Science blog

Exploring science at the British Library

18 October 2013

Testing times

In our blog this week Katie Howe reviews our most recent TalkScience@BL event.

Last week we welcomed scientists, policy makers and members of the public to the British Library for the 22nd event in our TalkScience series - “Genetic testing in assisted reproduction: Selecting, not perfecting?”

Our panel of experts included Dr Joyce Harper (UCL), Nick Meade (Genetic Alliance UK) and Professor Rosamund Scott (King’s College London), who each presented their viewpoint and expertise around the controversial field of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Dr Alan Thornhill (Guy’s Hospital Assisted Conception Unit) stepped in at the last minute to chair as unfortunately Dr Tom Shakespeare (University of East Anglia) was unable to join us on the night due to illness.

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Dr Alan Thornhill (far right) introduces the discussion. (Photo: Tony Grant; British Library)

Alan kicked off the evening by introducing the topic of PGD. He explained that PGD is a technique used by families with a history of a serious genetic disorder to select embryos which are unaffected by that condition. He also noted that the process is very emotionally, physically and financially demanding for families.

Nick Meade then presented two case studies of patients who had undergone PGD - one for a rare heart condition and one for a recessive muscle-wasting disease. He used these human stories to illustrate a key point - that informed choice is a key component of reproductive decision making.

Next up was Rosamund Scott who guided the audience through the current state of the law surrounding PGD and reminded us that because PGD patients also have to undergo IVF, any ‘selection’ will always be restricted by the number of embryos that can be produced.

The final speaker was Joyce Harper who introduced some of the new technologies that may come to prominence in the future, such as next generation sequencing, and addressed some of the ethical issues that these developments might raise.

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Audience members discussing genetic testing during the TalkScience interval (Photo: Tony Grant; British Library)

After the break the discussion was opened up to the floor and generated some great debate both in the room and on Twitter.

Currently in the UK, only ‘serious’ genetic conditions can be licensed for testing and this sparked much debate over what the word serious means and the difficulty in considering the ’seriousness’ of diseases objectively. The discussion also turned to the use of the phrase ‘designer babies’ which has become synonymous with the field of PGD. The panel agreed that the term was overused and could trivialise some of the issues surrounding PGD. Alan Thornhill reminded us that PGD is primarily negative selection against embryos with a faulty gene, rather than positive enhancement.

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Questions from the floor at TalkScience@BL (Photo: Tony Grant; British Library)

Alan summed up the evening aptly by saying, “There’s still a lot to talk about and we should probably do this again soon!”

If you were not able to join us on the night then check this webpage for a podcast of the discussion, which will be available soon. We’re now thinking ahead to the annual TalkScience Christmas Quiz ‘Let’s get Quizzical!’ on 4th December for which booking is now open. We look forward to seeing you again then!

Katie Howe

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