According to newscientist.com:
"Because everyone's DNA is unique – except for identical twins – it can be used to identify people, which is why forensic scientists collect samples of blood, saliva or hair and the like at crime scenes. Aside from encoding your physical features, DNA can also reveal some of your risk for certain medical conditions."
Now, add in a dash of massive worldwide computing
power, coupled with continued advancements in DNA mapping, and voila! You got yourself a practically foolproof way
of identifying people. A person has to
go to a LOT of trouble to not sluff off any of their DNA.
Then I Googled “Is DNA registered at birth,” and I got:
"The DNA of virtually every newborn in the United States is collected and tested soon after birth. There are some good reasons for this testing, but it also raises serious privacy concerns that parents should know about. States require hospitals to screen newborns for certain genetic and other disorders."
This, according to the ALCU as well as
other sites. Seems that different states
keep the data on file for various lengths of time.
Here are the questions:
-Are you for or against mandatory DNA
registration at birth? Or do you see such a thing as intruding on personal
freedom?
-Who/What kind of person would be against
such a thing? And why??
-If you are for such registration, how
long should the data be kept?
-Who should have access to that data? E.g., FBI, insurance companies, law
enforcement agencies, doctors and medical facilities, your neighbors, etc. Where do you draw the line, if you do?
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