A pariah in science, the ‘CRISPR babies’ researcher gains support from a U.S. cryptocurrency entrepreneur

On June 17, He Jiankui received an email that wasted no time getting to the point: An American cryptocurrency entrepreneur had learned about the Chinese scientist’s recent proposal to use CRISPR gene-editing technology on human embryos to lower their future risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and he was offering funding and other help to turn those plans into a new commercial venture.

He rose to international infamy in 2018, when it came to light that he had performed a series of secretive, ethically fraught, scientifically sloppy genetic experiments that resulted in the birth of three CRISPR’d children. The ensuing uproar earned him a 3-year prison sentence for “illegal medical practices” and made him a pariah among the global scientific community. But in certain tech circles, He’s transgressions have found fans.

“The world needs more brave scientists like yourself who are willing to challenge conventional wisdom and take calculated risks to help humanity cure disease,” Ryan Shea, founder and CEO of the crypto firm Opus, wrote He in that June message.

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