really scary eugenics theme going on here. glad ive been born already.

neil, london, england

It's a wonderful, wonderful breakthrough, and let's not knock it.

Having lost my husband to prostate cancer at a young age I want both our sons to have such a test.

Lyn Howard, Machynlleth, United Kingdom

Science v nature? Perhaps the question should rather be: How best can science serve nature; that is, serve people. Defence against illness is a positive goal; but not at any cost. Not at the cost of destroying human life at its most vulnerable.

Iain Matthew, London ,

To have some idea of genetic inheritance for someone who would have no knowledge of parentage is I believe a great step forward. Adoptees, Parentless for whatever reason, war, dissplacement, genocide could recieve an outline for a healthy preventive lifestyle so much taken for granted by most.

M, Vauxhall,

Well think about babies that wont be born because someone screens against a likely hood of diabetes or breast cancer.

On one hand its a great step in medicine. Why cure cancer or diabetes when you can screen it out. But all those minds and personalities that would never be born?

Anthony Stewart, Chicago, USA

I believe that the decision whether or not to use such a service is not disimilar to the decisions regarding abortion and suicide, ie: between the patient / their partner or parents and the family GP and absolutely no one else.

Religious beliefs and preferences of others are irrelevent.

Ken.H, Harrow,

Dont believe it. How could they possibly have identified the gene that causes breast cancer. These splurges of the paranoia are pernicious.

Henry Percy, London, UK

I second the previous comment by A. van Oosterhout. If insurance companies get hold of this sort of information people will be punished for something beyond their control. The thought of someone becoming a second-class citizen because of genetic makeup makes one arrive at an all-too-obvious analogy.

Ulfur, Reykjavik, Iceland

Anyone seen Gattaca?
It's not much of a step from this to designer childeren.

Of course is a brilliant step in medicine and technology, but is it a step in the right direction?

Oscar, Eton,

And what are they more likely to catch?
I would suspect they have no idea.

Andy B, Bath, UK

From a purely health perspective I can't find any argument agains it. But this will have other consequences as well. Think about the problems one might have with getting a good (and affordable) health insurance as soon as it's clear that you have a higher risc of some illness.

A. van Oosterhout, Eindhoven, Netherlands

What happened to natural selection?

Vanessa, Leigh,

Hi,
Genetic tests for all - the new approach to preventive medicine; The programme, run by University College London. Such developments raise many questions, must the law or to be more precise the insurance laws be adapted. Manipulations on the foetus with negative repercussions in later live of such new born must be considered.

Terence Hale, Zandvoort, Holland

I do not think the technique can create a perfect hunman being ,

lee, tangshan , china

Hardly 'preventive' genetics.

Jimmy, Lucknow, India

I was considering doing this privately but was deterred due to concerns about ownership of personal genetic information. As the NHS is selling donated organs I have little confidence that they would protect the information either.

R Harvey, Hitchin, uk

Perhaps we can design babies that do not possess the controversy gene!

F Rasmin, Brisbane , Australia