The genetics and genomics revolution has at its core information and techniques that can be used to change humanness itself as well as the concepts of what it means to be human. The age-old human fantasies of the mythical chimeras of the ancients, supernatural intelligence, wiping disease from human inheritance, designing a better human being, the fountain of youth, and even immortality now have biotechnical credence in the theoretical promises of genetics and genetic engineering. Not only can humanity's collective genetic inheritance be shaped by selecting which embryos can develop via pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, but genetic engineering, the availability of the human embryo for experimentation, and combining genes from many species require only sufficient imagination to catalyze the designing of a new humanity (John F. Kilner, 2004). To talk about some of the implications of these technologies, Wake Forest University School of Medicine held a …show more content…
Religious views help ensure that scientific advances not only expand choices and produce benefits but do so without undermining our humanity and dignity in the process. This conference shattered the oft-quoted misconception that those who hold strong religious opinions are antagonistic to scientific investigation. Rather, all spheres of influence agreed on the high value of scientific and medical investigation with an aim to restore human health and alleviate disease and suffering. The consensus was that society should no longer allow these spheres of influence to remain separate and isolated in theoretical blindness. Rather society must prioritize cross-disciplinary examination to ensure that the future of human genetics and biotechnology is not only scientifically sophisticated and medically productive but also truly humane (John F. Kilner,