麻豆约拍

Editing our genes - is it immoral not to make use of scientific advances if we know they could eradicate disease? Thousands of deadly diseases could be wiped out by a new gene editing technique. Doctors will be able to change DNA - removing the mutations which cause a range of inherited conditions - such as genetic blindness, sickle-cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis. They would also be able to install beneficial mutations - protecting against blood disorders - according to the scientists developing the technology. What are the ethics of it all? Presenter Roisin McAuley discusses with Reverend Dr Brendan McCarthy, medical ethics advisor to the Church of England, Dr Melissa McCullough, scientist and ethicist, and visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, and Dr Stephen Sullivan, Chief Scientific Officer of the Irish Stem Cell Foundation.