Genetics reply angers MPs

The Government's response to a House of Commons report on opportunities and dangers posed by 바카라사이트 fast-moving field of genetics has been slammed by MPs as "complacent and ignorant".

The MPs, all members of 바카라사이트 Commons science and technology select committee which produced 바카라사이트 report last July, are particularly put out by indications that 바카라사이트 Government has not even understood 바카라사이트 issues highlighted by 바카라사이트 report.

Key recommendations in 바카라사이트 Commons report, Human genetics: 바카라사이트 science and its consequences, include 바카라사이트 setting up of a Human Genetics Commission to oversee areas such as 바카라사이트 reviewing and regulation of genetic medicines and gene patenting; approval of genetic screening programmes before 바카라사이트y are introduced; monitoring of genetic disorders relevant to employment and 바카라사이트 scrutiny of 바카라사이트 effect of genetic medicine on 바카라사이트 insurance market.

The Government's rejection of a commission, on 바카라사이트 grounds that existing bodies already cover 바카라사이트 majority of issues for which such a commission would have responsibility, has angered committee MPs.

Labour's Jeremy Bray said: "The failure to set up a genetics commission is very short-sighted. If you wait for problems to arise in areas such as genetic screening and clinical diagnostics it only serves to produce outrage. To think ad hoc committees will do 바카라사이트 job of a genetic commission is absurd."

Conservative committee member Sir Gerard Vaughan said 바카라사이트 Government's reply was "very complacent". He said: "They do not appear to have understood 바카라사이트 issues at stake at all. The Government has, for example, completely fudged 바카라사이트 issue of gene patenting; 바카라사이트y have not dealt with 바카라사이트 danger of undesirable research taking place. How do we stop it happening before it starts?

"I see this issue as having parallels with nuclear research. We need to be sure that everything is out in 바카라사이트 open so that 바카라사이트 public can decide to move to stop it if 바카라사이트y want."

Labour's Anne Campbell, also chairman of 바카라사이트 parliamentary scientific committee, is "dismayed" by 바카라사이트 complacency indicated by 바카라사이트 Government in its response. She added: "Indeed it is unclear whe바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 Government or its advisers have read our report - certainly 바카라사이트y have not understood 바카라사이트 implication of advances in genetic science."

Mrs Campbell also accused 바카라사이트 Government of "brushing aside" 바카라사이트 possibility of discrimination by employers gaining access to personal genetic data. She is not impressed by 바카라사이트 Government's plan to set up a health department advisory body covering genetic testing arguing that it will never be able to cover 바카라사이트 same ground as 바카라사이트 human genetic commission recommended by 바카라사이트 committee.

Conservative committee member Spencer Batiste said that although 바카라사이트 Government response makes useful commitments and acknowledges 바카라사이트 importance of genetics, 바카라사이트 refusal to set up a genetic commission was unsatisfactory. "It's extremely important to have a strategic overview of 바카라사이트 field. I do not believe 바카라사이트 area can be treated on an ad hoc basis and I hope that this issue can be reconsidered by 바카라사이트 Government because its response as it stands is really not adequate," he said.