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You are in Human Genetics → Genes and Marketing → Briefings

Briefings

Recent Articles

• in Consultation Responses
  GeneWatch response to the consultation on the Medical Devices Directives
  4th July 2008

• Examples of genes in tests marketed by Genetic Health (UK)
  6th November 2007

• GeneWatch UK response to MHRA consultation
  29th October 2007

• Genetic Health: evidence to the MHRA (Appendix)
  28th October 2007

  Appendix to GeneWatch UK's evidence. Warning: large file (1.4Mb).

• Genetic Health: evidence to the MHRA
  28th October 2007

• in Briefings
  Briefing 35: Nutrigenomics: the future of nutrition?
  1st March 2006

  The new science of 'nutrigenomics' (nutritional genomics) and the idea of 'personalised nutrition' are being promoted as the solution to chronic diet-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Personalised nutrition includes the idea of recommending dietary advice, supplements and new 'functional foods' to healthy people who are identified as genetically susceptible to future illness using genetic tests. This briefing asks whether tailoring our diets to our individual genetic make-up, or to other individual biological differences, will be good for health.
  

• in Nicotest
  Three reasons not to buy the NicoTestTM genetic test
  7th January 2005

• in Briefings
  Briefing 28: Genetic Tests and Health
  1st September 2004

  8 pages.

  The completion of the Human Genome Project has opened some new avenues for medical research. It has also led to the marketing of genetic tests which identify parts of the sequence of an individual's genome. Genetic tests are marketed over the internet; via alternative healthcare providers or private GPs; or via the health service. They have also been sold in High Street stores. Tests may be accompanied by health advice or products which are supposedly tailored to the customer's individual genetic make-up. One day, people may even be able to buy a scan of their whole genetic make-up . This briefing considers the case for regulating these genetic tests. Some important questions are:

  1. Will people taking genetic tests be given reliable and accurate information?
  2. Will the products and advice supplied with genetic tests be good for health?
  3. Are controls in place to prevent misleading marketing by commercial companies?

• in MP Briefings
  MPs' Briefing: Human Genetics No. 4: Human genetic testing and the influence of the pharmaceutical industry
  1st September 2004

  Drug companies are seeking to use genetic tests to define 'at risk' groups who would be advised to take (their) medication to prevent a predicted future illness. This approach would be hugely profitable for the pharmaceutical industry, but does not have a good scientific foundation. Many people could take medicine unnecessarily, and some could suffer side-effects. Public health approaches to tacking problems such as obesity and smoking could also be undermined.

• in The Body Shop and Sciona
  Regulating Human Genetic Tests: Ten Key Questions
  1st April 2003

  Questions for the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) to consider proir to publishing its advice to Government, in April, on the regulation of health-related genetic tests.

• Genovations Genetic Test Kits
  1st July 2002

• in Briefings
  Briefing 18: Genetics and 'Predictive Medicine': Selling Pills, Ignoring Causes.
  1st May 2002

  8 pages.

  Genetic testing is being proposed as a way of identifying individuals who are ‘genetically susceptible’ to future disease. These ‘high risk’ individuals would then be encouraged to change unhealthy lifestyles, reduce their exposure to environmental hazards, or take medication before they become ill.

  This predictive/preventive approach sounds sensible but there are some important questions about the accuracy and negative effects of genetic testing.

• in MP Briefings
  MPs' Briefing: Human Genetics No. 2 - Unregulated Genetic Testing on the High Street and the Internet
  1st April 2002

  Human genetic tests are now being sold directly to the public in the High Street and on the Internet. Genetic testing is unregulated and vulnerable customers are being misled. Current knowledge of genetics and health is too uncertain and complex to be left to commercial interests.
  

• in The Body Shop and Sciona
  Genetic testing on the High Street
  1st March 2002

  This briefing gives examines Sciona's genetic tests and questions the quality of information they provide

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