The advancement of the world today lead us to know our own genetic risk as easy as just provide our salive. Bioethicists from the Stanford University School of Medicine, claimed that, sharing genetic information online will raises a host of ethical questions.
As genetic information is unique in that it's not only relevant for the individuals who receive the information, but also for their family members, their children and even their children's children," said Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, PhD, senior research scholar at the school's Center for Biomedical Ethics.
"if you receive information on your breast cancer risk and share it with others, you might also be sharing information about your daughter's risk for breast cancer — even though she never consented to have that information shared."
Right now, there are nearly 100 companies around the world that provide some form of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Customers just need to mail their DNA sample for sequencing, and then get both raw data and an interpretation of their genetic profile. After that, customers can create a public profile and share their genetic data through a company-sponsored social networking site. Due to that, experts fear that consumers may share genetic data without realizing the potential implications for themselves and their families. For now, there aren't any laws that govern the exchange of genetic information online.
article from : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090605075051.htm
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