Affected Genome Editing Crops: The Consequences of Genome-Edited Babies in China

Though genome editing (GE) is a powerful technology, germline GE engineering is strongly objectionable for a huge ethical challenge. The after-effects of the genome-edited babies incident have been emerging in China, whether technology or ethics. It is very noticeable that the case has been adverse effects on the application of GE technology in other fields, especially in GE crops. After the incident, research and development of GE crops was affected obviously. It is clear that GE crops and other basic research and application related to GE technology should be encouraged and should not be treated differently. An ethically acceptable development route of GE technology needs to be established in China.