Science

FEATURED DEBATE

Should We Use Gene Editing to Make Better Babies?

A genetic disease runs in your family. Your doctor tells you that, should you wish to have a child, that child is likely to also carry the disease. But new gene-editing technology could change your fate. It could ensure that your baby is -- and remains -- healthy. Even more, it could potentially make sure your grandchildren are also free of the disease. What do you do? Now, imagine it's not a rare genetic disorder, but a general illness, or eye color, cognitive ability, or athleticism. Do you opt into this new world of genetically edited humans? And what if…

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February 17, 2022
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George Church

FOR THE MOTION

George Church
Professor of Genetics at Harvard and MIT, Founder of the Personal Genome Project
Amy Webb

FOR THE MOTION

Amy Webb
Futurist , Author ‘The Genesis Machine’
Marcy Darnovsky

AGAINST THE MOTION

Marcy Darnovsky
Executive Director of the Center for Genetics and Society
Françoise Baylis

AGAINST THE MOTION

Françoise Baylis
Philosopher, Author of 'Altered Inheritance'

FEATURED DEBATE

0 seconds of 56 minutes, 2 secondsVolume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
56:02
56:02
 
February 17, 2022
LEARN MORE

Should We Use Gene Editing to Make Better Babies?

A genetic disease runs in your family. Your doctor tells you that, should you wish to have a child, that child is likely to also carry the disease. But new gene-editing technology could change your fate. It could ensure that your baby is -- and remains -- healthy. Even more, it could potentially make sure your grandchildren are also free of the disease. What do you do? Now, imagine it's not a rare genetic disorder, but a general illness, or eye color, cognitive ability, or athleticism. Do you opt into this new world of genetically edited humans? And what if…

George Church

FOR THE MOTION

George Church
Professor of Genetics at Harvard and MIT, Founder of the Personal Genome Project
Amy Webb

FOR THE MOTION

Amy Webb
Futurist , Author ‘The Genesis Machine’
Marcy Darnovsky

AGAINST THE MOTION

Marcy Darnovsky
Executive Director of the Center for Genetics and Society
Françoise Baylis

AGAINST THE MOTION

Françoise Baylis
Philosopher, Author of 'Altered Inheritance'
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Could Longevity Science Extend Your Health Span By Decades? Should the Government Fund It?
How long would you like to live, and could science and technology make it possible? Longevity science aims to extend our healthy years through advancements in CRISPR, cellular reprogramming, and drug development. While private companies…
December 27, 2024
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Global Leaders Debate Money, Truth, and Power
In a world being reshaped by vital questions about Al, sustainability, and an uncertain global economy, now is the time for decisive action. As a Knowledge Partner with the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, this…
December 6, 2024
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Will AI Kill the Future of the Creative Arts?
From AI-generated paintings to composing symphonies and writing scripts and novels, ChatGPT, DeepDream, DALL·E, and other types of AI are challenging how we see the human endeavor to express, innovate, and connect. Algorithms creating art is…
December 8, 2023
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Should We Erase Bad Memories?
In the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kate Winslet’s character undergoes a procedure to erase her bad memories of her ex-boyfriend. But what if we could do the same in real life?…
August 18, 2023
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John Donvan in Conversation with David McRaney on the Science of Changing Minds
What’s it take to change a mind? It turns out there is a science to it. That’s at least according to David McRaney, a journalist, author, and host of the You Are Not So Smart…
March 17, 2023
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Changing Your Mind, with Adam Grant, Ray Dalio, and Bo Seo
What does it take to admit you’re wrong? And why is it so difficult? Cognitive psychology and neuroscience studies reveal that human decision-making relies on a host of factors that don’t always lead to objective…
December 30, 2022
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