There might be a significant market for genetically modified children. At least this is what the emails that Dr. He Jiankui has been receiving from all over the world seem to suggest.

Despite what mainstream media portrayed as universal outrage towards Dr. He after he used CRISPR to create the world’s first gene-edited children, in the real world, it is not just a handful of “rogue scientists” and underground biohackers working on the creation of Designer Babies. Stanford’s Dr. William Hurlbut, Dr. He’s former bioethics adviser, revealed this much yesterday – while speaking at the World Science Festival in New York.

Hurlbut revealed that scientists from around the world had messaged Dr. He showing both support and interest in genetically editing human embryos.

But the most surprising revelation from Hurlbut was that fertility clinics from several countries had not only messaged Dr. He supporting his work, but also wanted him to train their staff on how to genetically modify human embryos.

One such clinic is a reputable IVF facility in Dubai, which emailed Dr. He just one week after he had announced the birth of HIV-resistant ‘CRISPR babies’ Lulu and Nana. The clinic, which is ran by the government of the United Arab Emirates, wanted to know if Dr. He was offering a course on genetically editing embryos, as their embryologist was interested in taking such a course:

“Our embryologist is interested in partaking in a course regarding CRISPR gene editing for embryology lab application. Does your facility offer this type of course?” the email from Dubai read. (see photo below)

Hurlbut also mentioned that Dr. He told him he was also messaged by families with inherited health problems, who were interested in treating and preventing diseases using gene-editing. For the past few months, it is such families affected by inheritable and genetic diseases who have been particularly vocal against the global ban on gene-edited children being pushed by Obama’s former science adviser, Eric Lander.

Also present at the World Science Festival was CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna, one of the first people Dr. He emailed after the possibly ‘cognitively-enhanced’ twins Lulu and Nana were born. Doudna told the audience at the festival that she also has heard of others who want to gene-edit embryos.

The second birth from Dr. He’s CRISPR experiments will be in July; but the fact that it is relatively inexpensive and easy to replicate his work, and given the demand for gene-edited children, you can almost be certain it will not be the last gene-edited birth – as there are facilities all over the world, including government-run clinics, clearly interested in creating CRISPR babies. Therefore you can almost be certain that there will be other CRISPR babies born in several places around the world as early as next year.