Making Better Babies, Pro and Con A Debate

Prof Julian Savalescu (Oxford University), Rob Sparrow (Monash University)

Revolutionary developments in genetic science and biotechnology may provide new ways of treating and preventing disease.  Most people think this is a good thing. Genetic science and biotechnology might also be used for human enhancement—to make people “better than well”.

In the context of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), genetic testing already allows parents to screen against embryos with severe genetic diseases.   Genetic testing, however, might also enable identification of embryos with genes associated with positively desired characteristics.  It might thereby become possible to create especially tall, smart, and/or beautiful people.  But would this be ethical—and should it be permitted?  Two world leading bioethics experts defend rival perspectives on designer babies in a public debate.

Pro: Professor Julian Savulescu
Director, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford;
Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor, Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University

Con: Associate Professor Robert Sparrow
Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Philosophy, Monash University

Further details:
Sharon Elliott ([email protected] | +61 3 9905 4698)