Donor conception
Parents of people conceived using donor eggs or sperm may or may not choose to tell them about their genetic origins. Is this a private family matter, or are there wider public interests at stake? What kind of information might donor-conceived people and their parents need about their genetic origin? What interests do donors have in receiving information?
This short project will explore the ethical issues that arise around the disclosure of information in connection with donor-conceived people.
read more »Bioinformation
Fingerprinting and DNA profiling are valuable tools in the fight against crime, but there is a debate about whether police powers to keep people's details on record are justified.
This report uses the principle of proportionality as a basis for recommendations in a number of areas including the use of the National DNA Database.
read more »Supreme Court decision finds indefinite DNA retention unlawful
The debate surrounding the UK’s policy on the retention of DNA has received further attention following a recent Supreme Court decision.
read more »Proposed DNA Database changes in line with Council report
The Government’s Protection of Freedoms Bill proposes a number of changes to the way people’s DNA is stored on the National DNA Database, in line with recommendations made by the Council in 2007.
Under changes announced today, DNA profiles and fingerprints taken from people who have been arrested but never charged or convicted of a crime will be destroyed. Previously, police had powers to keep these records indefinitely.
read more »Bioinformation - Chapter downloads
You can download the individual chapters of this report using the links below. (All files are PDFs and less than 450 KB).
read more »Education - Teaching resource: the forensic use of bioinformation
We are conducting a short survey to gather people’s views on teaching resources produced by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The survey should take around 3-4 minutes to complete and your feedback would be very much valued.
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Bioinformation - Key findings
Since this report was published, there have been a number of developments in this area of law. The information below applies to the time at which the report was published. For information about changes since 2007 please see: