Leading Edge - 09/07/2009

Geoff Watts explores the world of science and the people, passions and policies behind it. Hardly a week passes without a mention of new developments in genetics. This editon is all about genetic developments and their implications. Geoff Watts discusses the future of gene sequencing with Jane Rogers, director of the newly created Genome Analysis Centre in Norwich, and Jane Peterson, an associate director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute. The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has just published a report on genomic medicine. This is the use of genomic information in predicting a person's risk of disease, improving diagnosis and prognosis, and selecting the best treatment option: 'personalised' or 'stratified' treatment, as it is described. Their Lordships compiled a raft of recommendations on research, training, service delivery and much else. They describe genomic medicine as offering 'a real opportunity for medical care'. Geoff discusses the findings of the report with Lord Warner, one of the committee, and Professor Sir John Bell, of Oxford University, one of the UK's leading biomedical scientists. Geoff also talks about biomedical science with UK government minister for science, Lord Paul Drayson.