Genetic testing can give us information about our future children’s health and quality of life, but raises the specter of genetic engineering and its moral and ethical complications. Once we can screen for certain characteristics, will we start to screen out human diversity? How do we make private and public decisions about potentially modifying the makeup of our families and the general population?

There is a scientific revolution taking place that has the potential to change American society in profound ways. Advances in genetics hold much promise for combating disease, feeding more people, and generally improving our quality of life. Yet, these new sciences and technologies draw criticism and evoke fears. In the next decade, major decisions about genetics will be made. This town hall meeting begins a robust civic conversation about the ethics and implications of advances in genetic science.  Leading authorities in genetic medicine, bioethics, social thought, and the arts engage the audience in an exploration of the issues and the science that are affecting public and private life.

Note: The first 10 minutes of this event has poor audio, but then it was corrected.

Recorded Wednesday, June 06, 2007 at Access Living.