Results: The Next Generation of Databases will have our DNA's in it!
Published on 08/08/2019
A growing number of people are willingly handing over their DNA to corporations in return for learning about their ancestry or to get health reports. It is estimated that by the start of 2019, 26 million people had added their DNA to four leading databases, operated by Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage and Gene by Gene.
In 2016, 23andme began selling access to anonymised data to more than 13 drug firms. Genentech reportedly paid $10m (£8.3m) to look at the genes of people with Parkinson's disease, while GlaxoSmithKline has reportedly paid $300m for access to the database.
The firm told the BBC that 80% of its customers choose to opt in to the research programme, and can opt out again at any time they choose.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Are you aware about clinical and pharmaceutical trials that pay you quick bucks in exchange of your biological material (blood, saliva, urine etc.)?
Yes
31%
971 votes
No
69%
2146 votes
2.
2.
If you knew that your biological specimens (saliva, blood, etc.) were being sold to pharmaceutical companies would you trade them for free for development of new drugs? Yes
26%
809 votes
No
74%
2308 votes
3.
3.
While most of the firms - including 23andMe - operate on the basis that users can withdraw consent to use their genetic information at any time. Do you think it is possible to remove an anonymous DNA from a data set that consists similar anonymous DNA's? Yes
20%
636 votes
No
80%
2481 votes
4.
4.
In April last year, it was revealed that US police uploaded DNA they suspected of belonging to a man thought to have committed multiple rapes, murders and burglaries across California, to GEDMatch, a free online database where anyone can share their genetic code in order to search for relatives who have also submitted theirs. Do you think that this DNA data set can help police nd other security forces in catching criminals? Yes
76%
2373 votes
No
24%
744 votes
COMMENTS