Living Smart

III SCIENCE & STEM EDUCATION 100 101 and health until a company called Myriad published an advertisement in 2002 for a test service called BRAC Analysis for women with a family history of breast cancer. It proved that if there were mutations in two specific genes, the incidence of breast cancer would increase from 10 percent to 87 percent at the age of 70. Myriad’ s success quickly triggered an explosion of direct-to- consumer DNA testing services. Items being tested have evolved from simple genetic risks to non-medical traits such as ancestral analysis, and even entertainment analyses such as skin slimming, personality and talent genes. However, there are a lot of criticisms in the medical community about such DTC services without medical advice. The lack of professionals who are proficient in medicine and genetics in the companies makes it difficult to interpret the data to ensure the quality, and the test results may be easily misjudged. Sequencing technology also brings a risk of privacy exposure that in turn, gives rise to many ethical issues. Even if the company has confidentiality provisions in place, there is no absolute data confidentiality in the information age. Just like other new technologies, genetic sequencing is accompanied by the interweaving of science, law, ethics and business. And at present, legal protection for our most sensitive private information is failing to catch up with the pace of developments in DNA testing technology worldwide. For example, there is no law here restricting insurers from obtaining your DNA information in the underwriting process, which may discriminate against your preexisting genetic faults without your knowledge. Furthermore, no one can guarantee the absolute safety of the DNA database of those testing companies from any cyberattacks. In a commercial world where truth and lies coexist, how to protect your rights while using technology may become a new homework for consumers. Published on June 05, 2019