Genetics at University College London and BBC Science and Health Correspondent James Gallagher talk to Adam Rutherford what the gene editing technique involves and what the risks are of another rogue scientist following He Jiankui's unethical and dangerous lead. Show less

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