#303 Dr Chris Willmott - Genomics: The promise & peril of reading our DNA

Recorded on 25 June 2026 for ICMDA Webinars.

Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Chris Willmott

The ability to read the DNA of humans, and other species, is radically altering healthcare offering, for example, more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, with the potential for more targeted “personalised” treatment.

Elsewhere, the availability of “at home” DNA tests, such as those marketed by 23andMe and Ancestry, are revealing previously unknown details of family history and heritage.

Having reviewed some of these uses, this talk will reflect on many of the ethical implications that emerge from these developments.

Having completed a PhD on the molecular basis of resistance to antibacterials, Chris spent four years as a Staffworker with UCCF (the IFES movement in the UK). In 2000, he returned to the University of Leicester where he taught biochemistry and, increasingly, about the ethical implications of developments in biomedicine. Since retirement (2022), he has continued to have an active interest in bioethics and his book on Genomics and Ethics is currently with the publishers for review.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