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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 Observer has reported how the biotech industry has helped draft reports on GM crops produced by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The Vice Chair of the FSA's public dialogue resigned last week citing concerns about the impartiality of the FSA. This followed the resignation of GeneWatch's Director. Read the story in the Telegraph.

  • Research Agendas and Patenting

    A new GeneWatch report documents the political commitment to a new bio-economy and how it has influenced research funding decisions in the biosciences. It concludes that there are significant opportunity costs associated with pursuing ineffective biotech solutions to a wide variety of problems in health and agriculture, and that the research funding system needs significant reform.

    On 29th March a US federal judge struck down a several patents on human genes. Read the New York Times article and the US court's decision on Myriad's patents for the breast cancer predisposition genes BRCA1/2.

  • Genes and Health

    The Sunday Times has exposed that some hospitals are storing millions of babies blood spots for 18 or more years. Originally taken to perform useful health tests at birth, the blood spots could be misused in future to sequence the genome of every baby, as was proposed by the Labour Government in 2003.

  • The UK Police National DNA Database

    If your DNA is on the database, visit the Reclaim your DNA website.

    In its new pact, the coalition Government has promised to change the law so that innocent people's DNA profiles are removed in line with the law in Scotland. Under this agreement, most people who were found not guilty or had no further action taken following arrest would have their records taken off the DNA database immediately. A minority arrested for violent or sexual offences would have their DNA profiles retained temporarily.

    This would mean changes to the Crime and Security Act which was adopted prior to the election. It allows the retention of innocent people's DNA records and fingerprints for 6 years after arrest.

    Erasing David is a new documentary about privacy, surveillance and the database state. Find out more here.

  • Genes and Marketing

    The New York Times has reported the failure of commercial gene testing companies to attract customers, despite enormous publicity for their products. An article in Newsweek explains the latest scientific papers showing that genes are poor predictors of common diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. The US FDA has announced that it will now regualte such tests and prevent misleading claims about genetic risk of diseases being sold online or in shops and pharmacies.

  • 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.

  • Genetic Modification and Agrofuels

    You can read GeneWatch's report on GM agrofuels here.

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