Biotech

Preserving Humanity in the Biotech Century

Dear friends, As I reflect on the work of the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC) over these last 20 years, I am amazed at all that we have been able to accomplish because of your commitment to our shared human future. CBC entered what has been called “the biotech century” in 2000. At that […]

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What is Brave New World Really About?

I’m a huge science fiction fan, and I particularly like works of speculative and dystopian fiction. Some of my favorite, relatively recent books include Oryx and Crake, Snow Crash, and Anathem. Perhaps the most significant dystopian work, however, is Aldous Huxley’s 1932 Brave New World. Indeed, we here at the CBC sometimes use the phrase “Brave […]

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New Survey Reveals Americans Wary of Faking Life

A number of outlets are reporting this week on a new survey that reveals a wariness among American adults toward biotechnologies that can be used for enhancement purposes. The survey of 4,700 adults also involved six focus groups to allow researchers to delve into the reasons behind the survey responses. The main takeaways from the survey […]

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This Week in Bioethics

1. Surrogacy Bill in Louisiana Here we go again. After two previous attempts—thankfully vetoed by then Governor Bobby Jindal—another surrogacy bill has been introduced in the state of Louisiana. This new bill has passed the House, so we will be monitoring it closely while trying to educate the people in Louisiana of the many pitfalls […]

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I Think, Therefore I Move

Wonderful new developments in biotechnologies are helping people with spinal cord injuries move simply by thinking! People who suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries go from one day being a healthy and functioning human being to being instantly and permanently paralyzed. Ian Burkhart, for example, was left with quadriplegia nearly six years ago after a diving […]

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Get Ready for a Busy 2014 in Bioethics

My taskmasters at the CBC never allow me to rest on my laurels. Fresh off several years of stellar prognosticating, I am now forced to answer the question: “But what have you predicted, lately?” Okay, let’s take a look. Oh! Oh my. Please remember, the following predictions are what I see happening. They do not […]

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What Could Go Wrong?

Wanted: “Extremely Adventurous Female Human” to be Surrogate Mother for Neanderthal Baby No, this is not a tabloid headline you read while waiting to checkout at the grocery store or something you might find on Craigslist in the Help Wanted ads. This comes from a line by Harvard University’s prestigious geneticist, George Church, highlighted in […]

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Just Change My Name to Nostradamus

By Wesley J. Smith, J.D., Special Consultant to the CBC It’s that time of year I dread every time it comes around. No, not the religious and New Year holidays. When I have to go back to my annual CBC predictions for the future year, and see whether I was truly prescient or a false […]

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