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Nature Reviews Genetics 5, 311–315 (1 April 2004) | doi:10.1038/nrg1320

Shaping science policy in the age of genomics

Richard R. Sharp , Michael A. Yudell & Samuel H. Wilson

The potential of genomic technologies for improving the diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases will not be fully realized until several ethical, legal and social issues are addressed by effective science policy. We believe that more widespread public debate and subsequent policy action are urgently required. Here, we discuss several mechanisms by which this might occur. We propose an independent genome policy organization as an additional approach to promoting informed science policy in the age of genomics.