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Before gene-edited babies, how Chinese scientists created super-strong dogs … and autistic monkeys

  • Some researchers tinkered with the genes of animals so they would have conditions seen in humans they wished to study or find cures for
  • Others gave animals potentially useful attributes, such as dogs with bigger muscles that could run faster

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A beagle named Longlong (left) was cloned from another dog, Apple, in China having been modified using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.

Following Chinese scientist He Jiankui’s claim this week to have created the world’s first genetically edited babies – twin girls Nana and Lulu – the use of the technology that made this possible has come under international scrutiny.

Here are some of the other ways Chinese scientists have used CRISPR-Cas9 (CRISPR being short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) to edit genomes:

What is gene editing? Who’s doing it? And is it right?

1. World’s first cloned dog

Last year, Chinese scientists claimed to be the first in the world to clone a dog using CRISPR-Cas9.

The dog in question is a beagle named Longlong, cloned from another dog, Apple. Since Apple’s genes were modified to develop a blood-clotting disorder, Longlong also inherited the disease.

Chinese scientist He Jiankui at a laboratory in Shenzhen, southern China. He claims he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies. Photo: AP
Chinese scientist He Jiankui at a laboratory in Shenzhen, southern China. He claims he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies. Photo: AP
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