GATTACA | society

California Pushes Back on DNA Testing

Are we aproaching to reality where world is ruled by the result of genetic test? Text describes problems connected with human genetic tests which appeared in California and may evolve into serious problems in future. Article covers issues of DNA tests which in the future might be used against people who are tested, in genereal by insurance companies. This case may create situation where world will be divided into “valid” and “in-valid” part of society. Valid part would be the one without genetic mutations while Invalid would be introduced as the one which owns anomalies discovered during tests. As it seems, the action of genetic testing of consuments doesn’t fullfil the law of U.S. hence firms like 23andme, Navigenics, and DeCodeMe were given order to stop wheir actions until it will be fully possible to interpret law in the right way and there will be chance to proof that such tests are accurate and produce valid medical result. We can read more in the text about plans of the Department of Health and Human Services according to this case.

“Balance is the key here, as in so many debates about markets. Overregulation can squelch innovation; under-regulation may lead to commercial abuse, consumer confusion, and distrust of these tests.”