50 years after unravelling the DNA helix, what are the frontiers of human potential and what are the limits? If people push their bodies with cosmetic surgery, why not performance enhancing drugs or genetic enhancement? Or is a life not a 'post-human' manipulated future but about handling who and what we are? Are we trying to play God and become immortal? Top speakers examine the outer reaches of genetic science and bodily enhancement and the limits ... if any.
Prof. David Porteous, Professor of Medical Genetics, Edinburgh University, gene therapy expert
Dr Arthur Stewart, lecturer in Sports and Exercise Science, Aberdeen University, researching physique perfection and body image
Dr Donald Bruce, Society, Religion and Technology Project, Church of Scotland, bioethicist
Professor David Porteous will examine the potential use and abuse of the human genome. "Genetic knowledge is essential if we are to make best use of existing healthcare resources, develop more effective treatments and treat patients optimally. But to realise the benefits and avoid the harms requires an ongoing dialogue between citizens, doctors, scientists, government and industry to reach consensual partnerships towards agreed aims."
But what should those aims be? Should the skills learnt from medical use be allowed to be used to enhance ourselves in our other attributes or for personal preference?
Sports scientist Dr Arthur Stewart believes we are more preoccupied with how we look than how healthy we are. He will examine proportion, body shape and the images we use in art, dolls and mannequins. Is there an objective scientific basis for a perfect physique beyond the eye of the beholder? He examines the pursuit of the perfect sporting physique and finds athletes are not necessarily healthy. "Sport can distort the body image. The perfect physique is the one you have during a long, healthy and active life."
Dr Donald Bruce of the Church of Scotland Society, Religion and Technology Project will suggest that we should draw a firm ethical line between medical and personal genetic enhancement. "Human genetic enhancement for non-medical reasons should be outlawed. It would be a source of profound social inequities and is at root a misconceived idea of what a human being is - noble, relational but very fallible. No amount of genetic or physical enhancement will solve our basic human and social problems or help our deepest relationships. What is really important is who we are morally and spiritually."
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Contact : Dr Donald Bruce, SRT Project tel. 0131-240 2250, Fax 0131-240 2239,
srtp@srtp.org.uk http://www.srtp/org.uk
or Church of Scotland Press Office tel. 0131- 240 2243
or Edinburgh International Science Festival at the Hub, Edinburgh
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This page was updated 17 April
2003.
