Genetic testing – the legal and ethical questions

Lawyers, scientists and health officials gathered in Wellington yesterday to discuss the findings of the University of Otago’s Human Genome Research Project third and final report.

Among the issues considered in the research was the scientific and clinical use of pre-birth genetic testing, whether insurance companies be allowed to use genetic testing to screen customers and the impact of patents on New Zealand genetics research.

The day was capped off with presentations from Professor Mark Henaghan, Project Leader at the University of Otago and Jeanne Snelling, a research fellow working on the project at Otago. The presentations are available for playback below in two parts.

PART i

[audio:https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/wp-content/upload/2009/03/gene-symposium-part-1.mp3]

PART II

[audio:https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/wp-content/upload/2009/03/gene-discussion-part-2.mp3]