Ethics and the new genetics

Abstract

Recent developments in recombinant DNA technology have resulted in a rapidly expanding range of new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for families with inherited disorders. They are also beginning to impinge on society as a whole as progressively more is learned about the human genome, as the community becomes more aware of the role of genes in disease, and as we start to consider the implications of being able to define individual susceptibility to both monogenic and multifactorial disorders. As we implement the new technologies, careful consideration must be given to the ethical issues which arise so that maximum benefit can be obtained by individuals and the wider community.