Telegenetics, the application of telemedicine in the context of genetic services, is a growing market. One of the recent developments in this field is the use of direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing to promote and advertise genetic and genomic consultant services to consumers. Using Google.com, we identified providers that promote their telegenetics services online. By analyzing their websites, we identify and examine key points regarding DTC telegenetics: how are telegenetics services portrayed, how is informed consent obtained, and what protections are offered to clients\' personal health information? We found that the portrayal of a wide range of telegenetics services on providers\' websites is extremely positive. The risks associated with the implementation of telegenetics were rarely mentioned. Consent forms were often unavailable and did not cover all of the relevant information. The measures for protecting clients\' personal health information by telegenetics providers were found to be generally inadequate and weak. We concluded that DTC telegenetics may increase patients\' access to genetic counseling with affordable costs. However, before further developing DTC telegenetics, more research and regulatory improvements are required to guarantee truthful advertising, ensure informed consent, secure personal health data sharing, and warrant adequate privacy protection.

Over the past 40 years, much effort has been spent on developing non-invasive prenatal diagnostic methods. Since 1997, the progress of this field has been accelerated by the unexpected finding of extracellular fetal nucleic acids in maternal plasma. These developments have been translated into many novel genetic, epigenetic and gene-expression markers, and are expected to have a fundamental impact on the future practice of prenatal diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To facilitate the application of the large scale genome scan and individual identification by investigating the differences of microsatellite polymorphisms of the genethon human genetic linkage map between the Han nationality and French population.
METHODS: Six to seventeen pairs of primers were added in one single tube with 5 microliters reaction volume and several microsatellite markers were amplified simultaneously. The products were electrophoresited on the 377XL DNA sequencer.
RESULTS: During the entire experiment 400 microsatellite loci were amplified in 32 tubes and 306 microsatellite loci were satisfactory.
CONCLUSIONS: The size range of genetic polymorphisms are different in race, and the difference exists at 124 microsatellite loci between the Han nationality and French population, so 10 bp should be added to both sides of the genethor map size range when we perform genotype in Han nationality.

Attitudes towards ethical, legal and social issues in genetic research and practice were investigated in 402 genetic services providers from 30 provinces and autonomous regions in China. This was done using a Chinese version of an international survey questionnaire on ethics and genetics that has been circulated in 37 nations. In all, 255 study participants completed questionnaires (63%). The majority of the respondents (89%) reported that they agreed with the current Chinese laws and regulations on termination of pregnancy for genetic abnormalities and non-medical indications, on the basis of considerations of population control and family planning. More than half the respondents opposed sex selection by prenatal diagnosis in the absence of an X-linked disorder. However, most of them (86%) would prefer directive counseling. More than half would agree to disclose genetic information to relatives at risk, and would permit third parties such as law enforcement agencies, spouse/partner, blood relatives, employers involving public safety, life and health insurers to access stored DNA without consent. The majority (73%-98%) also thought that DNA fingerprinting should be required for prisoners convicted of or charged with crimes, members of armed forces and all newborns. Although these are only the first part of the results of our international survey, they provide an initial basis for international discussion on ethics and genetics in China.