Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, was named yesterday by President Obama to chair a new advisory panel on bioethics.

The panel, which Obama created by executive order, replaces President George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics, which drew criticism in scientific circles over alleged bias.

"There was a perception that the Bush Council on Bioethics was politicized," said Wylie Burke, chair of the department of bioethics and humanities at the University of Washington. She added that the council had highly respected members and produced helpful, balanced reports.

In June, Obama disbanded the council and cleared the way for yesterday's creation of his Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. He also named James W. Wagner, president of Emory University, as vice chair.

Obama's move was not unprecedented. Bush's council was created in 2001 and replaced President Bill Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission.

Burke said it made sense for a new president to have his own bioethics advisers, just as a president would in many other areas of national interest.

She said it would be absurd for anyone to believe Obama's panel will green-light outlandish or freakish science, as some critics might fear.

The field of bioethics is intended to help people better understand complicated health and research issues, Burke said.

Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.