Gregory Stock 

An evolutionary perspective on germline engineering and a look at the interplay between human biology and technology.

John Campbell 

Germline engineering may be a feasible way of obtaining the benefits of a century of genetic science. We now have the capacity to develop techniques for introducing DNA constructs into germ cells reliably and safely enough for humans and could begin to conceive and design therapies to ward off diseases and improve the quality of human life. This talk discusses how a program for human germline engineering might be structured and some of the technical hurdles it would face.

Leroy Hood 

Our ability to manipulate our genetics will be profoundly extended by the successful completion of the human genome project and the integration of its results with those from the human diversity project, proteome analysis of gene expression, and interspecies comparative genomics. What therapeutic enhancements to our genes might we be able to design two decades from now? How close will we be to constructively altering the genes for our immune system, our development, and our nervous system? What role might biotechnology companies play in generating the knowledge and technology for human germline engineering and making it available to the public?

Daniel Koshland, Jr. 

Efforts to engineer the human germline need to satisfy appropriate ethical and safety requirements. How do the safety and ethical issues that would come into play as the technology is initially implemented differ from those that would be important were it to become possible to make major changes in mental or physical capabilities? What level of testing should be required before germline procedures are used with humans? How do the individual and global risks from human germline engineering compare with other medical and reproductive risks? Should guidelines be developed to regulate the methods by which the human genome is manipulated or merely the types of specific genetic changes that are allowed?

Mario Capecchi 

Various procedures have vastly expanded our ability to manipulate the mammalian genome and further advances can be expected during the next two decades. This talk examines the techniques used to engineer genetic changes in various organisms and considers their technical potential for refinement into tools for safe, reliable germline engineering in humans. The potential scope of human germline manipulations in coming generation is also considered.

W. French Anderson 

Introducing healthy genes into diseased somatic cells is becoming an established medical practice. How big a step is it to extend such therapy to gernline cells? Is it possible to draw a sharp line between genetic therapy and genetic enhancement? For which categories of disease might germline engineering be superior to such alternatives as somatic cell therapy, embryo selection, and traditional medical treatment? What new approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment might germline engineering offer us within twenty years?