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Scientists To Post Individuals' DNA Sequences To Web

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the time-to-fire-up-the-cloning-beds dept.

isBandGeek() writes "With shocking disregard to their personal privacy, at least 10 people volunteered to release their entire medical records and DNA sequences in order to get their DNA decoded and analyzed. 'They include Steven Pinker, the prominent Harvard University psychologist and author, Esther Dyson, a trainee astronaut and Misha Angrist, an assistant professor at Duke University. They have each donated a piece of skin to the project at Harvard University and agreed to have the results posted on the internet. The three are among the first 10 volunteers in the Personal Genome Project, a study at Harvard University Medical School aimed at challenging the conventional wisdom that the secrets of our genes are best kept to ourselves. The goal of the project is to speed medical research by dispensing with the elaborate precautions traditionally taken to protect the privacy of human subjects."

20 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. time to clone them by yincrash · · Score: 4, Funny

    that'll show 'em!

  2. I'd do this in a second by moderatorrater · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Shocking disregard for personal privacy? Nobody can do more than glean a few random statistical probabilities from DNA as it stands now. It may be that in ten years we'll know more, but if our knowledge of DNA goes at the same pace that it did for the last ten years, it'll be half a century before we're able to tell enough about a person that it could be considered an invasion of privacy.

    If this will really help the science move forward more quickly, then the benefits of everyone not knowing my DNA will easily be offset by the new scientific knowledge.

    1. Re:I'd do this in a second by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nobody can do more than glean a few random statistical probabilities from DNA as it stands now.

      And yet in the swirling mists of half-truths and the unknown, people act the craziest.

      I'm sure that the 8th volunteer (who has the marker for "10% risk of cancer") will be grateful after a decade of being uninsurable when the scientists go "oh wait, that should be 0.01%"

    2. Re:I'd do this in a second by Swift+Kick · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's not just about the medical aspect of it, you know. It's amazing what you can do with someone's information when they're freely giving it to you.

      In a legal setting, you'd be surprised at the lengths that law enforcement agencies go through to collect DNA samples from individuals who may not want to cooperate with them. The old "Would you like some coffee, soda, smoke" bit comes to mind when you want to collect DNA from a suspect.

      Something like this stunt, while great from a PR perspective, just simply makes it possible for insurance companies to deny them coverage in the future, allows law enforcement agencies to add their genetic profiles to their databases, etc, and they can't argue against it with the 'invasion of privacy' line. They volunteered it themselves.

       

      --
      "We'll need 2000 crickets, 4 cans of Easy Cheese, and the fluid from 18 glowsticks for this plan to work...." - ph0n1c
    3. Re:I'd do this in a second by Xaria · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Worst-case scenario, they can move to a country that actually cares about its citizens and provides decent free health care. And if they're not planning to commit a crime then they probably don't care about being on a DNA database.

      Let's get over the paranoia, people ... the amount of data your average kid puts on Facebook is enough to impersonate them.

    4. Re:I'd do this in a second by mollymoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm sure that the 8th volunteer (who has the marker for "10% risk of cancer") will be grateful after a decade of being uninsurable when the scientists go "oh wait, that should be 0.01%"

      If people are being denied medical care because they release information about their health the problem lies not with the person releasing their information, but with the society in which they live.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    5. Re:I'd do this in a second by philspear · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, that will give them moral superiority as they declare bankrupcy following a life-saving emergency surgery.

      "I may live in a box, but it's cause the system is broken, not my fault."

    6. Re:I'd do this in a second by mollymoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The scarcity business doesn't apply, every Western economy can afford universal medical care.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    7. Re:I'd do this in a second by GauteL · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well, that will give them moral superiority as they declare bankrupcy following a life-saving emergency surgery.

      Or: This will give them moral superiority after they wisely emigrate to Europe where (in at least most countries) they will not have to deal with an insurance company refusing them medical insurance. Instead it all gets covered by national health care, pre-existing condition or not.

