This is a podcast from the archives of the BBC Ruth Lectures. This lecture in the series

A New Citizenship, given by Michael Sandell, was originally broadcast in 2009.

Hello and welcome to the Centre for Life in Newcastle-on-Tyne. It's a place dedicated to a greater

public understanding of science,

and it brings together leading authorities from all over the world to discuss issues arising out of medical research.

So it really is an ideal venue for the third of this year's BBC Reith lectures,

the subject of which is genetics and morals.

Last week's lecture outlined the case for a more robust moral and spiritual debate in our broad political life.

Today we're looking at the ethics of genetic technology.

Ladies and gentlemen, please will you welcome the BBC's Reith Lecturer for 2009, Professor Michael Sandell.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Michael, just a relevant bit of background before we start.

I know that you were on George Bush, President Bush's Bioethics Committee from 2002 for about four years,

was there vigorous debate on that committee or were they a rather conservative lot?

On the whole it was a conservative group which is to be expected since it was appointed by President Bush.

I was surprised when I was invited to be a part of it. I think they knew I wasn't among his foremost supporters,

but I think they did want, and they ultimately did get, a range of views.

And what about different religious persuasions? Because we know that George Bush's opinions

were very much informed, are very much informed by his Methodist faith. You're of the Jewish faith.

Did your religious opinions come into it at all?

Were they put on the table?

Not directly, but I think it's fair to say that there were a range of religious backgrounds

as well as professional backgrounds represented.

...