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Guthrie Cards - Australia's DNA Database

Posted by michael on from the drop-in-the-bucket dept.

bobo12345 writes "There was an interesting show (transcript here) on ABC TV's (Australia) Catalyst on Guthrie Cards - paper filter cards containing blood spots from almost every Australian born since 1970. These samples are routinely taken and stored in hospitals to screen for diseases like Cystic Fibrosis. Australian police have accessed the DNA database without consent in the past, successfully prosecuting an unpleasant incest case. This led to the destroying of all Guthrie Cards by the hospital whose original cards were obtained under a search warrant. Makes you wonder where your genetic material is stored, and which authorities have access. No alien DNA has been discovered on the Guthrie Cards (yet)."

2 of 22 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Who was Guthrie? by mikecheng · · Score: 3, Informative

    Guthrie did work with work into PKU (PKU=Phenylketonuria. An inherited human metabolic disease that is characterized by inability to oxidize a metabolic product of phenylalanine.) and related diseases.

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    Cool, but useless.
  2. Re:Unpleasant...incest case...? by slittle · · Score: 2, Informative
    As long as they're not prosecuting PLEASANT INCEST CASES
    It probably has something to do with this:
    Detective Sergent Gary Fraser: This case is the worst case that I have been involved in - involving incestuous behaviour - very extremely tragic where the father targeted his biological daughters and there's actually been children fathered by the biological father.
    Which kind of elevates it from "eh, freaks" status to "CASTRATE THE BASTARD" (and that's just the Detective's use of "Double Plus Ungood" grammar, let alone the 'father').
    'disposable condom'
    IIRC, they used to be reusable. And also really thick... I guess back then the only 'suitable' material was plain old rubber..?
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    Opportunity knocks. Karma hunts you down.