Introductions: Environmental genetics is a scientific area concerned with i
nteractions between genes and the environment. Progress in this field, coup
led with the growth in genetic testing, has great potential for improving h
uman health. There are also ethical, legal, and social concerns surrounding
advances in environmental genetics and genetic testing. Because genetic in
formation is rapidly increasing in our society, the public needs to learn m
ore about scientific progress and policy issues in these areas.
Objective: To describe a curriculum for the public on environmental genetic
s and genetic testing.
Program: In 1998, the Department of Environmental Health (Center for Enviro
nmental Genetics), University of Cincinnati, began an outreach project for
the public called Learning Exchange for Genetic and Environmental Disease S
olutions (LEGENDS). The project fosters awareness and understanding of envi
ronmental genetics and genetic testing with discussion of related policy is
sues. The curriculum includes brief lectures and discussions based on thema
tic modules and a set of inter-active exercises to be conducted in small gr
oups. More than 100 persons have attended instructional sessions sponsored
by LEGENDS at the time of this writing.
Significance: The curriculum appears to be a potentially useful resource fo
r educating the public about environmental genetics, genetic testing, and r
elated policy issues. This project has implications for other organizations
working to further genetics education.