Prenatal genetic testing – a moral maze?

Released: 03 March 2010

A university research centre is offering the public the opportunity to join a discussion and to question experts about the implications of potential new prenatal tests for genetic disorders.

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science a public meeting, ‘Non-invasive prenatal genetic testing – a moral maze?’ will take place at Exeter Central Library on Tuesday 16 March, starting at 7.00pm.

The meeting, which is free and open to all, is organised by Egenis, a research centre based at the University of Exeter. "Recent advances in genetic technologies mean that it is becoming possible to screen for a variety of genetic conditions through prenatal blood testing, avoiding the need for risky procedures such as amniocentesis,” explains Dr Hannah Farrimond, one of the event organisers. “Diagnostic blood tests as early as 6-8 weeks into pregnancy for conditions like Down Syndrome are just around the corner, while blood tests for paternity and sex-determination are already available on the internet. 

“How much do members of the public know about these emerging testing procedures and what do they think? Are the tests viewed as a quicker and easier way to identify genetic disorders before birth, or the thin end of the wedge in a culture that desires 'perfect' babies? Will they merely improve reproductive health care, or turn all pregnancies into a moral maze? Is this testing a social good, or a social harm?”
 
The audience will be invited to contribute to the debate by questioning the ‘witnesses’, who include: Dr Helen Wallace, director of GeneWatch UK, Jane Fisher, director of ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices), Dr Peter Turnpenny of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Dr Susan Kelly and Dr Hannah Farrimond of Egenis. Local parent Aaron Corr will also speak about his personal experience as a father of children with genetic disorders. The event will be chaired by Professor Regenia Gagnier of the University of Exeter.

This year’s Festival of Social Science takes place from 12-21 March, with events across the country.

Note to Editors:1. Egenis is the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society, a research centre at the University of Exeter funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to study the meaning and social implications of developments in genomic science. Website: www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/egenis/
2. For further details or to arrange an interview, contact Claire Packman, Egenis Communications Officer, on 01392 269126, c.h.packman@exeter.ac.uk
3. The Festival of Social Science is run by the Economic and Social Research Council to celebrate some of the country's leading social science research, giving an opportunity to show what the UK's social scientists are doing and to demonstrate how their work makes a difference to all our lives.www.esrcfestival.ac.uk