Slashdot Mirror
Scientists Decry "Horrifying" UK Border Test Plan
cremeglace writes "Scientists are dismayed and outraged at a new project by the UK border agency to test DNA, hair, and nails to determine the nationality of asylum seekers and help decide if they can enter the UK. 'Horrifying,' 'naive,' and 'flawed' are among the words geneticists and isotope specialists have used to describe the 'Human Provenance pilot project.' The methods being used to determine ancestry include fingerprinting of mitochondrial DNA and isotope analysis of hair and nails. ScienceInsider blog notes that it is 'not clear who is conducting the DNA and isotope analyses for the Border Agency,' and that the agency has not 'cited any scientific papers that validate its DNA and isotope methods.' There is also a followup post with more information on the tests that are being used, and some reactions from experts in genetic forensic analysis. This story was first reported in The Observer on Sunday."
"Of course the resident's nationality is a factor in deciding whether residency is allowed: in fact it should be the major factor."
Why?
"And the rule should be a simple one: if you are an EU national you are allowed residency in the UK, otherwise not."
Why?
"We also need to cancel these stupid loopholes that allow nationals of ex-Imperial colonies any preferential right of abode."
Why?
"The British Empire ended over 50 years ago!"
Yes and the children the empire left behind are now baby-boomers, eg: I am a British citizen with permenent residency in Oz, since I was 4yo at the time I had no say in my relocation from the UK to Oz in 1964. By your logic I and a few hundered thousand others in my situation should be moved back to the UK but our Aussie born children should not be allowed to go with us, why?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
I guess those newcomers you listed pushed the picts and the celts out long ago.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Just under 70 years ago the UK was fighting tooth and nail to defend their country from a fascist empire that had a fairly famous history with profiling and oppressing or promoting people depending on their genetic heritage...