Man or monkey?
Girl or boy?
Innocent or guilty?
High risk or healthy?
A little DNA can make a big difference…

Inside DNA: A Genomic Revolution is all about you… your health, your identity and your ancestry. It is a unique new exhibition investigating developments in the fast-moving field of human genomics, and the ethical issues that they raise.

Inside DNA is your opportunity to explore the developments and hear from leading researchers. What are their views and experiences of genomic research? And what impact will their research have on you and on your family’s future?

Designed to provoke questions and stimulate debate, Inside DNA will encourage you to explore issues such as the role of our genes and environment in our health, identity and evolution. It delves into ethical questions such as whether genetic testing will lead to discrimination, who will benefit most from genetic medicines, and the role of DNA databases.

Give your views
Inside DNA is also a chance for you to put your own views across and to influence policy making and future governmental decisions. In the Dialogue Zone, your feedback and comments on a variety of topics – from DNA databases to over-the-counter genetic test kits – will be passed on to the Human Genetics Commission, the Government’s advisory body on new developments in human genetics.
Issues raised by recent research include:

• Should the National DNA database hold everyone’s genetic information on it, for police to access whenever a crime is committed? Who else should have access to the information in a genetic database?

• Who should be offered predictive genetic tests, eg for breast cancer? Would you want to know if you were at higher risk of developing certain diseases?

• Should individuals be held responsible for illnesses they failed to avoid by ignoring lifestyle recommendations?

• Should we be able to screen embryos that carry certain characteristics or diseases?

• If we discovered that mutations in a particular gene could influence people’s behaviour, should we test for these mutations?

• Which genetic tests should be offered on the internet or over-the-counter?

Click here to find out more about what’s in the exhibition.

Inside DNA was developed by At-Bristol on behalf of Ecsite-uk, with funding from the Wellcome Trust and support from the Sanger Institute