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willis (view)

In other words, in the future, near future, they may use this information to determine your status in our society. They could show up at Dale or Kevin G's door and take them away for the good of society because a scientist says they have too many 'y' chromosomes and are likely to kill or hurt someone. You may get turned down for a loan because part of the background check they do on you includes checking your DNA to see if it's likely you'll live a long time or if you're given to certain behavioral patterns they find unsatisfactory. You may not get the promotion at work or be deemed unsuitable for the job you have now due to DNA reports. You'd like to hand over all the information about who and what you are to a bunch of bungling bureaucrats who have more interest in serving big business than watching out for the average Joe?

"incontrovertible DNA evidence" is tempting for criminal prosecution... but the technology is just ripe for abuse, as some have already mentioned.

and the part about "who and what you are" is far more dangerous. you are not just your DNA, and we are far far away from disentangling the old nature vs. nurture conundrum.

sure, there is a lot of information in your genes, but some will try to use it like skin color or brain size to sort out the undesirables.
posted 2003.05.16
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