News Item

‘Dealing with Genes for Criminality’ was the title of a Genetics Week lecture given by Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan and Professor Julian Savulescu on 25 September at the University of Otago.

The lecture looked at known genetic links to violent criminal behaviour, and considered how genetic evidence could potentially be used in the New Zealand justice system. It provided some disturbing examples, highlighting the need to address the course New Zealand should take in the future.

Dr Gavaghan is Director of The New Zealand Law Foundation Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies at the University of Otago.

For further details:

Otago Daily Times article “Genes could dictate jail time”

TVNZ interview with Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan on Seven Sharp

Law & Emerging Technologies, Otago Facebook page

The position of Director of The New Zealand Law Foundation Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies was made possible by a New Zealand Law Foundation endowment made to the University of Otago in 2007.