Ethical Theory and Bioethics

 

 Reproductive Genetics

The moral boundary separating somatic cell genetic modification and germline genetic modification has been in effect for over 30 years. Recently, with the introduction of nuclear DNA transplantation and gene editing, and with the rising interest in preventing the transfer of certain deleterious genes to newborns, that moral boundary has been called into question. The lecture  discusses the origins of the somatic cell and germline moral distinction and explores new initiatives to undertake genetic modification of gametes or embryos and the use of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to create gametes from skin cells.

Faculty:

Sheldon Krimsky, Ph.D., Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA