Scienceʼs wisdom and humanityʼs virtues

Mitinori Saitou

Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study

Why is human life not eternal? This was a question I had as a child. While individual lives are short, the existence of humanity has continued for an incredibly long time. Supporting this continuity are sperm, eggs, and the germ cells from which they originate. To uncover the mechanisms that sustain the perpetuation of life, I have been studying germ cells and successfully produced human germ cells from human iPS cells in vitro. Currently, the development of this technology, its application to the study of various diseases such as genetic disorders, and ethical issues are being discussed. Humanity has always sought to live with virtue as a guiding principle. As science continues to reveal the laws of nature, a new philosophy of life is needed to connect these discoveries to creating a richer society. I hope to contribute to a world where scientific wisdom and human virtue are harmoniously integrated.