Ethics, Gene Editing, CRISPR & Moral Courage with Françoise Baylis

Описание: What happens when scientific innovation moves faster than our moral imagination?
In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with world-leading bioethicist Françoise Baylis about CRISPR, gene editing, embryo research, relational autonomy, and the future of human identity.
From the controversial 14-day embryo rule to the difference between needs and wants in reproductive technologies, Baylis challenges techno-solutionism and genetic determinism. Together, they explore how ethical collaboration can shape better science, why consensus building still matters, and why the most important question in innovation is not “Can we?” but “What kind of world are we building?”
This is a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about creativity, power, responsibility, and moral courage in the age of AI and biotechnology.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What bioethics actually is and why it matters now more than ever
The real meaning behind CRISPR and gene editing
Why the 14-day embryo rule exists and why it’s under pressure
The ethical difference between human needs and human wants
Why genetic enhancement raises profound social justice questions
What “relational autonomy” means in a world obsessed with individual choice
Why consensus building is not naïve but necessary
The one question Baylis believes every innovator must answer

Key Moments & Timestamps
00:08 – Introduction to Françoise Baylis and her work at the intersection of science, ethics, and public policy
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01:32 – Her origin story: an unexpected philosophy class that changed everything
03:48 – Why ethics must move from the ivory tower into hospitals, labs, and boardrooms
05:42 – Ethics as collaboration: how research teams can innovate beyond competition
09:51 – The 14-day embryo rule explained
Why 14 days? Neural development, twinning, and value-laden decisions
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12:01 – What happens when scientists want to go beyond 14 days?
Embryo models, stem cells, and artificial womb research
16:54 – Needs vs Wants: should we use gene editing to create genetically related healthy children?
22:42 – Editing non-human animals: are we appropriating everything for our own interests?
25:28 – Relational autonomy: why we are not isolated individuals but deeply interconnected beings
29:40 – Genetic determinism, tech elites, and the future of human enhancement
32:41 – Radical hospitality and collaborative ambition in science
34:00 – The most important question in ethics:
“What kind of world do you want to live in?”
36:44 – Dystopian futures vs birth pangs of a better world
40:19 – Moral courage and what Baylis is working on next

Key Quotes from Françoise Baylis
“We all have ethics. We learned them sitting on our parents’ knee.”
“Biology will never give you the answer. You’re just looking for something to hang your hat on.”
“Being really cool science isn’t good enough.”
“We have a moral obligation to respond to needs. We do not have a moral obligation to respond to wants.”
“We are not just rational atoms bouncing around in the world.”
“In ethics, there’s only one question worth answering: What kind of world do you want to live in?”
“Are we witnessing the end of an era, or the birth pangs of a new world?”

Big Ideas from the Conversation
1. Ethics Is Not a Brake on Innovation
Baylis reframes ethics as part of the design process. Instead of arbitrary limits like the 14-day rule, she argues for value-grounded discussions tied to research goals and societal impact.
2. The Danger of Genetic Determinism
CRISPR enables profound medical breakthroughs, but it also opens the door to enhancement, privilege entrenchment, and a future shaped by those with power and capital.
3. Needs vs Wants in Reproductive Technology
The desire for genetically related children may be deeply meaningful. But society must distinguish between moral obligations to meet needs and preferences driven by want.
4. Relational Autonomy
We are not isolated decision-makers. Our identities and choices are embedded in relationships, communities, and power structures. This challenges the dominant “individual atom” model of autonomy.
5. Moral Courage & Consensus Building
At a time of polarization and posturing, Baylis advocates radical hospitality, respectful disagreement, and consensus building. Even if consensus is never fully achieved, the effort strengthens society.

Resources & Links
Françoise Baylis’ book: Altered Inheritance
Her public-facing website: françoisebaylis.ca