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Do we have the moral right to intervene
to the human DNA in order to cure some disease or prevent it’s
transmission to some future generation? Or, on the contrary, any
intervention to our genetical code includes the danger of some unknown
hereditable damages? How real is the danger from the spread of
genetically modified plants? Does scientific knowledge belong to
humanity or to those who finance the relative research? Is human cloning
technically possible and morally acceptable? How can the decipherment of
the DNA string of the mosquito save the life of three million children
dying every year in Africa from malaria? Has a scientist the right not
to consider the practical applications of his research, even when these
clash with morality?
Questions posed to a pioneer of molecular biology, the second great
revolution in bio-sciences, Fotis Kafatos, who answers to a series of
crucial questions, though the “answers might change”, as biology is
considered the most rapidly evolving sector of contemporary science..
Chairman of the European Research Council, professor at the Imperial
College of London, one of the founders of the University of Crete, of
the Institute of Research and Technology, of the Institute of Molecular
Biology of Heraklion and of the Biology School of Athens, director for
many years of the European Lab for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg,
professor at the University of Harvard and member of many important
scientific committees all over the world, Fotis Kafatos can be
considered as one of the top biologists in the world and Crete can be
proud of him.
NIKOS KARELLIS |
