The national debate about whether, in the future, to collect DNA samples from every newborn baby in Britain arrives in Bristol next week, [May 11 and 12].
In a White Paper published last year the Government asked the Human Genetics Commission and the National Screening Committee to consider the case for screening every baby at birth and storing their genetic profile for future use.
As part of their investigation, the commission will hear from four professors associated with the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) based at the University of Bristol.
Professor Jean Golding, Professor Marcus Pembrey, Professor Michael Furmston and Professor Alastair Campbell will be addressing the practical and ethical issues involved.
Bristol already leads research in this area. As one of the largest population studies of its kind, ALSPAC (also known as Children of the 90s) has opened a new population genetics laboratory in part of the old Bristol Children's Hospital.
The study has been given £3 million by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council to collect the DNA from 25 thousand parents and children and build up immortalised cell lines. ALSPAC now has the biggest DNA bank from a carefully studied general population anywhere in the world.
ALSPAC's director Professor Jean Golding says that a national databank of every newborn baby could build on Bristol's foundations.
She says: "The idea of collecting DNA from every child as they are born needs to be thought through carefully to make sure that the information can't be misused.
"But provided the proper safeguards are in place - the benefits to everyone could be enormous. Just imagine if your doctor had access to your complete genetic profile.
"In the world of the future doctors will be able to look at your genotype and forecast aspects of your health throughout your life, helping you to reduce the risk of heart attack or diabetes or any other genetically-related illness.
"The idea of collecting DNA from every child as they are born needs to be thought through carefully to make sure that the information can't be misused."
Professor Jean Golding
"First though - we would need to know what to look for and that's where ALSPAC comes in. We are in a unique position to unravel the information contained in the human genome. No-one else is in our position to make the link between genetic information and so many common conditions.
"It isn't science fiction any more. This is very exciting medical research which will start to pay off in the lifetime of today's children."
The meeting with the four ALSPAC professors is part of a two-day visit to Bristol by the Human Genetics Commission.
On Tuesday May 11, at 2pm the commission is holding its open plenary meeting at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel. Members of the public are welcome to attend as observers.