# What is informed consent?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-genes-3509739/what-is-informed-consent
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-genes-3509739/what-is-informed-consent.md
Podcast: [Behind the Genes](https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-genes-3509739)
Published: 2026-02-11T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://genomicsengland.podbean.com/e/what-is-informed-consent/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/i35e9xzx6vs9wahq/Genomics_101_013_What_is_informed_consent.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/behind-the-genes-3509739/episodes/what-is-informed-consent
Duration seconds: 487

## Resource

In this explainer episode, we’ve asked Réka Novotta, Research Ethics Operations Manager at Genomics England, to explain what informed consent is. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our YouTube channel. If you’ve got any questions, or have any other topics you’d like us to explain, let us know on podcast@genomicsengland.co.uk. You can download the transcript or read it below. Florence: What do we mean by informed consent? My name is Florence Cornish, and today I'm here with Réka, who is Research Ethics Operations Manager here at Genomics England, and she's going to be telling us much more about it. I think it would first be helpful Réka, if you could explain the word consent. Réka: The broad definition of consent is that it's the voluntary agreement given by an individual to participate in a particular activity. We all probably give consent to a lot of different things each day without really realizing it. So, you go on to read the news in the morning, and the website asks for your consent to process cookies. You maybe go to a routine GP appointment later, and you stick your arm out for them to measure your blood pressure. Maybe you even go to a podcast and you give consent to a host to record your voice. So, these are all based on affirmative action made by you while taking into consideration the information that's available to you. The technical definition of consent often includes that it's freely given, meaning that you are not coerced. That it’s specific, meaning when you stick your arm out for your doctor, you're only agreeing to that part of the examination, and perhaps most importantly, that person needs to be adequately informed for the consent to be meaningful. Florence: So you g…

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## Transcript

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