AutreSens at ScienceComm'21
AutreSens was at ScienceComm'21 in Fribourg on 15 and 16 September 2021. Marie-Pierre Chevron, Chantal Wicky and Julie Rothen presented the project entitled:
"The power of role-playing in critical thinking concerning genetic testing",
(Author: Marie-Pierre Chevron, AutreSens Lab2Rue, University of Fribourg)
In this presentation, we put ourselves in the shoes of someone wishing to undergo a genetic analysis (predisposition tests, parentage tests). A laboratory technician or doctor would meet us on arrival. They would give us a DNA sample, which we would handle using laboratory equipment to carry out certain stages of a genetic profile analysis. We would then discuss the results together, and debate the idea of generalising genetic testing.
It is in the context of the democratisation of these tests sold on the internet (23andme, Myheritage, FamilyTreeDNA, Ancestry), and with the aim of raising awareness among young and old of the consequences of these practices, that we have developed educational scenarios and experimental workshops that provide precise scientific knowledge about the genome in the form of role-playing. We believe that having accurate knowledge of what genetic information is really helps us to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these practices, particularly in terms of health management and family structure. The role-play format is intimate, to encourage discussion.