原文见Gene editing experiment generates controversy。

A top Chinese expert in HIV/AIDS prevention and control on Monday warned using genetic editing technology on humans is very risky and could have unforeseen（无法预估的风险） consequences, following reports of the birth of two babies using the technology.

The twins, girls named Lulu and Nana, were born a few weeks ago after an in vitro fertilization procedure（体外受精）, said He Jiankui, a researcher in biology at Southern University of Science and Technology （南方科技大学）in Shenzhen of Guangdong province. He discussed the birth on a video posted on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, on Monday.

“The mother started her pregnancy by regular IVF with one difference: right after we sent her husband’s sperm into her eggs, we also sent in a little bit of protein and instruction for a gene surgery（基因手术）,” he said. “Lulu and Nana were just a single cell when the surgery removed the doorway（门口） through which HIV infects people.”

He could not be reached for comment on Monday, but his research has sparked controversy（引发争议） among the academics（学界） and the public over concerns of medical ethics（医学伦理） and effectiveness.

The university said the school is not aware of He’s study, and health authorities in Shenzhen said they had not received any ethical assessment（伦理审查） application for the study, which is a prerequisite for such experiments.

A report by the Associated Press on Monday said He sought and received approval for his project from Shenzhen Harmonicare Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and an approval document from the hospital started circulating（传播） online on Monday.

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist（流行病学家） at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said he was astounded（震惊的） to hear the birth of twins with genes edited.

“Genetic editing technology is far from mature and should not be used on humans,” he said. “It is improper to do such research on humans.”

Right now, some researchers are trying to use genetic editing technology to treat people infected with HIV（感染艾滋病毒） so the virus will not duplicate and transmit to others, he said.

“But the research is still confined to labs,” he said. “Animal experiments should be done to assess both gains and risks for the subjects（对象）, before the possibility of application on humans.”