• Question: Do you have children? If yes do you use them for scientific research?

    Asked by 1drawsome to Cathal, Daphne, Darren, Jon, Katherine on 13 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Darren Logan

      Darren Logan answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      I don’t have children. But if I did I would not be able to use them as subjects in my own scientific research. This is because we study human genes and there is strict ethical guidelines we must follow. One of these means the personal identity of the person whose genes I am studying must not be revealed to me. Obviously I could not do that if my own child was one of the participants as I would need to give permission as their parent!

      However, I could choose to enroll them in a study run by another scientist. A member of my team has taken part in experiments into learning about child behaviour with her children before. Its usually really interesting for the parent, and the children often find it fun too.

    • Photo: Katherine Haxton

      Katherine Haxton answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      I don’t have children either and I’d have to follow the same rules Darren has told you about. That being said, it would be amazing to do scientific experiments with children as they were growing up!

Comments