UC Berkeley Fends off DTC Genomics Critics; Other Schools Mull Genetic Tests as Educational Tools

[updated May 26]

Going ahead with its plans to offer voluntary genetic testing to incoming freshman, the University of California, Berkeley, seems to not be deterred by numerous detractors of the direct-to-consumer genomics model who have criticized the effort.

UC Berkeley last week announced its plan to launch a voluntary program this fall that will test students in the Class of 2014 for three genes involved in the metabolization of alcohol, lactose, and folates. The announcement capped several controversial weeks for the DTC genomics sector, during which the marketing practices of Pathway Genomics brought regulatory action from the US Food and Drug Administration and spurred a congressional probe into the consumer genomics industry (PGx Reporter 05/19/10).

Upon announcing its gene testing plans as part of its "On the Same Page" program intended to introduce incoming students to an intellectual or thought-provoking experience, at least two organizations, the Center for Genetics and Society and the Council for Responsible Genetics, urged UC Berkeley to halt its plans.

In a statement on the CGS website, an analyst from the center pointed...