Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
10:17
An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
Published on: November 3, 2010
Offering individual genetic research results: context matters
1Center for Genome Ethics, Law and Policy, Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Durham, NC 27708, USA. laura.beskow@duke.edu
Science Translational Medicine
|July 2, 2010
Summary
Returning individual genetic research results requires careful consideration of study context, not a universal rule. Researchers and IRBs must assess participant entrustment, interaction intensity, and population vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Bioethics
- Research Ethics
Background:
- Debate continues regarding the return of individual genetic research results to participants.
- Current discussions often overlook the crucial role of research context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how different research contexts influence decisions about returning individual genetic research results.
- To adapt an ancillary care framework for evaluating the return of genetic research findings.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the ancillary care framework applied to various research contexts.
- Examination of factors influencing the decision-making process for returning genetic research results.
Main Results:
- A one-size-fits-all threshold for returning individual genetic research results is not feasible.
- Contextual factors, including entrustment, interaction intensity, and participant vulnerability, are vital considerations.
Conclusions:
- Decisions on returning individual genetic research results should be context-dependent.
- Researchers and institutional review boards must weigh specific study parameters rather than applying a uniform policy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:25Genetic Variation
Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...
02:46Genetic Screens
Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
01:27Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...
01:11Genetic Lingo
Overview