Ronald Bailey Lecturing In Russia on Science and Ethics of Designer Babies

As a respite from the craziness of the 2016 presidential election, the Russian think tank inLiberty.ru is sponsoring my lecture tonight (Tuesday, 8 pm) at the DI Telegraph Building in central Moscow. From their Facebook page for the event (using Google Translate):

Children to order: how far can we go in genetic experiments?

The next lecture in the series “Return of Ethics” is devoted to the ethics of biomedical progress. This will tell the reporter Reason magazine on scientific issues, the author of “Liberation Biology: scientific and moral arguments in favor of the biotech revolution” Ronald Bailey.

Already no one doubts that in the very near future we will have the option of using genetic engineering to radically change human nature. Modern scientists are conducting experiments designed to significantly extend human life, to reverse the process of aging, provide the ability to edit the genetic code of our children and for them to choose not only the color of eyes or hair type, and IQ. Is it ethical to such intervention in human nature? What will become of our moral standards, when changes affect such important categories as birth and death? Is it necessary to prohibit or restrict the genetic experiments? Do you have a moral obligation of scientists to conduct risky experiments that could save millions of lives?

“Children to Order” seems to be the Russian phraseology for “Designer Babies” – at least according to Google Translate. I am told that a live feed of my talk will appear at Afisha Magazine. It will also be posted for later viewing. The folks at inLiberty.ru tell me that 500 people have signed up (we’ll see if that many show up).

I know I should have posted this earlier, but if you happen to be in Moscow come on by and/or alert your Moscovite friends to the event.

Also, I will be giving a talk this Saturday in St. Petersburg on “How Will Technology Will Change Our Values?” Details to follow.