Life in Our Image – The Ethics of Altering the Human Genome

Powerful new genetic tools allow scientists to alter the DNA of any organism—with tests on human embryos already underway. Even more ambitious, synthetic biologists on the verge of creating the genetic material for a living organism from scratch are setting their long-term sites on fashioning a fully synthetic human genome. With bold promises of disease resistance and controlling human evolution, this explosive progress has ignited ethical debate. As we rewrite our code of life, how will we revise the code we live by? Join a panel of distinguished scientists and bioethicists wrestling with the moral challenges of altering the human genome. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series, made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for all the latest from WSF. Visit our Website: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on twitter: Original program date: June 4, 2016 MODERATOR: Amy Harmon PARTICIPANTS: George Church, Drew Endy, Gregory E. Kaebnick, S. Matthew Liao Amy Harmon Introduction 00:05 George Church tells us about his new BIG project 3:15 Drew Endy on the launch of constructing an organization that constructs human genomes. 7:18 Why does the human genome proposal come up now? 16:10 How could we edit humans for climate change? 27:40 Entrepreneurs have a trillion dollar market opportunity. 36:30 Human enhancement is tethered to human capacity 44:00 Is driving down the cost one of the goals of the project. 54:25 What about the contribution of genetic diversity? 1:04:46 Using cognitive enhancement to reduce birth rates 1:10:01 How do you get to a go, no-go situation? 1:12:35 How do you think altering our genome will change our society? 1:19:13 What would stop governments from creating super armies? 1:22:15