Creating a synthetic human–Do science and ethics collide?

Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1996, but no human being has ever been duplicated. Now there’s the possibility of creating a human from scratch. Genetic scientists have already mapped the human genome, opening the possibility of eliminating disease. A Harvard geneticist is raising money to manufacture a human genome with the potential of creating a synthetic person who has no parents. We talk with him and others — including fellow scientists — who raise ethical and religious objections that he’s going too far too fast.

Guests:
George Church, Harvard Medical School / Synthetic Human Genome Project(@geochurch)
Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review (@antonioregalado)
Laurie Zoloth, Northwestern University / Genetic Literacy Project (@GeneticLiteracy)
Jon Entine, Genetic Literacy Project (@JonEntine)

Listen here (NOTE: the first 8:50 is NPR report from Saudi Arabia unrelated to this issue)

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NOTE: The interview can also be heard at the KCRW website, here.