Yesterday, on NPR's Diane Rehm Show, Francis Collins appeared with other guests to talk about the science and ethics of personal genetic testing. The show was prompted in part by a front page feature that Rick Weiss wrote on the topic last week at The Washington Post.
Personal Genetic Testing
A growing number of people are turning to personalized genetic testing to learn about possible predisposition to some diseases, inherited behavioral traits, and clues to their family heritage. We'll talk about what these tests can tell us and some of the new questions they raise.
GuestsDr. Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute
Beth Peshkin, senior genetics counselor, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center
Linda Avey, co-founder, 23andMe, a personalized genetic testing company
Dr. George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and director of the Center for Computational Genetics
Theres a link on the site that allows you to hear the show.
Collins always comes across well when talking about genetics in these sorts of programs and does so again on this show.
I have no problem with him being a voice for science - so long as he sticks to science - he sounds a bit mad whenever he talks about his religious beliefs due to the absense of logic in his 'faith-based' reasoning.