Designer Babies

‘Our’ next meeting, is at the REC on Tuesday 22nd January. The topic is GM Babies – Promise or Threat, and it will be a discussion lead by Charles Baily. Charles says…

Genetic manipulation promises to detect and eliminate genetic abnormalities such as spina bifida or Down’s syndrome. But will it stop at preventing disadvantage? Can it also confer artificial advantage? Is this necessarily a good thing?

For Professor Michael Sandel the issue raises serious questions about what it means to be human, which he developed in a Reith Lecture in 2009. We will consider his arguments, and ponder how society can harness the benefits, but contain the threats.