ESRC Genomics Forum Urges Wider Debate On Genes Discovery Announcement

Main Category: Genetics
Article Date: 11 Jun 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Genomics Policy and Research Forum1, based at the University of Edinburgh, is calling for wider debate about the implications of the recent genes discovery announcement.2

The Forum agrees that the study demonstrates the great potential for large-scale genomic research to improve our understanding of health and disease, but feels it is important not to view the results in isolation.

The wider social, legal, economic and regulatory implications of this fast-growing field are becoming ever-more important. Keeping pace with scientific developments will become increasingly challenging for policy makers and society as a whole, and research and discussion on these issues should be encouraged as a matter of priority.

Professor Steve Yearley, Director of the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, commented:

"As you might expect the initial reporting of this research focuses on the great potential for medicine, patients and families to benefit from this science. Some mention has already been made about possible implications for personalised medicine and health insurance, but a careful discussion of the wider ethical and economic impacts for society also needs to take place.

"There is also the important question of the relative significance of genetic and lifestyle or environmental influences on health and illness. This innovative scientific work focuses on genes alone. It would not be wise to let public debate about health and wellbeing be dominated by genetics.

"The ESRC Genomics Network has active social science research programmes in many of these areas. The Forum will be offering commentaries via our website http://www.genomicsforum.ac.uk as the weeks progress."

ESRC GENOMICS POLICY AND RESEARCH FORUM
ESRC Genomics Forum, University of Edinburgh, 3rd Floor
St John's Land, Holyrood Road
http://www.genomicsforum.ac.uk