Uploaded April 2018 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
The groundbreaking discovery of the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR allows scientists to precisely, efficiently, and cheaply modify the human genome. This may provide us with the power to cure disease and to unlock the secrets of early human development. It might, in the future, allow us to modify humans in directions that we now only dream of, to make us smarter, stronger and better than healthy—giving us the power to control the direction of evolution. But who will benefit from this new power? Who will be left behind? How the human genome is modified affects all of humanity, present and future generations. How ought we to regulate this power? Who ought to regulate it? These and other questions will be the focus of a panel discussion with bioethicists Françoise Baylis, Julian Savulescu, and biochemist David Edgell.
Panelists:
Julian Savulescu, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics
Françoise Baylis, Dalhousie University (dal.ca/sites/noveltechethics/our-people/francoise-baylis.html)
David Edgell, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Anthony Skelton, Western University (panel moderator)
Event date: March 14, 2018
Visit the Rotman website for more information on applications, events, project descriptions, and openings. rotman.uwo.ca
Follow The Rotman Institute on Twitter: twitter.com/rotmanphilo
Like The Rotman Institute on Facebook: facebook.com/rotmanphilosophy
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The groundbreaking discovery of the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR allows scientists to precisely, efficiently, and cheaply modify the human genome. This may provide us with the power to cure disease and to unlock the secrets of early human development. It might, in the future, allow us to modify humans in directions that we now only dream of, to make us smarter, stronger and better than healthy—giving us the power to control the direction of evolution. But who will benefit from this new power? Who will be left behind? How the human genome is modified affects all of humanity, present and future generations. How ought we to regulate this power? Who ought to regulate it? These and other questions will be the focus of a panel discussion with bioethicists Françoise Baylis, Julian Savulescu, and biochemist David Edgell.
Panelists:
Julian Savulescu, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics
Françoise Baylis, Dalhousie University (dal.ca/sites/noveltechethics/our-people/francoise-baylis.html)
David Edgell, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Anthony Skelton, Western University (panel moderator)
Event date: March 14, 2018
Visit the Rotman website for more information on applications, events, project descriptions, and openings. rotman.uwo.ca
Follow The Rotman Institute on Twitter: twitter.com/rotmanphilo
Like The Rotman Institute on Facebook: facebook.com/rotmanphilosophy
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/rotmanphilosophy
