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 Chinese city of Shenzhen, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported. Two other researchers involved in the project received lesser sentences and fines.

He Jiankui has not been seen publicly since January, his work has not been published and nothing is known about the health of the babies.

Scientists around the world are condemning He Jiankui's research, including his workplace, the Southern University of Science and Technology in China.

A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies - twin girls born this month whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life.