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A project led by Dr Erik Parens and supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, which aimed to explore both the ethical and social implications.

The distinction between "treatment" and "enhancement," this working group concluded, cannot offer the hoped-for bright ethical line around which to craft thoughtful decisions about the development or use of technologies to make us "better." Addressing this question, the first major product of the project, a Special Supplement entitled "Is Better Always Good? The Enhancement Project," appeared in the January-February 1998 issue of the Hastings Center Report. The second product, a book ‘Enhancing Human Traits’ has also now been published.

• ‘Crafting Tools for Public Conversation about Behavioural Genetics.’

On-going project, joint with the AAAS. The project aims to encourage open and informed public discussion among both professional and lay groups about the significant ethical and social issues raised by behavioural genetics.

"The project's primary objective is to provide tools for open and informed public discussion about the significant ethical and social issues raised by behavioral genetics. By tools we mean concepts and distinctions that facilitate clear, careful, and meaningful conversation among professional and lay groups.

To disseminate these tools we will develop a series of resources for lay and professional audiences, including a primer of behavioral genetics for the general public, a special supplement of Hastings Center Report for professional audiences, and a volume of essays for scholars."

For more information: www.thehastingscenter.org

The Novartis Foundation (formerly CIBA Foundation)

The Novartis Foundation has held several relevant 3 day symposia:

• The genetics of criminal and antisocial behaviour (1996)
• The limits of reductionism in biology (1998)
• The nature of intelligence (1999)

For more information: http://www.novartisfound.org.uk/

Human Genetics Commission

The HGC has carried out some related work.

• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

A Joint Working Party on PGD was established with HFEA, following HFEA’s consultation exercise. A formal response, including discussion and recommendations, was published in November 2001. The HGC will be continuing this work in 2002.

• An HGC Sub-Group is also examining the storage, protection and use of genetic information.

For more information:

• HGC: www.hgc.gov.uk
• HFEA: www.hfea.gov.uk

Last Updated Fri, 15 December 2006