In what ways does the advent of new human biotechnologies, and the need to adopt new policies, challenge conventional social and political worldviews and alignments?

Perspectives on matters related to new human biotechnologies often fail to align neatly with conventional political and ideological categories. Why is this, and what challenges and opportunities does it present? What kinds of political rethinking might be called for, across the board? Can we transcend the polarized worldviews that for some time have framed public debate regarding human reproductive practices, and have lately extended to broader debates about science, technology, society, and the meaning of "progress"? How can we open the public sphere to concerns about the ways in which human biotechnology and related technologies might undermine the common good and our sense of sharing a common human future, while ensuring individual rights?

In this session, a brief introduction (5 minutes) and three framing presentations (8 minutes each) addressing these and related questions were followed by table discussions among the assembled participants.