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Seven senior academics have been appointed to the council that advises UK Biobank, Britain's first DNA databank.

The ambitious project is designed to help scientists understand how genes interact with lifestyle factors to create disease.

The council, which is chaired by Alastair Campbell, professor of ethics in medicine at Bristol 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, will advise on ethical, legal and social issues. It will also ensure that the project remains accountable to the public.

The other six academics on the council are: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, vice-dean of the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Wales School of Medicine; Roger Higgs, professor emeritus, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London; Ian Hughes, professor of pharmacology at Leeds 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ; Sheila McLean, professor of law and ethics in medicine at Glasgow 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ; Sandy Thomas, director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics; and Christopher Wild, professor of molecular epidemiology and biostatistics at Leeds 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ.

In addition to the academics, four non-academics were appointed to the council.