Intelligence Squared U.S. Premieres Gene Editing Debate February 17

Huge advancements in CRISPR technology have made human gene editing a reality. The promise of this technology is to ensure that your baby is, and remains, healthy. But gene editing’s critics say the technology will exacerbate inequality, pressure all parents (and nations) into editing their children to stay competitive, and meddle with the most basic aspect of our humanity: Our DNA. As this subject begins to move from the hypothetical into the real-world, award-winning debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. premieres a new debate on the motion “Use Gene-Editing to Make Better Babies.”

Arguing in favor of the motion are geneticist George Church, who helped sequence the first genome, and futurist Amy Webb, was named one of five women changing the world by Forbes. Arguing against the motion are policy advocate Marcy Darnovsky, one of the most prominent voices on the politics of human biotechnology, and philosopher Françoise Baylis, author of Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing.

The debate will be released publicly on Friday, February 18 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private virtual preview screening on Thursday, February 17 at 5:00 PM ET that will include a live press roundtable with all four debaters following the debate. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.

FOR THE MOTION - BIOS

* George Church, Geneticist & Founder, Personal Genome Project 
George Church is one of the nation's leading geneticists and scholars. He is a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and MIT. In 1984, he developed the first direct genomic sequencing method, which resulted in the first genome sequence. He also helped initiate the Human Genome Project in 1984 and the Personal Genome Project in 2005. Church also serves as the director of the National Institutes of Health Center of Excellence in Genomic Science.  

* Amy Webb, Futurist & Author, "The Genesis Machine"  
Amy Webb is an award-winning author and futurist. She is the founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute and was named one of five women changing the world by Forbes. Her new book, "The Genesis Machine," explores the future of synthetic biology, including human gene editing. Webb is a professor of strategic foresight at New York University's Stern School of Business and has been elected a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  

AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS

* Marcy Darnovsky, Policy Advocate & Executive Director, Center for Genetics and Society 
Marcy Darnovsky is a policy advocate and one of the most prominent voices on the politics of human biotechnology. As executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society, Darnovsky is focused on the social justice and public interest implications of gene editing. This work is informed by her background as an organizer and advocate in a range of environmental and progressive political movements.    

* Françoise Baylis, Philosopher & Author, "Altered Inheritance"  
Françoise Baylis is a philosopher whose innovative work in bioethics, at the intersection of policy and practice, has stretched the very boundaries of the field. She is the author of "Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing," which explores the scientific, ethical, and political implications of human genome editing. Baylis is a research professor at Dalhousie University and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. In 2017, she was awarded the Canadian Bioethics Society Lifetime Achievement Award. 

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Through its award-winning live debates and associated programming, the nonprofit company serves as a model for responsible media in a new age - fair, intelligent, nonpartisan - while restoring critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to public discourse. Recently recognized as "Best Podcast Event of 2020" by Adweek, Intelligence Squared U.S. reaches millions through multi-platform distribution, including public radio (the show airs in all top 25 markets that carry specials), podcasts, video live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 190 Oxford-style debates and counting, plus additional podcast and video content, IQ2US has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics for over a decade. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated since 2008.

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For more information on Intelligence Squared U.S., contact Ray Padgett (raypadgett@shorefire.com) or Mark Satlof (msatlof@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media.