An essay based on the questions debated in Genoa, Italy (2004) -- within the conference organised by the European Group of Life Sciences -- by leading figures from different disciplines: scientists, psychiatrists, philosophers, sociologists, policy-makers, journalists, writers and poets, on how do the most recent developments in the life sciences affect our understanding, and to assess in which way this knowledge affects visions of humanity. Among the participating authors were: Evandro Agazzi, Sophie Bassis, Christopher Bigsby, James Bono, Philippe Busquin, Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Patrick Cunningham, Inez de Beaufort, Victor de Lorenzo, Carl Djerassi, Anne Fagot-Lergeault, Robin Gill, Gilbert Hottoi, Fotis Kafatos, Axel Khan, Karin Knorr Cetina, Ladislav Kovác, Helga Nowotny, Hans Jörg Rheinberger, Edoardo Sanguineti, Marilyn Strathern, Gianni Vattimo, Fraser Watts and Lewis Wolpert.