So are we making progress?

The contemporary media is increasingly flooded with stories where the cause, explanation or hope involves genetics. With all the reporting of genetic findings and its 'potential' to improve clinical care - has genetics really led to a marked improvement in our healthcare? And should genetic determinism be the focus of scientific research?...[Read More]

Is the embryo sacrosanct?: Faith in preimplantation genetic diagnosis

In 1989, scientists first used preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) - a technique that merges IVF with genetic testing, enabling couples with increased risk of passing a genetic disorder onto their children to screen and select only unaffected embryos for implantation. PGD involves the removal of a single cell from three-day-old IVF...[Read More]

Theatre Review: A Stroke of Genius

As the curtain dropped on the closing night performance of the London-based PIT Theatre Cooperative's world premiere production performed throughout August at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so too ended the rare opportunity to witness a science communication creative, if not comical, success (of which I hope we see more). The PIT Collective's topical comedy entitled A Stroke of Genius bravely and uniquely informed its audience as its light-hearted plot turned on broad-sweeping bioethi...[Read More]

Canada considers genetic discrimination law

Canadians need better protection from genetic discrimination by insurers and employers, according to Winnipeg North MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis... [Read More]

Gene patent lawsuit starts next week

A landmark US lawsuit is due to begin this week in New York which will question the right of private companies to hold patents on disease-related genes and their exclusive license rights to be the sole provider of genetic tests for those diseases. Last May, lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Public Patent Foundation, filed a legal action that challenged seven US patents for two genes linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The action was lau...[Read More]

UK's Department of Health consults on disclosure of identifying information for research

On 8 October 2009, the UK's Department of Health (DH) announced the launch of a public consultation regarding amendments made to the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes) Regulations...[Read More]

UK registry will allow donor children to trace biological siblings

Beginning from last Thursday, new disclosure laws for donor-conceived individuals and gamete/embryo donors came into force which will broaden access to donor genetic information. The provisions were enacted together with the vast majority of the new Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008, approved by Parliament last year and aimed at updating its predecessor 1990 statute to be more inline with contemporary liberal attitudes and advances in reproductive technolog...[Read More]

Umbilical cord blood banking not worth the cash, study shows

Banking a newborn's umbilical cord blood through a private company so that stem cells may be derived and stored for that child's or sibling's future medical uses is not financially worthwhile, according to a study performed at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). It found that the chances of privately stored umbilical cord blood being therapeutic in the next twenty years are so remote that it does not justify the expense. The researchers calculated that it costs ap...[Read More]

House of Lords Genomic Medicine Report Calls for NHS Overhaul to Improve Future Healthcare

When giving evidence to the Lords inquiry into genomic medicine, Health Minister Dawn Primarolo estimated that the vast potential benefits of genomic medicine will not largely be seen by patients for at least a decade. The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee respectfully but conclusively disagrees in its report on Genomic Medicine, published 7 July 2009. Lord Patel who chaired the inquiry surmised; 'Genomic medicine will clearly have a huge impact on health provision and the NHS

BBC to pay millions to IVF specialist in libel claim

The BBC will be paying a steep legal bill, estimated between one and six million pounds, after settling a libel case with Dr Mohamed Taranissi, who is considered to be one of Britain's most successful fertility specialists....[Read More]

Directors of online sperm donor business face criminal prosecution

Last Friday, UK authorities began a legal test case to prosecute two businessmen who were arrested for not having a valid licence to broker the sale of 'fresh' sperm from anonymous donors. The sperm was provided to women for their use in DIY fertility treatments through an online business - Spermdirect.co.uk. Nigel Woodforth and Ricky Gage, the directors of the business, face up to two years imprisonment if found guilty of illegally running a website that is reportedly believed to have matche...[Read More]

Germany passes genetic test laws

Last week, following ten years of debate, the upper house of the German Parliament (the 'Bundesrat') provided the final stage of legislative assent to a strict framework of laws aimed at preventing the misuse of genetic tests. The legal impact is far-reaching setting stringent limits on paternity...[Read More]

Possible setback for genetic medicine as deCODE Genetics faces bankruptcy

The impending financial demise of leading human genetics biotechnology company deCODE Genetics is seen as a direct blow to genetic medicine and ultimately signalling wider ramifications for the impact of the global financial crisis on the genomics industry as a whole. Chief executive Kari Stefansson announced, on...[Read More]