      Leaving medical coverage to private companies that has no obligation to provide insurance to people not meeting certain health standards is inhumane and evil. At least if your country has enough money to support a proper health system for everyone.

  3. Just maybe... by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With shocking disregard to their personal privacy, at least 10 people volunteered to release their entire medical records and DNA sequences in order to get their DNA decoded and analyzed.

    Or, just possibly, they are rational individuals who lack the privacy fetish and extremism so common on Slashdot.

    1. Re:Just maybe... by Fluffeh · · Score: 5, Funny

      With shocking disregard to their personal privacy, at least 10 people volunteered to release their entire medical records and DNA sequences in order to get their DNA decoded and analyzed.

      Or, just possibly, they are rational individuals who lack the privacy fetish and extremism so common on Slashdot.

      Quick Slashies! An imposter! Grab your flaming brands and pitchforks! We have an angry mob to form!

      --
      Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
    2. Re:Just maybe... by lymond01 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sure, right now it might be fine to be descended from apes, but who knows who'll take office in 10 years! Maybe Tom Cruise and then where will you monkey-derived, xenuphobic people be? Guantanamo Bay. That's right.

  4. Announcing DNAHarmony.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    With our easy DNA submission process, we'll find you the most genetically compatible partners on Earth. Isn't it time you gave up a little privacy for a chance at optimal mating?

    1. Re:Announcing DNAHarmony.com by Miststlkr · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Our computers will individually combine your DNA codes and display an potential image of your offspring alongside each individual's profile image. For a small fee, you can also sign up for our DNAHarmony Pro package which allows you to select the most desired traits in your offspring and we will find you potential mates who have the best percentage chance of meeting your desired goals.

    2. Re:Announcing DNAHarmony.com by uberjack · · Score: 5, Funny

      (disclaimer: DNAHarmony cannot be held responsible for the almost-certain birth defects that are likely to accompany our matches, should they choose to procreate)

    3. Re:Announcing DNAHarmony.com by glwtta · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Mating with yourself, dubious mechanics of it aside, is virtually certain to produce non-viable offspring. If memory serves, duplicating any chromosome (ie throwing out one half of the pair and duplicating the other) has about a 1 in 3 chance of uncovering a recessive lethal allele. And you have a 50% chance, for each of the 22 autosomes, of getting such a duplication if your parental genomes are identical.

      Not good odds, that.

      (I realize that I may have treated that comment more seriously than it was intended)

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
  5. Re:Coming from someone who cares about security by dex22 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is not necessarily true. The UK DNA database allows the police to make educated guesses about the last name of the originator of a DNA sample, as your father often will have the surname name as you. Is it a stretch that with a possible name, race, and good probabilities of the contents of their medical records, it only takes a small push to get laws passed making this information part of the Government-accessible domain?

  6. Masturbation Gene by Sperbels · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let's see how cavalier they are about this when we find the gene that tells us how often one masturbates.

  7. Whatever by guyminuslife · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Subby: Don't do that! You're violating your own privacy!
    Volunteer: I'm doing this for the benefit of science.
    Subby: Yes, but then...people can look up your DNA and medical records!
    Volunteer: Uh. That's the point.
    Subby: But people can see them!
    Volunteer: Yes. I understand that. I am. Voluntarily. Releasing. My. Own. Records.
    Subby: But bad stuff could happen!
    Volunteer: Probably not. But I'm okay if it does. The overall benefits outweigh the personal risk.
    Subby: But that's....bad!
    Volunteer: Why?
    Subby puts on tin-foil hat.

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  8. Employment woes? Maybe not....... by Anachragnome · · Score: 4, Funny

    Personnel Flunkie #1: "Fuck Dave, your still going through the DNA filters on the new applicants? Whats tak...BITCH!...ing you so long?"

    Personnel Flunkie #2: "Get bent. Every single one of these mutants has somet...KAKA!...hing wrong with them. This guy has alcoholism markers, this sick fuck has a predisposition to pedophilia......Wait! This guy just has Tourette's. He'll fit right in."