I was apprehensive when asked by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics to chair the WorkingParty which has produced this Report. First, because the subject has an ugly history: withinliving memory perverted science was put at the service of ideologies that led to thesubjugation and even extermination of people judged to be genetically �inferior�.Secondly, because modern behavioural genetics is rich in promise but, as yet, poor in hardverifiable evidence. Thirdly, because it seemed unlikely that one would be able to reachany agreed recommendations in this highly complex and controversial field..