DNA Stereotyping
Genetic testing remains too expensive and genetic information remains too enigmatic for us to start worrying about an invasion of our DNA privacy. But if we could make DNA analysis cheaper and widely available, genetic information could theoretically be used to discriminate against people for jobs, insurance, marriage, etc. Randall Parker of FuturePundit is already predicting the death of DNA privacy.
(He is)…still betting on the eventual death of DNA privacy. Incentives to learn about the DNA of others will be too great while regulatory regimes will lag technological advances and will be too easy to defeat. Technological advances, corruptible employees of testing services, the ability to fake identities, and the ability to travel to less regulated jurisdictions will combine to make DNA privacy impossible to protect.
I’m not worried. Even if we make a quantum advancement in understanding how genes interact with each other and the environment to affect our personalities and disease risk, there are still far easier ways to categorize people.
Since the beginning, people have found ways to discriminate against each other. The list of possible markers for discrimination range from the physical to the socioeconomic.
- Age
- Height - Taller people are perceived to be more powerful and successful.
- Beauty or Attractiveness
- Weight
- General Physical Appearance - Manicured nails, complexion, hairstyle, dress.
- Family Background - Aristocracy, marital status, number of children.
- Sexual Orientation
- Education
- Speech - Accent, vocabulary, dialect.
- Test Results - SAT’s, psychological tests, psychometric job interviews.
The criteria on this abbreviated list provide a better picture of a person’s general aptitude than any DNA profile.
DNA privacy is of no greater concern than other types of privacy we already hold dear.
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POSTED IN: Genetics: Legislation, Policies, Ethics, Law
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8 opinions for DNA Stereotyping
Qadira
May 3, 2005 at 8:15 am
I noted in one of the many genealogy publications that a person is now able to do a ‘DNA’ search to find ‘related ancestor groups’ or some such. It’s been a few weeks since I read it so have forgotten details. I recall thinking at the time that it was silly and a waste of money- after all, most of us already know if we have predominantly African, Asian, Anglo-European etc backgrounds.
Lei
May 4, 2005 at 3:30 am
Qadira, perhaps you’re referring to The Genographic Project (http://www3.nationalgeograp…)?
Qadira
May 4, 2005 at 3:53 pm
Actually, I apparently wasn’t. That sounds rather nifty. I saw an ad in <a href="http://www.familytreemagazi…">Family Tree Magazine</a> for <a href="http://www.ancestrybydna.com/">Ancestry By DNA</a> which doesn’t say much in its print ad. I hadn’t bothered to check the website, since the ad says: "Very few of our ancestors remained in one part of the world; most migrated to different regions. Trace the geographic origins of your ancestors with a simple and painless genetic test. AncestryByDNA (TM) will determine your genetic heritage among the four anthropological groups: Native American, East Asian, sub-Saharan Africa, and Indo-European. .. Complete your genealogy with a genetic history trace."
It *would* actually be interesting to see what percentage of each main grouping my DNA is comprised of. :) Maybe some time when I feel like spending the $100 or so that National Geographic is charging.
Lei
May 5, 2005 at 9:52 am
Qadira - Have you seen this Christian Science Monitor article (http://www.csmonitor.com/20…)? They discuss precisely these companies that do DNA analysis for people interested in their family ancestry.
Karama
May 11, 2005 at 9:42 am
Hello Lei,
Interesting blog. As a geneticist and bioethicist I really appreciate your commentary. You may also want to check out the American Journal of Bioethics blog (blog.bioethics.net). Enjoy!
I’ll be back!
Karama
Lei
May 11, 2005 at 10:00 am
Thanks for the nice comment, Karama. I hope you’ll come back and join in the discussion. I am going to go to the Bioethics blog right now!
Lei
May 11, 2005 at 10:11 am
Karama - I thought your name seemed very familiar! Now I remember I came across your Open Letters (http://openlettersforchange…) and So What Can I Do (http://sowhatcanido.blogspo…) blogs. Very interesting concepts. My friends and I are admirers.
Ondrej Manisha
Sep 19, 2007 at 10:08 pm
see it’s very define,your one of a kin. Ondrej Manisha.
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