The Freedom Debates

As gene editing technology rapidly advances, we are entering an era in which humans will wield unprecedented power over our own biology. These tools can correct the mutations that cause heritable diseases, sparing untold suffering. But they can also be used to select for traits that have nothing to do with health: intelligence, height, even personality. Already, a crop of biotech start-ups are racing to offer embryo screening for things like IQ.

Is gene editing embryos the only ethical choice to mitigate human suffering and ensure happier, healthier lives for our children? Or are we sliding toward a new era of eugenics? What do we lose when we start to play God?

Jamie Metzl and Dr. Allyson Berent will face off against Carter Snead and Dr. Lydia Dugdale to tackle these questions and more in a live debate: Is designing babies unethical–or a moral imperative?

Bari Weiss will moderate.