China Convicts 3 Researchers Involved in Gene-Edited Babies

Chinese scientist He Jiankui speaks during an interview at his laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province on Oct. 10, 2018. Chinese state media says the researcher He has been sentenced to three years for practicing medicine illegally. He Jiankui was also fined 3 million yuan. Two others were also sentenced on the same charge. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo

BEIJING—A Chinese scientist who set off an ethical debate with claims that he had made the world’s first genetically edited babies was sentenced on Dec. 30 to three years in prison because of his research, state media said.

He Jiankui, who was convicted of practicing medicine without a license, was also fined 3 million yuan ($430,000) by a court in the southern city of Shenzhen, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported. Two other researchers involved in the project received lesser sentences and fines.