Speaking with: Julian Savulescu on the ethics of genetic modification in humans

Could genetic engineering one day allow parents to have designer babies? Tatiana Vdb/flickr, CC BY

William Isdale, The University of Melbourne, Julian Savulescu

Author

William Isdale
Research Assistant, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

Interviewed

Julian Savulescu
Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford

Disclosure statement

William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Speaking with: Julian Savulescu on the ethics of genetic modification in humans

What if humans are genetically unfit to overcome challenges like climate change and the growing inequality that looks set to define our future?

Julian Savulescu, visiting professor at Monash University and Uehiro professor of Practical Ethics at Oxford University, argues that modifying the biological traits of humans should be part of the solution to secure a safe and desirable future.

The University of Melbourne’s William Isdale spoke to Julian Savulescu about what aspects of humanity could be altered by genetic modifications and why it might one day actually be considered unethical to withhold genetic enhancements that could have an overwhelmingly positive effect on a child’s life.

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