Scientists To Post Individuals' DNA Sequences To Web

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."

Comments

I'd do this in a second

[moderatorrater]

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.

Re:I'd do this in a second

[mollymoo]

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.

Just maybe...

[DerekLyons]

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.

Re:Just maybe...

[Fluffeh]

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!

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[Anonymous Coward]

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Re:Announcing DNAHarmony.com

[uberjack]

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

Whatever

[guyminuslife]

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.