Disappearing Act

Just five days ago, it seemed like every pair of eyes in the world was fixed on He Jiankui, the researcher behind the controversial gene-editing of a pair of twin babies in China.

On Wednesday, He took the stage at the Human Genome Editing Summit at the University of Hong Kong to present his research, the broad strokes of which had leaked to the press a few days prior. Significant backlash from the scientific community followed, and the Chinese government itself soon banned He from continuing his research.

Now, no one seems to know where He is.

Tight-Lipped

Over the weekend, rumors circulated that the president of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTC), He’s former employer, forced the scientist to return to Shenzhen, China, where the university was now detaining him.

On Monday, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) published a statement from SUSTC that fell short of wholly refuting the rumor.

“Right now nobody’s information is accurate, only the official channels are,” a spokesperson told SCMP. “We cannot answer any questions regarding the matter right now, but if we have any information, we will update it through our official channels.” CRISPR Consequences

He will probably turn up eventually, at which point he’ll likely need to submit to an investigation from China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

The results of that investigation could shape the future of human gene editing — if China punishes He severely for his actions, it could deter other scientists from pursuing the “ask forgiveness, not permission” route with their own research. Leniency could have the opposite effect.

Regardless of how that investigation plays out, though, He has pushed humanity across a line that it can never uncross. We now live in a world in which the first people with CRISPR-modified genes have been born. Will they be the first and last? Or simply the first?

READ MORE: University Denies ‘Chinese Frankenstein’ He Jiankui Detained Over Gene-Edited Babies Claim [SCMP]

More on He Jiankui: Researcher Who Gene-Edited Babies Answers Critics: “I Feel Proud”