Remaking ourselves

Dr Philip Ball, winner of the 2022 Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal, joins us to discuss the ethics of human genome editing, and the importance of keeping historical and cultural perspectives visible in these debates.

Our biotechnologies have entered uncharted territory. With the ability to precisely edit the human genome, we have the potential for systematic control over inheritance that goes beyond Darwinian evolution. Stem cells can be used to create embryo-like structures that may or may not develop as normal embryos do, and artificial brain-like organs grown in dishes raise questions about the fundamental definition of consciousness.

The event is free to attend and there is no registration required. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

This lecture will also be livestreamed.