With Liberty and Genetic Fairness for All

My DNA still scares me. No, I’m not talking about the untimely deaths of my parents.

Last Sunday the New York Times reported that some states and the FBI are now routinely collecting DNA samples (a cheek swab) from people being detained for crimes. The premise is that they need a database to solve future crimes. The rationale is that it is no different than fingerprints.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I understand that the FBI and even local police departments would like to have DNA databases. Two things: Law enforcement officials could solve all crimes more quickly if we all had a government-placed microchip implanted in our shoulders like prized sporting dogs. Let’s not do that. Secondly, if the people that are detained but then released for crimes are the victims of racial profiling, then the people who are having their cheeks swabbed are also the subjects of racial profiling.

If we need a DNA database to solve crimes, then shouldn't all citizens be on file? And illegal immigrants? Good question: I don’t have all the answers today.

I can’t even think of all the questions, and that’s my point. There should be a multidisciplinary presidential task force taking stock of all applications coming out of the burgeoning field of genetics and considering the ethical and legal ramifications of the technologies to protect us.

In December, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Reviews reported that Obama wanted to create “an inter-agency task force on genomics research,” but the article went on to describe research initiatives that would be improved by the Obama presence in the White House. I would like to see some air of caution in the rhetoric of progress.

While Obama says that he introduced the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) that President Bush signed into law in 2008, it would appear that this legislation only protects our rights with employers and insurers, not with law enforcement.

Is there any indication that the Coalition for Genetic Fairness might broaden its purpose to investigate this discriminatory collection of DNA by law enforcement? I'm going to see if they will.

As we translate biomedical research into practical application, there should be some public comfort that we are not headed toward a flawed futuristic society.