Sir

You make the inference in your News item about the multicultural task force on genetics and ethnic minorities that the American Association for the Advancement of Science has an agreement with the group to organize legislative hearings (Nature 392, 428; 1998).

Following the involvement of the association in the two-day symposium sponsored by Howard University and Sinai Hospital, the organizers did contact my programme to learn about our experience in sponsoring non-partisan, legislative issue briefings in Congress.

Although we support the concerns of the task force and its desire to convene a briefing on this important topic, at no time was it discussed that the association would be one of the organizers.