Use and design of genetic screening programmes - a study

Abstract

A study exercise designed to give biology students an insight into the practical, social, ethical, and psychological problems associated with genetic screening programmes

A study has been designed to introduce undergraduate biology students to the social, ethical, and psychological problems associated with genetic screening programmes for Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) and sickle-cell anaemia (SCA). TSD and SCA are single gene inherited disorders that affect particular ethnic groups. In order to illustrate that the problems involved are not new, the study is based upon specific examples of screening programmes that were introduced several years ago. The example programme for TSD was supported by education and counselling. Leaders from the local community were involved in the programme and all the testing was done on a voluntary basis. The SCA example programme was, by contrast, compulsory; not supported by education and counselling; did not involve the local community in its inception and was perceived by many to be racist. Students compare the programmes and decide the criteria that would make a good mass screening programme for the disease cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is used as an example because it has been the subject of numerous trial screening programmes, and is a candidate disease for a mass screening programme in the UK. Students enjoy working out the problems of screening programmes for themselves and are able to point out differences between the programmes for TSD and SCA, and appreciate the many problems associated with mass screening.

Keywords:

• Use
• Design
• Genetic screening programme