He Jiankui, the Chinese researcher who created the world's first genetically edited babies, remains a controversial figure in China, despite his imprisonment and the ethical concerns surrounding his work. Convicted of deceiving medical authorities and sentenced to three years in prison, He, now 41, is currently living and speaking openly at his home in a government-backed research hub north of Beijing.

He Jiankui argues that his work was simply ahead of its time, and that the world, and particularly China, is now ready to embrace his vision of gene editing. While his passport has been seized, preventing international travel, he has become a visible, albeit controversial, figure within China's burgeoning biotechnology sector.

Gene editing, specifically using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology He employed, allows scientists to precisely alter DNA sequences. CRISPR-Cas9 functions like molecular scissors, enabling the removal, addition, or alteration of specific genes within an organism's genome. He's experiment involved editing the CCR5 gene in human embryos, aiming to confer resistance to HIV. This gene encodes a protein that HIV uses to enter immune cells.

The scientific community widely condemned He's experiment, citing ethical concerns about germline editing, which alters genes that can be passed down to future generations. Concerns include the potential for unintended consequences, off-target effects (where the editing tool modifies genes other than the intended target), and the lack of long-term data on the health and development of the edited individuals.

China's ambition to become a biotechnology superpower adds another layer of complexity to He's situation. The government's investment in research and development in areas like gene therapy and personalized medicine is substantial. The fact that He is neither silenced nor fully rehabilitated suggests a nuanced approach, perhaps reflecting a desire to harness his expertise while maintaining control over the ethical boundaries of scientific research.

The long-term implications of He's work remain uncertain. The health and well-being of the gene-edited children are being monitored, though details are scarce. The future of gene editing in China, and globally, will likely be shaped by ongoing ethical debates, regulatory frameworks, and technological advancements.