Society obligated to engineer 'better people'

Society has a moral obligation to use genetic technologies to create "better people" says Professor Julian Savulescu, chair in practical ethics at Oxford University.

Research was likely to provide information about genes involved in aggression, addiction, criminal behaviour, personality disorders, neuroticism, even sexual behaviour.

He said there was nothing wrong with choosing who had the best opportunity for a better life, rather than accepting "nature's lottery".