March 2007

Re-Engineering Human Biology: What Should be the Ethical and Legal Limits?

In this first major conference, the Center gathered leading figures in law, bioethics, science, and philosophy to explore the legal and ethical implications of the new biotechnology. The two day, conference convened more than fifty academics, among whom were many of the world’s leading legal and ethical scholars. Participants included Ronald Dworkin, Leon Kass, Douglas Melton, Richard Posner, Michael Sandel, and Frances Kamm. 

The highlight of the program was a public panel on the conference themes, moderated by Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan.  The public panel was attended by more than 350 students and scholars from the local area. The entire program was coordinated in collaboration with the Harvard University Program in Ethics and Health, and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and was financially sponsored by the Cammann Endowment in Law and Medicine.