News
'Understanding Genetic Discrimination' seminar
28 January 2010
On 28 January 2010, the Human Genetics Commission and the Arts and Humanities Research Council held a very successful one-day seminar on Understanding Genetic Discrimination. The event was attended by over 60 invited participants from different fields (academics, policy-makers, patient interest groups, insurance representatives and others).
Speakers at the seminar included Professor Paul Miller, US expert on disability and employment discrimination law and recently also Special Assistant to President Obama, Professor John Dupré, Director of the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society (Egenis) and Catherine Casserley, discrimination, employment and human rights lawyer and adviser to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The seminar marked the start of an investigation of the concept of genetic discrimination by the Human Genetics Commission.
Caroline Harrison, Chair of the HGC Working Group on Genetic Discrimination, said:
"I am delighted with the success of the seminar on Understanding Genetic Discrimination. The excellent speakers presented wide-ranging, thought-provoking and challenging arguments, which prompted lively and helpful debate with the well-prepared and expert participants. The issues relating to the concept and definition of genetic discrimination, and to means of identifying its possible occurrence, remain both fascinating and challenging. The seminar will significantly assist HGC in its consideration of these issues over the coming months, and will help to ensure that HGC is able to offer Government advice that takes account of all relevant perspectives."
A seminar report is in preparation. Listen to short podcast interviews with some of the speakers and panellists below. The seminar programme is available here.
Presentation by Professor John Dupré 'What is genetic discrimination?'.
Presentation by Dr Staffan Mueller-Wille 'Genetic discrimination: Lessons from the history of genetics and eugenics'.
Presentation by Catherine Casserley 'Discrimination and genetic pre-disposition - the legal framework'.
Paper by Catherine Casserley 'Discrimination and genetic pre-disposition - the legal framework'.
Presentation by Professor Paul Miller 'Are my genes making me redundant? Understanding genetics and discrimination - a perspective from the United States'.
Presentation by Professor Brigitte Nerlich 'Genetic discrimination: a view from linguistics'.
Podcast interview with Professor Paul Miller.
Podcast interview with Dr Ron Zimmern
Podcast interview with Professor John Dupré.
Podcast interview with Ruth Sands.
Podcast interview with Caroline Harrison.
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