The new online tools for getting the word out about new ideas, the latest articles or papers, or ethical issues have not been embraced by the public and private biotech sector. There are many reasons why such a high tech sector is hesitant to take on the new world of social media and some of the concerns may have merit. Eventually however researchers, scientists, and companies will have to come on board because of their heavy reliance on support.
Just look at the debate over GMO's. Fears from the public and no venue for open discussion has seriously hurt the industry. The whole stem cell debate could benefit from a place where researchers, policy makers, the general public, and health care groups could meet online and have a good discussion.
You can find various discussion groups on genetics around the 'net and of course one of those places is Twitter. Genome Alberta uses Twitter and in our new-look GenOmics newsletter we share some of the links we have come across. To help the biotech community we're also going to start doing a longer list of relevant Twitter posts every 2 weeks with a little cheat sheet to help newcomers sort through the social media maze.  By offering a few 'tweets', including a little bit of extra information, and choosing posts with useful links, we can encourage the biotech community to check it out.

If you click on any of the @names you will be taken to Twitter and can see the user's Twitter activity. Generally you will not have to have a Twitter account to at least read what they have been posting. Any of the http:// links will take you to a website they are recommending and we have checked them to ensure you aren't going anywhere nasty. Anytime you see the # sign that is Twitter shorthand to link together subject matter of interest.


@genomicslawyer Australia Issues New Privacy Guidelines for Health Practitioners on Disclosing Genetic Information w/o Patient Consent: http://bit.ly/4GKqkK

@bmahersciwriter   NY to allow using DNA databases to identify suspects through their relatives http://is.gd/6ZV41 Civil libs breach, or useful advance.

@stephmarshall   RT @cfine: This is amazing! Thanks @cgalipeau - Internet 2009 in numbers | Royal Pingdom  http://ow.ly/100ve

@Davewire  looking forward to following @kellygrant1 , the Globe & Mail's new Toronto city hall bureau chief (via @brodiefenlon )

@Comprendia : Biomedical community: to reinvigorate, make things easier for younger investigators, next generation #labautomation

@kejames  Good point from @ajcook: ...funders should also publish research. See eg http://bit.ly/bBhj7Z Addresses publication bias too.

@peccoud  Getting ready for iGEM 2010. We are part of the Virginia United team http://bit.ly/50ldMp Looking for outstanding students. Spread the word!

@wellcometrust  10 yrs ago today: 1st release of the Ensembl genome browser, giving genomics researchers a leg up http://bit.ly/cYd5yx

@BioMedCentral  liked 'Open-access publishing brings cost savings', http://bit.ly/9smtYW #OA

@DaveHancockMLA Fantastic tour and briefing at Smart Technologies. Exporting leading edge education and business tech and software to the world.

@bmcmatt  Jumping genes, Batman! 'Mobile DNA' is a new journal from BioMed Central focusing on the hot topic of genome dynamics http://bit.ly/9KROYQ

@idtdna  One step closer to livestock that burp less http://tiny.cc/kOoGS

@PR4Science  Written by my pal Alexis Milinusic - Cybera/University of Calgary Develop Secure Electronic Health Record Infrastructure http://su.pr/299Yy9

@Imparo   Albertans to benefit from reduced prices for existing generic drugs http://bit.ly/9EdUa8 #abgov [A retweet function on page would be useful]

@bakercom1  @BillGates I was happy to write about your foundation's works in 'Case Studies for Global Health' http://www.casestudiesforglobalhealth.org/

@biophase   I vote yes! RT @etonbio: Is there a genetic link between migraines and depression? Read more here: http://bit.ly/6ygcHS http://bit.ly/aQNzZf

@suehuff   Processes that force a win-lose, prevent dialogue for win-win. Processes must change for politics to change. #rebootab #ableg #abed

@AlbertaEcDevGuy  RT @MacEwanCollege: MacEwan School of Business students win international marketing competition: Five students.... http://bit.ly/daXjBZ


Here's a quick idea of who some of the @people are: