Recently President Obama announced a new program to create a pool of DNA samples from
one million volunteers.
This would be just one of many government run DNA databases around
the world, ones proposed for a variety of well meaning reasons, like healthcare and
preventing
crimes.
But many people are worried that this “precision medicine” is the ultimate example of
Big Brother and another step in ending privacy for good.
So, are DNA databases worth it?
The first DNA database was started in the UK in 1995.
Soon, other countries followed suit.
A
2008 Interpol study of 149 countries found that 54 nations had a national DNA database
and
26 others planned to start one.
For the most part these databases started as a way to track and
catch criminals.
And it’s worked.
Using its own DNA database, the US’s FBI has helped solve
innumerable crimes.
These cases have even exonerated innocent people who were facing
execution.
And Chinese police have also set up a DNA database that has connected over 2,000
kidnapped children with their parents.
But, the effectiveness of using DNA is not what people are concerned about.
It’s how large
these databases are growing.
Originally, DNA was only collected from people who were convicted of crimes.
However now,
in countries like the United States, DNA samples are taken from people even if they are simply
suspected of or questioned about a crime.
This has grown the FBI database into the largest in
the world, with more than 3.5% of the country’s DNA on file.
If Obama’s new DNA program is deemed a success then it’s not unthinkable that one day
most of the population’s DNA will be filed by the government.
Advocates of the scheme suggest
that the general population shouldn’t be fearful of the new proposal as the database
would
only be utilized to support healthcare initiatives and catch criminals.
But while this could mean
crimes are easier to solve, experts worry that mismanagement of such a system could
leave the
database open to hackers.
And others sceptics are concerned that supporting the new program
is one step closer to mandatory DNA samples for every man, woman and child in the country.
What do you think about DNA databases?
Should all countries adopt them?
Let us know in the
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