In the news

Recently published minutes of Human Genetics Commission meetings held during the last few months (see HGC Subgroups and HGC Meetings) highlight the HGC’s current work on human genetic testing services supplied directly to the public. A consultation on this issue is currently in progress. The issue arose as a result of Government concern about tests for genetic predisposition offered by the company Sciona. The HGC was asked to assess Sciona’s compliance with the current code formulated by its predecessor, the Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing. At its plenary meeting in May, the HGC expressed concern about taking on this regulatory role, and agreed to advise Ministers that HGC should not be directly involved in assessing compliance with the code.

The HGC is planning information-gathering days, to be held during the autumn, on the topics of pharmacogenetics and large genetic research databases. The pharmacogenetics day (10 September, Belfast) will run in tandem with the Commission’s next plenary meeting. Further details are expected to be available soon on the HGC’s website. The databases day is likely to be held in late October; the Commission has on several occasions expressed its wish to have an ongoing role in monitoring the plans for UK BioBank and other large databases. Other possible topics for future work are stem cell research and gene patenting, both of which were the subject of information-gathering days earlier this year. The HGC’s large investment of time into projects on genetic information and genetic testing services has delayed planned work on genetics and reproductive choice. A scoping group has now been set up to outline the key issues for the HGC’s consideration.