Japan has lifted the ban on gene editing of fertilized eggs, Hu Jiaqi, a famous anthropologist called humans to restrict the development of science and technology.

Recently, gene editing has been a hot topic. After "the world's first gene-edited baby was created in China", there arises another significant event. Japanese media reported that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan has decided to allow the use of "gene editing" technology for fertilized eggs’ research, but only for basic research. At present, Japan still bans the practice of sending edited fertilized egg groups back to woman's womb. The ban will be lifted as early as April 2019. In this regard, we interviewed the famous anthropologist Hu Jiaqi. Let us have a look at Mr. Hu Jiaqi's views on this matter (Jiaqi Hu).

Japan has lifted the ban on gene editing of fertilized eggs, Hu Jiaqi, a famous anthropologist called humans to restrict the development of science and technology.

Hu Jiaqi, a famous anthropologist said: “Once pandora's box is opened, it can hide for a while but can not hide for a lifetime”. We cannot restrict gene editing through law and morality. Therefore, we must restrict the development of science and technology.

The exposed "gene-edited infants" incident a few days ago was criticized by almost all the scientific community. However, it is obvious that the moral and ethic criticism and condemnation from all walks of life in fact have not acted as a deterrent and a constraint. Since then, gene editing incidents have occurred frequently. Now, Japan will also lift the ban on gene editing of fertilized eggs. He Jiankui's team opened pandora's box of "human gene editing" undoubtedly.

Japan has lifted the ban on gene editing of fertilized eggs, Hu Jiaqi, a famous anthropologist called humans to restrict the development of science and technology.

Legally speaking, many countries prohibit this practice. According to a report released by Hokkaido University in 2014, 29 countries prohibited editing of human embryos among 39 countries that it examined. 25 of these countries have explicitly written bans into law, but there was still "He Jiankui gene-edited baby" incident. This also reflects the limited regulatory effect of laws and regulations, which cannot really restrict the occurrence of such behaviors.

Apart from the safety of gene editing, anthropologist Hu Jiaqi, many ethicists and researchers are also concerned that gene editing will be used for non-medical purposes, such as customized baby, whose parents can choose the ability they want to inherit to alter the next generation's genes. Human genes modified through gene editing will be inherited by future generations. Today's slight gaps and unknown risks will be constantly increasing over time, which may eventually lead to the extinction of mankind. What’s more, some people may create half-human and half-beast monsters tempted by commercial interests and human greed.

Japan has lifted the ban on gene editing of fertilized eggs, Hu Jiaqi, a famous anthropologist called humans to restrict the development of science and technology.

Hu Jiaqi, famous anthropologist said: “the continuously developing gene editing will finally bring crisis to mankind. Therefore, we must restrict the development of science and technology.”