a survey of uk public interest in internet-based personal genome testing英国公共利益的调查在互联网的个人基因组测试.pdfVIP

A Survey of UK Public Interest in Internet-Based Personal Genome Testing 1 1 2 1 3 Lynn F. Cherkas *, Juliette M. Harris , Elana Levinson , Tim D. Spector , Barbara Prainsack 1 Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom, 2 Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America, 3 Centre for Biomedicine and Society (CBAS), King’s College London, London, United Kingdom Abstract Background: In view of the increasing availability of commercial internet-based Personal Genome Testing (PGT), this study aimed to explore the reasons why people would consider taking such a test and how they would use the genetic risk information provided. Methodology/Principal Findings: A self-completion questionnaire assessing public awareness and interest in PGT and motivational reasons for undergoing PGT was completed by 4,050 unselected adult volunteers from the UK-based TwinsUK register, aged 17 to 91 (response rate 62%). Only 13% of respondents were aware of the existence of PGT. After reading a brief summary about PGT, one in twenty participants (5%) were potentially interested at current prices (£250), however this proportion rose to half (50%) if the test was free of charge. Nearly all respondents who were interested in free PGT reported they would take the test to encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle if found to be at high genetic risk of a disease (93%). Around 4 in 5 respondents would have the test to convey genetic risk information to their children and a similar proportion felt that having a PGT would enable their doctor to monitor their health more closely. A TwinsUK research focus