Abstract

There have been many dramatic advances in biological sciences in the past 20 years, including the ability to modify our own human genome, new ways to treat diseases and even for generating artificial life. At first sight, many of these applications seem beneficial and might enable cures of genetically inherited diseases by eliminating defective genes from future generations. These seem like exciting prospects, but they raise questions about what is ‘normal’. Other advances might enable us to eliminate organisms that spread diseases, to restore damaged environments or to revive species that have become extinct. Each of these seem like laudable aims, but they may come with unintended consequences. Some other scientific questions are fascinating, but are best left unanswered – where should we stop? We need to consider these things in advance, for today’s science fiction soon becomes tomorrow’s science fact. These raise questions about what it means to be human, what things we should value, and how we can live virtuous lives.