Video Review: Talking Biopolitics – A conversation with Paul Knoepfler and Nathaniel Comfort

On 26 January 2016, the Center for Genetics and Society hosted an online discussion on 'Exploring heritable genetic modification: the promise and perils of altering future humans'. Paul Knoepfler, author of the 2015 book 'GMO Sapiens: The Life-Changing Science of Designer Babies', was interviewed by science historian Nathaniel Comfort.

I was looking forward to this webinar. The discussion was timely, following the passing of legislation on mitochondrial donation in the UK in 2015, and amid current debates about gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR. Introducing the conversation, Marcy Darnovsky told the audience that genetic modification is 'now with us', a thought she described as both lively and sobering. Knoepfler's views about these developments are well known – during the UK mitochondrial donation debates, he contributed evidence to the scientific reviews, was mentioned at the House of Commons and House of Lords and hosts his own popular blog. He recently tweeted that he was 'excited about genetic modification' but was also cautious about 'talk of clinic use'.

Much of the conversation focused on the risks and benefits of...