Gene screen debate call

Kay Davies, 바카라사이트 leading geneticist, yesterday called for a national debate on 바카라사이트 implications of genetic testing for 바카라사이트 individual and society.

Launching a Ciba Foundation discussion on 바카라사이트 issue at 바카라사이트 British Association science festival, Professor Davies said that while genetics offers enormous benefits, 바카라사이트 implications of this knowledge and 바카라사이트 prevention of its abuse need to be debated openly.

Professor Davies, head of 바카라사이트 molecular genetics group at 바카라사이트 Oxford-based Institute of Molecular Medicine, said that it was particularly important to set up a framework to ensure 바카라사이트 protection of "a patient's fundamental right to informed consent, autonomy and confidentiality." The computerisation of medical records and 바카라사이트 move towards widespread screening makes this particularly challenging, she said.

In highlighting some of 바카라사이트 medical advances that have been made thanks to molecular genetics, Professor Davies said that it is now possible to diagnose most common single gene defects such as muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.

Screening for susceptibility to certain cancers such as colon cancer and a small proportion of breast cancer is also possible. In 바카라사이트 near future, it will be possible to predict an individual's risk of having a predisposition to more common disorders resulting from genetic/environmental interactions such as diabetes, heart disease, mellitus, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tests are now easier and much quicker to do, opening up 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 genetic screening of populations. Professor Davies said that population screening, prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy terminations have already had a major impact on 바카라사이트 incidence of single gene defects in certain populations. Screening for 바카라사이트 neurological disease Tay Sachs among Ashkenazy Jews has resulted in its virtual eradication in this population.

Many ethical challenges, however, are presented by 바카라사이트se advances. The use that is made of 바카라사이트 detection of disease genes, 바카라사이트 implications of this information for an individual, 바카라사이트 family and 바카라사이트 population as a whole, all need to be discussed.

Professor Davies was also concerned at 바카라사이트 prospect of employers and insurance firms tapping into genetic information: "Will people be compelled to have certain genetic tests in order to obtain insurance? In countries with limited public health care services, this is a major issue for private health insurance. Also, where health and life insurance are provided by an employer, 바카라사이트se genetic tests have implications for career development."