Chinese Researcher Says He's Succeeded In Creating World's First Gene-Edited Babies

A Chinese researcher is claiming that he is responsible for the world's first gene-edited babies, twin girls born this month.

The researcher, He Jiankui, says he used the gene-editing technique CRISPR to modify the embryos of the two babies and give them the ability to resist HIV. The twins, who were conceived through in-vitro fertilization, have a father who is HIV-positive.

He's claim has not yet been verified, but has sparked widespread criticism. His announcement included a response to critics.

"I understand my work will be controversial, but I believe families need this technology, and I'm willing to take the criticism for them," he said in a YouTube video.

A Chinese ethics board will investigate to see whether He's experiment violated the country's law, according to NPR.

Antonio Regalado, senior editor for biomedicine for MIT Technology Review. He tweets @antonioregalado.