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DNA Testing: Science or Swindle?

 

event

Tuesday
20 January 2009

19:00 - 20:45

With Time magazine nominating 23andme’s DNA kit as the best invention of 2008, personal DNA testing has made it big. Submit a sample of your saliva to a growing number of genetic testing companies and they’ll send you your personal DNA profile.

So would you get tested? Would you want to find out your risk of developing certain diseases? And could a simple test really change your behaviour? Journalist Ben Hammersley shares his experience of getting his results.

Our speakers share their perspectives on the growing phenomenon of personal DNA testing. How and when will science match up to the hype? How much can we know about our probability of suffering diseases such as stomach cancer from a simple DNA test? Epidemiologist Cecile Janssens and molecular geneticist Tim Frayling examine the possibilities.

Stephen Moore from personal DNA testing company Navigenics Ltd. joins us via videolink to share an industry perspective. What does he see in the future this technology and how will it benefit consumers?

Finally, what might the implications of widespread personal DNA testing have on future healthcare? Are we on our way to a more empowered consumer healthcare, or is this just the latest genetics fad? Sociologist Stuart Hogarth wants to know what you think.

Join us to find out whether DNA tests could revolutionise your life.

This event is organised by: The Science Museum

Speakers

Tim Frayling, molecular geneticist, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter
Stuart Hogarth, sociologist, Loughborough University, UK
Cecile Janssens, epidemiologist, Erasmus University, Netherlands
Stephen Moore, General Counsel, Navigenics Ltd.

Facilitator: Ben Hammersley, journalist

comments

vanessa_cutts05@yahoo.co.uk said:

I can see a future market for over the counter saliva tests to measure stress [IP copyright ] that will be recognised by good management practise [reasonable excuse for a day off !] to identify an area of stress that can improve their valued staff's productivity The LSE have identified & promoted the research area .I guess it may be a comercial reality in 5 years . [ I'd put £50.00 on it ! retailing at about £4.99]

vanessa_cutts05@yahoo.co.uk said:

I can see a future market for over the counter saliva tests to measure stress [IP copyright ] that will be recognised by good management practise [reasonable excuse for a day off !] to identify an area of stress that can improve their valued staff's productivity The LSE have identified & promoted the research area .I guess it may be a comercial reality in 5 years . [ I'd put £50.00 on it ! retailing at about £4.99]

Doodle said:

DNA testing is getting cheaper and can tell you more and more about a person. I read recently that in future the big worry will be if someone 'steals' your DNA to find out about you. How do you feel about someone knowing something that you might have opted out of knowing yourself?

said:

DNA testing is better to know about people themselves, in India we have a tradition before marriage to look for horoscope, instead of mathcing horoscope we check whether the person to whome we are getting married is prone to which disease, so both partners can check there analysed DNA is prone to which disease and child born aftersome time would be prone to which disease ?