Mystery of how Napoleon's hair turned up in Sydney

THIRTY-ODD little strands of hair, one big mystery.

Insurance industry rejects call to stop using DNA

THE insurance industry has rejected a call to stop using prospective customers' genetic profiles to raise insurance premiums or deny cover.

Insurers to keep genetic profiling

THE insurance industry has rejected a call to stop using prospective customers' genetic profiles to raise insurance premiums or deny cover.

It's time for us to embrace our inner African

IT IS not a forest but one lone family tree that links current-day Melburnians to nomadic Africans living on the continent's east coast 60,000 years ago.

Heart disease registry to help prevent a nasty shock

TWO years ago Tammy Negrello's sports-mad son had a few chest pains and went in for a check-up.

Genetic Trophy Hunters May Face Jail

DNA theft could soon be a crime that attracts a two-year jail term amid concern that information gathered through genetic testing on tiny body samples is being misused.

Dna Testing

While some AFL clubs are keen to explore the controversial practice of genetic testing on their players, the rest of the football world yesterday gave the idea the big thumbs down

Genetic Testing In Bid To Save Shark

GENETIC testing technology is being used in a bid to save the endangered grey nurse shark.

Jewish High School Students Undergo Genetic Testing

Most 16-year-olds seem too busy enjoying themselves to focus on the future, particularly on the complex question of whether any children they might have later in life will be at risk of developing a genetic disease.

Genetic Testing Can Endanger Employees

IN recent times employers in America have been influenced by genetic testing results when deciding to employ potential applicants.

Insurers Agree To Ban On Compulsory Genetic Tests

Compulsory genetic testing of life insurance applicants has been banned for two years under an agreement announced by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday. But thousands of Australians who have already undergone genetic tests would be required to disclose the results when taki

Consumer Group Wary Of Genetic Testing Code

The issue of whether life insurers or superannuation funds should be able to ask potential policyholders to undergo genetic tests so that they can more accurately price premiums has elicited a ``proceed with caution" warning from the Australian Consumers Association. Ms Louise Petschler, ACA

Genetic Testing For Iron Disease

A major genetic testing trial will be run in Victorian workplaces over the next three years, with 30,000 people to be screened for haemochromatosis, an "iron overload" disease that can cause heart and liver damage. Researchers say the trial could pave the way for Australia's first full

Insure Against Genetic Policies

Genetic testing has become the hot issue of the month in medical and insurance circles, but there is some confusion about where everyone stands on it. Certainly it is something that should be properly thought out before any move is made to introduce it on anything other than a voluntary basis, if at

Genetic Genie May Grant Wishes We Don't Want

The dilemma over insurance policies shows that society needs more time to understand the implications of genetic testing, writes Trevor Mudge. The Australian Medical Association's view that there needs to be a moratorium on the use of genetic testing for the purposes of insurance is predicated

Genetic Testing Ruling Draws Ama Fire

Health insurers could demand genetic tests on individuals to rule out costly medical conditions before approving health coverage under a draft consumer watchdog ruling, the Australian Medical Association has warned. The AMA is fighting a draft determination by the Australian Competition and Cons

Rules Are Needed On Genetic Testing

THE latest revelations about possible discrimination against healthy Australians based on genetic tests provide a timely reminder of the social implications of scientific progress. The pace of technological development is becoming increasingly difficult to quantify, as researchers build upon each ad

Genetic Testing: Call For Reform

Ground-breaking research that documents six cases of possible discrimination against healthy Australians based on genetic tests has prompted urgent calls for legal reform. Australia lags behind Europe and most American states in not having specific laws regulating the use of genetic testing in em