What do a computer programmer, a lab technician and a sociologist all have in common? They have all attended courses in genetics at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). Now the Institute has expanded its genetics course to a two-year Certificate Programme which starts for the first time this Autumn.

"People read about genetics in the papers and they want to know more. They want to understand the science behind the headlines and gain a deeper understanding of issues that are often dealt with by the media in a sensationalist or superficial way. The aim of the course is to give people a thorough grounding in the science so that they can follow future developments in an informed way," says Course Director Dr Lynne Harrison.

The course is taught by a panel of part-time tutors who work in genetics research or who have taught genetics - they are all Cambridge-based, reflecting the City's strength in this area of science. An important feature of the course are the practical sessions - right from the start of the course participants will be doing hands-on science, learning how to extract and manipulate their own DNA in sessions run by Leighton Dann, who works for the Science and Plants for Schools Project and is based at the Cory Laboratory in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

The new Certificate course is recruiting well with people from a variety of areas signing up: a technician at the Sanger Centre and others with related interest such as medical professionals and a sociologist who works in the area and needs a scientific background.

The course comprises four modules which cover the basic science of DNA, the techniques used to copy and change genes; the application of genetics to medicine and the ways in which genetics are transforming evolutionary science. The course also tackles the social and ethical implications of new genetic technologies such as DNA fingerprinting.

"Many of the people who come to these courses were turned off science at school and they feel they have missed out on something important. There has been a big growth in popular science books in recent years which reflects the growing public interest in these issues," says Dr Harrison.

For further information about the Certificate Programme in Genetics, or to discuss any aspects of the ICE's Science programme, please contact Lynne Harison on 01954 280255 or Gillian Sheal on 01954 280254 or email them on science@cont-ed.cam.ac.uk

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