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Unbelievable?

Do humans have the right to engineer life? Prof. Keith Fox v Dr. Sam McKee

Unbelievable?

Premier Unbelievable?

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.62.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2025

⏱️ 90 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Should we be tampering with the genetic code of life? What are the ethical and theological implications of engineering artificial organisms? This episode of Unbelievable? explores the cutting-edge world of synthetic biology - from designing artificial microbes to help us live on Mars, to the deeper philosophical and ethical questions about humanity “playing God.” Joining the conversation are Dr Sam McKee, a philosopher of science and cancer researcher, and Prof Keith Fox, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Southampton. They draw their lines in the sand - but not in the same place. Unpack the moral, spiritual, and existential dilemmas raised by synthetic life in this thought-provoking episode. Your mind will be stretched - Roger Bolton says his was, while hosting the show. Does our ability to engineer life challenge traditional religious beliefs, or can it align with a theological vision of human creativity? 📲 Follow us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Compassion works with local church partners in the world's poorest places to transform communities

0:06.3

and release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Christian singer-songwriter Philippa

0:12.0

Hannah is an avid supporter of Compassion. Here, she tells us why. The thing I love about compassion

0:17.9

is that it's church-based. It's a great organization, a great charity, but I love the fact that they use the local church where the need is.

0:25.6

They use the people based in local churches who know the area, know the needs, know the families,

0:30.6

and can really bring what is required to that area.

0:33.6

As children and their families receive practical support and learn of Jesus' love for them, lives are changed, families strengthened, communities transformed and the impact continues for generations.

0:46.8

It all starts when we follow Jesus Lee to move with Compassion. Find out more. Visit Compassion UK.org forward slash premiere.

1:00.2

For all people's excitement about artificial intelligence and what it can do, synthetic biology is one of the best weapons we have.

1:07.1

When modification of an embryo was performed, there was an outcry in the scientific community

1:12.7

and illegal in most countries. So Sam, when you're talking about de-extinction, what do you mean?

1:18.7

It's Willie Mammoth with an asterisk. If we can bring species back, then why should we

1:23.0

bother about extinction now? We have serious climate issues, so it's hugely beneficial to bring back Willie Mammoths

1:30.3

tromping down the permafrost.

1:32.3

How do we ensure that humanity benefits?

1:35.3

I'm very excited about where the world could be in terms of cancer in 10 years' time.

1:39.3

This rather goes down the line of an ableist approach.

1:43.3

Biotech will always make a lot of money because people want to stay alive.

1:48.2

It sounds as if you're starting to raise a super race.

1:55.2

Welcome back to Premier Unbelievable.

1:57.8

I'm Roger Bolton, and this week we're exploring one of the most challenging and exciting areas of modern science, genetic engineering.

2:06.5

With the rise of technologies like CRISPR, we'll explain that one is later, we now have the ability to edit the very DNA of living organisms from crops to humans.

...

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