Video Excerpts — Tutorial

This tutorial was screened by the moderator, panelists, and audience members in March 1999 to provide background information on the science of genetic manipulation and genetic enhancement at the 'Designer Children' forum.

It will be a good place for you to start, too.

Please view this tutorial in real media format. (Transcript)

To download the latest version of Real Player Software, please click here.

To download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here.

Video Excerpts — Dramatic Performance

This dramatic performance was screened by the moderator, panelists, and audience members in March 1999 to provide a framework for the discussion at the 'Designer Children' forum.

In the vignette, two pregnant women, Ro and Patty, discuss what the possibility of genetic enhancement could mean to reproductive practices in the near future. What are the social and ethical dimensions of this emerging technology? What historical case studies should guide our discussion about whether genetic enhancement is appropriate? Who should make these decisions?

Please view this vignette: Part I (real media format), Part II — But What About for the Baby? Warona's Dream (image 1 and 2, real media coming soon), and Part III (real media format). (Full Transcript)

Video Excerpts — Main Session

Here you will find excerpts from the main session of the March 1999 forum. These video excerpts are the central element of this learning module.

First, meet the moderator, lawyer Nancy Buc, and panelists: physician Robert Murray; political scientist Diane Paul; psychiatrist Gail Ross; philosopher Anita Silvers; and bioethicist LeRoy Walters.

Introduction to the Panelists and Moderator (real media format)

Then, view this dramatic performance screened by the moderator, panelists, and audience members to provide a framework for the discussion in real media format. (Transcript)

To download the latest version of Real Player Software, please click here.
To download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here.

Finally, onto the excerpts from the main session!

The excerpts are organized by questions posed by the moderator and audience members.

• What are the ethical or social issues surrounding genetic enhancement of children?
• When will we see the first signs of genetic enhancement?
• Since many musicians and artists are physically or emotionally challenged, I'm wondering what the result will be if we introduce a technology which eliminates the suffering which they endure, and which is often the source of their inspiration and their achievement.
• If there's such a fine line between the therapeutic and the enhancement uses of gene therapy, how do we draw this line? How do we decide what is accepted and what is prohibited?
• Should government be involved in deciding what is acceptable or what is permitted? What other kinds of policy actions could we take right now?
• Concluding Remarks: What are the social and ethical issues surrounding genetic enhancement? How should they be resolved?

Download Full Transcript as PDF File

Return to Questions

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When will we see the first signs of genetic enhancement? video 7	Audience Member
Panel	video 8 (transcript)

Return to Questions

Since many musicians and artists are physically or emotionally challenged, what will the result be if we introduce a technology which eliminates the suffering which they endure, and which is often the source of their inspiration and their achievement? video 9	Audience Member
Panel	video 10 (transcript)

Return to Questions

Return to Questions

Should government be involved in deciding what is acceptable or what is permitted? What other kinds of policy actions could we take right now? video 13	Audience Member
Panelists	video 14 (transcript)

Return to Questions

Concluding Remarks: What are the social and ethical issues surrounding genetic enhancement? How should they be resolved? video 15	Nancy Buc, lawyer
Leroy B. Walters, bioethicist video 16 (transcript)	Gail S. Ross, psychiatrist video 17 (transcript)
Diane B. Paul, political scientist video 18 (transcript)	Robert F. Murray, physician video 19 (transcript)
Anita Silvers, philosopher video 20 (transcript)

Choices and Challenges Project
Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Virgina Tech, Mail Code: 0227
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Phone: 540 231-6476 Fax: 540 231-7013
Email: choices@vt.edu