New report presents options for oversight of genetic testing of hum...( A new report by the Genetics and Public...),Health

A new report by the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University outlines policy options to address the scientific and ethical challenges raised by genetic testing of human embryos. The report will be released at a public forum, "Custom Kids?" Genetic Testing of Embryos, to be held on January 8 in Washington, DC. At the forum, an independent panel including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta and former National Institutes of Health Director Bernadine Healy will discuss the issues raised by genetic testing of embryos.

"New biomedical technologies have a tendency to sneak up on us," said Kathy Hudson, Ph.D., director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center. "This report and the policy forum are tools to catalyze broad public discussion about this profound use of genetic testing and aid decision-makers as they consider what policies can best keep pace with rapid advances in reproductive genetics."

The confluence of advances in human genetics and reproductive science has resulted in the ability to perform genetic tests on embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. This type of testing, known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, involves the removal of one or two cells from the fertilized egg or embryo and analysis of the genetic material. Test results are then used to select the embryos to transfer to a woman's womb to initiate a pregnancy.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is used currently by families seeking to have a child free from a specific inherited genetic disease or, less often, to have a child with specific genetic characteristics. By testing embryos before a pregnancy has begun, PGD can reduce the need to terminate a pregnancy in which a fetus is found to have a genetic mutation. PGD has been used to test for dozens of inherited diseases, to select embryos that will be a matched tissue donor for an ailing sibling and to select embryos based on sex.
'"/>

Contact: Rhoda Washington
rwashi10@jhu.edu
202-663-5979
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
8-Jan-2004

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. First UK cases of previously rare disease reported in gay men
2. Health care report cards may increase racial/ethnic disparities in bypass operations
3. Most hospital executives have substantial concerns about mandatory error reporting systems
4. New data on Orqis Medicals Cancion CRS to be reported at ACC
5. Lead in the environment causes violent crime, reports University of Pittsburgh researcher at AAAS
6. Americans support most uses of reproductive genetic testing, report on US attitudes reveals
7. HIV-infected parents report limiting physical contact with their children
8. Male surgeons report highest rate of mistakes in patient care
9. Clinicians report missing patient information is common
10. Auditory screening for newborns can be successful, UT Southwestern researchers report
11. Study reports women dont experience undue pain, anxiety during mammography screening