Chinese researcher who made CRISPR babies is sentenced to three years in prison

He Jiankui, the researcher and entrepreneur who in 2018 announced the birth of the world’s first gene edited babies, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined 3m yuan (£329 000; €386 000; $430 000) by a Chinese court.

Two researchers who worked with him received lesser sentences and fines. The three were convicted of practising medicine without a licence. He Jiankui also fabricated an ethics review certificate, the District People’s Court in Shenzhen found. All three men pleaded guilty.

“The three accused did not have the proper certification to practise medicine, and, in seeking fame and wealth, deliberately violated national regulations in scientific research and medical treatment,” the court said, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua.

The court also confirmed reports of the birth of a …