Nigeria, March 21 -- The World Health Organisation committee on gene editing has called on all scientists conducting human genome research to open discussions with the committee so as to ensure that their work meets current scientific and ethical best practices.

This call was made by the advisory committee set up by the health agency to develop a global standard for governance and oversight of human genome editing.

The committee was set up after the birth of the first gene-edited babies - the results of an experiment by a Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, were born.

Mr Jiankui had genetically altered human embryos and planted them in a woman who gave birth to twins last year.

Mr Jiankui's action had caused alarm among researchers, ethici...