The fact that biotechnologies can intervene in the creation of life forms in unprecedented ways has spurred reactions from many different publics worldwide. This article focuses on a Norwegian reaction to the application of these technologies. It does so by exploring a legislative process in conjunction with a particular discursive phenomenon – that of the “sorting society”. This notion draws together the worlds of politics and biotechnology, of knowledge and religion, of embryos, choice and restrictions articulating a current in Norwegian bio-politics, creating an ethical publicity.