Welcome to GeneWatch UK

GeneWatch UK is a not-for-profit group that monitors developments in genetic technologies from a public interest, human rights, environmental protection and animal welfare perspective. GeneWatch believes people should have a voice in whether or how these technologies are used and campaigns for safeguards for people, animals and the environment. We work on all aspects of genetic technologies - from GM crops and foods to genetic testing of humans.

Topics

  • GM Crops and Food

    The San Francisco Chronicle has reported growing opposition in the United States to the problems caused by GM crops there. Major problems are also now reported in Canada.

    Read GeneWatch's article on why Europe should learn the lessons from America. See also, the new report on sustainable food from the Environmental Audit Committee.

    Visit the GM Freeze website for information on Morrison's decision to use GM poultry feed and Rothamsted's trial of GM wheat. An article in Farmers Weekly highlights that even pro-GM farmers cannot understand why Rothamsted's GM wheat trial is being funded by taxpayers, since there is no market for it and aphids are not a major pest.

  • The UK Police National DNA Database

    The Protection of Freedoms Act has now been adopted. Once the Act is implemented, the DNA profiles and fingerprints of more than a million innocent people will be removed from police databases. DNA samples will also be destroyed. New police guidance has also been promised which will require the deletion of innocent people's records on the Police National Computer.

    To help ensure that innocent people's DNA records are deleted as soon as possible, visit the updated Reclaim your DNA section of this website.

  • Research Agendas and Patenting

    The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling on the European Patent Office to stop granting patents on conventionally bred plants and seeds. Campaign group No Patents on Seeds explains the problem here.

    To find out how vested interests lead to taxpayers' money being wasted on poor research priorities, read GeneWatch UK's report about science funding and the biotech economy.

  • A DNA database in the NHS?

    The Guardian has reported new data-sharing proposals will be published by the Government next month. The proposals are designed to facilitate a proposal to build a DNA database of the whole population within the NHS. Similar plans introduced by Jack Straw in 2009 were strongly opposed by both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and rapidly dropped following massive public opposition.

    A recent study confirming that genes are poor predictors of most diseases in most people, casts further doubt on the claimed health benefits of this proposal.

  • International DNA databases

    GeneWatch UK, the Council for Responsible Genetics and Privacy International are working together on the Forensics Genetics Policy Initiative to develop international standards in this area. Visit our new website.

  • GM insects

    Key West City Commission has passed a resolution opposing experiments using GM mosquitoes until further research is provided and approved by a regulator.

  • Genes and Marketing

    The Google-funded online gene testing company 23andMe has made a patent application based on its genome wide association study (GWAS) of Parkinson's Disease. Read the details on the Gene Values blog by Dr Stuart Hogarth.

  • GM Contamination Register

    An on-line database of incidents of GM contamination, illegal releases and adverse agricultural side-effects run by GeneWatch UK and Greenpeace.

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