Shoutout: Use and Ownership of Genetics Event

**NEW LUNCH EVENT: RFCF: “Use and Ownership of Genetics”** on Tuesday 12th February, 1-2pm in 3.33 WMB

Studying Tort or Intellectual Property? Have you ever thought that legally we may not own genes or DNA in our bodies? Come to the RFCF’s talk to discuss how the worlds of science and law collide!

We have two speakers Mel Iddon and Louise Hatherall presenting on the ‘Use and Ownership of Genetics’ from two different outlooks, considering questions such as;

- Who owns a specific sequence of DNA? Can a company legally own the DNA someone is born with and prevent research from being done on certain gene sequences?

- Does the patent system effectively exclude voices within the sphere of patent research?

- Do doctors owe a duty of care to disclose results to a third party of a genetic test so that they, as someone who has that gene, can take measures against a certain disease?

Mel’s presentation will be focused upon the Tort aspects of the available case law on genetics following ABC v ST George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2017] EWCA 336. , Louise shall be presenting upon the socio-legal matters of gene patenting within the context of Intellectual Property.

We are excited to be approaching this topic from these two interlinked, yet distinctive outlooks and look forward to discussing the potential answers to these questions!