Bioengineering: Short Term Optimism and Long Term Risk

Anfinsen believed that humanity could derive great benefits from biotechnology, but only with the right safeguards. In this speech delivered at the 19th Annual Nobel Conference held at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, Anfinsen declared that it was possible to maintain "adequate surveillance of the application of bioengineering to human beings so long as the human hunger for power and material gain does not become overwhelming."

NOTE: Speech was given at the Nobel XIX Conference, held 4-5 October 1983 at Gustavus Adolphus College.