Dr. William B. Hurlburt on Gene Editing and the Human Future

Advances in biotechnology are greatly increasing human control within the natural order. Nowhere is this more evident than in recent improvements in gene editing technologies. In this session entitled, “A Conversation on the Most Pressing Issues in Faith, Science and Ethics Today,”  we will discuss the practical application of these new tools and the underlying principles that will guide their use—including in human germline genetic editing.

William B. Hurlbut, MD, is Adjunct Professor and Senior Research Scholar in Neurobiology at the Stanford Medical School. After receiving his undergraduate and medical training at Stanford University, he completed postdoctoral studies in theology and medical ethics.

His primary areas of interest involve the ethical issues associated with advancing biomedical technology, the biological basis of moral awareness, and studies in the integration of theology with the philosophy of biology.

In addition to teaching at Stanford, he has also worked with NASA on projects in astrobiology and was a member of the Chemical and Biological Warfare Working group at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. From 2002-2009 Dr. Hurlbut served on the President’s Council on Bioethics.

Read this article to learn more about Dr. Hurlbut’s views on the ethical questions raised by gene editing. And learn more about Dr. Hurlbut here.