Revolutionizing Reproduction explores the rapidly advancing field of in vitro gametogenesis (IVG)--the generation of sperm and eggs from somatic or stem cells in the laboratory--and its profound implications for science, ethics, and society. While IVG holds transformative potential for treating infertility, enabling same-sex reproduction, and expanding reproductive options, it also presents significant ethical, legal, and social challenges that demand urgent attention.
Bringing together leading experts from scientific, philosophical, legal, and sociological backgrounds, this collection grounds the ethical debate in the latest scientific developments. Chapters analyse the technical foundations of IVG, its potential to overcome evolutionary constraints on human reproduction, and the complex ethical questions surrounding its applications. These include enhancing reproductive autonomy, facilitating same-sex and solo reproduction, the possibility of multiplex parenting involving more than two genetic progenitors, and the implications for embryo selection, including concerns about eugenics and iterative selection processes. The volume critically examines core concepts such as reproductive liberty, the moral status of embryos, the definition of parenthood and genetic relatedness, and the potential commodification of human life. It also considers public attitudes, the influence of social norms, and the need for robust governance frameworks to guide the responsible development and implementation of IVG.
Christopher Gyngell is a Team Leader in Biomedical Ethics at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne in the Department of Paediatrics. His research interests lie primarily in the ethical implications of biotechnologies and the philosophy of health and disease. He has over 70 peer-reviewed publications in a diverse range of ethics, philosophy, science, and medical journals. Chris is committed to public engagement, frequently contributing to public discussions and policy debates on the ethical aspects of biomedical advancements.
Julian Savulescu is the Chen Su Lan Centennial Professor of Medical Ethics and Director of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the National University of Singapore. He also holds the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford. Trained in neuroscience, medicine, and philosophy, he has authored over 420 publications and is among the world's most cited bioethicists. He is a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and was ranked No.1 globally in bioethics and medical ethics by Scholar GPS in 2022.
Tsutomu Sawai is a Professor (Special Recognition) at Hiroshima University, where he directs the Uehiro Division for Applied Ethics and the ELSI Unit of the Center for Collaborative Sciences. He also serves as Program Faculty for the Frontier Development Program for Genome Editing and as a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore. He received his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in 2016 and previously held academic appointments there. His research focuses on a wide range of ethical issues arising in advanced science, engineering, and medicine.
