A scientist who created the world's first "gene-edited" babies - sparking an uproar in the scientific community - has been sentenced to three years in jail.
China had put Dr He Jiankui on trial on charges of illegally practicing medicine, but the proceedings were held in private.
Dr He faced a backlash in November 2018 when he announced that he had used gene-editing technology to change the genes of twin girls to protect them from getting infected with the AIDS virus in the future.
After the scientist was jailed on Monday, China's state media revealed he had genetically edited a third baby.
Dr He was an associate professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen when he stunned a conference in Hong Kong with his announcement.
Dr He and his collaborators forged ethical review materials and recruited men with AIDS who were part of a couple to carry out the gene-editing.
His experiments ultimately resulted in two women giving birth to three gene-edited babies, according to the Xinhua state news agency.
"The three accused did not have the proper certification to practice medicine, and in seeking fame and wealth, deliberately violated national regulations in scientific research and medical treatment," the court said, according to Xinhua.
It added: "They've crossed the bottom line of ethics in scientific research and medical ethics."
Dr He pleaded guilty to the charges and was also fined approximately £330,000.
The court in Shenzhen also handed lesser sentences to Zhang Renli and Qin Jinzhou, who worked at two unnamed medical institutions, for having "conspired" with Dr He in his work.
After his announcement sparked outrage in China and abroad, Dr He was placed under guard in a small university guesthouse in Shenzhen, the New York Times reported.
Chinese officials condemned him and said his scientific activities would be suspended.
In a statement, a group of more than 100 Chinese scientists said Dr He's actions were "crazy" and “a huge blow to the global reputation and development of Chinese science".
