Do you remember the controversial Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, who made waves in 2018 by genetically modifying embryos using CRISPR technology? This resulted in the birth of twins who are believed to be the world’s first genetically engineered humans.

The news caused uproar among the scientific community and regulators, who criticized He for his “egregious scientific and ethical lapses.” He was subsequently imprisoned in China and lost his research position at the Southern University of Science and Technology.

However, a recent report by MIT Technology Review reveals that He has been released from prison and even briefly answered a phone call. When asked about his current situation, he cryptically replied, “It’s not convenient to talk right now,” before hanging up.

It remains uncertain what He’s next move will be. Described as “idealistic, naive, and ambitious” by sources, He was reportedly surprised by the backlash to his experiment, as he had hoped to win a Nobel Prize for his work.

Before his imprisonment, He had considered commercializing the technology by opening a designer baby clinic in either China or Switzerland, but these plans did not materialize.

The ongoing debate surrounding the manipulation of human DNA continues to raise important scientific and ethical questions, given the intricacies of genetic code in organisms. Despite the uncertainties, He’s experiment has ushered in a new era of genetic engineering that cannot be ignored.

As we await further updates, the story of He Jiankui serves as a stark reminder of the ethical and scientific dilemmas surrounding the manipulation of human DNA.