GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives
Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-10 > 1191915294
From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] 60 Minutes Genetic Genealogy Segment
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 03:34:54 EDT
In a message dated 10/9/2007 2:07:18 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
writes:
To be honest some of the dangers that you mentioned I have had concerns
about but was reluctant to bring up here as was worried about sounding like a
paranoid. As a retired government worker, I know all about Big Brother. I also
know about the growing trend of the government to want to store everyone's
DNA,fingerprints and eventually require eye iris id to cross the border.
There has been abuses of power both in Canada and United States using
peoples personal information. I liked the National Geographic study because you are
known as a number. I have never been really keen on giving my dna to anyone
and putting it on the net makes me really nervous too. I assume this
discussion has taken place here prior to my presence on this site. However, if
everyone could bear with me and be patient, I would be really grateful for any
feedback for any of us newbies who are worried about this topic.
Renee
Renee,
I have been working with DNA for genealogy for over 5 years now. I have yet
to hear from anyone who has had any negative consequences from doing this
kind of genealogy testing. For one thing, it cannot identify an individual and
does not meet the "chain of custody" requirements for legal applications.
As far as insurance goes, if they want your DNA, they'll have your doctor get
it.
Every state in the country has a law, I believe, preventing abuse of DNA
(discrimination in healthcare provision, etc.). There is also federal
legislation in the works to protect people from being denied employment, health care
coverage etc. on the basis of genetic illnesses.
I already had to supply my fingerprints when I re-upped my driver's license
the last time. I'll happily provide my iris scan if it keeps from having to
be at the airport 3 hours in advance of an international flight. And my
mtDNA is all over the net with my name on it already. But frankly, if my mtDNA
is found at a crime scene, or my autosomal CODIS DNA, you can bet it's because
I'm the victim, not the perp.
Frankly, I'm far more concerned about the activities that have taken place
to erode the requirements for probable cause, habeas corpus, right to legal
counsel, and the right to public protest and free speech than I am about my
DNA. Cause if those things go, they don't even need DNA, fingerprints or iris
scans to lock you away for the rest of your life on some suspicion, or worse,
on some misconception that criticism of an elected official is equal to "a
threat." I worry about those abuses, not about abuse of my DNA. And people
call me paranoid!
Anne
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
This thread: