The Petri Dish: DNA to the future

posted in: Opinion | 0

Since its inception in the early 1990s, the National DNA Index System, more commonly known in law enforcement as the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), has drawn praise and criticism from many in the United States. Op/Ed contributor Michael Seringhaus argues in the New York Times that law enforcement should “keep every American’s DNA profile on file.” In his article, Seringhaus rightfully identifies mistakes with the current system, but does not propose a thorough enough response to current problems with CODIS. 

I believe the United States needs to revise the current DNA database system by removing control of DNA databases from law enforcement and establish a governmental organization that maintains DNA profiles of all citizens. This new organization would be charged with expanding the database, which currently enrolls only prisoners to include all citizens of the United States. This would be achieved by taking DNA samples of all U.S. citizens at birth. 

Currently, DNA samples in CODIS consist of 14 genetic markers that are used to develop a unique “DNA fingerprint.” In my proposed system, the NIH should sequence the entire three billion DNA nucleotide sequence of each U.S. citizen. Every citizen’s DNA profile would remain their private property, however, the DNA database would allow limited access to the information by authorized groups. U.S. Law enforcement groups would need to use warrants to access the database. This would provide checks and balances not currently established in CODIS. Law enforcement is required to get warrants to access financial databases that house suspects’ financial information and access to their genetic information should be no different.

Medical professionals/scientists would be allowed restricted access, which would be granted to them by an internal review board established by the NIH. According to Peter Orszag, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, the United States spends “$700 billion a year in health costs [that] do not improve health outcomes.” The initial financial cost of establishing the system under the NIH, and the cost of sequencing all United States citizens, would be vastly offset by the wealth of medical knowledge gained from scientific analysis of the information in the database. 

The medical knowledge would then be used to establish treatment options for citizens with DNA profiles that are correlated with certain medical disorders. Citizens would have the option of allowing their DNA profile to be accessed by researchers given the citizens’ informed consent. Citizens would also be given free access to their genetic information, with basic analysis provided to them by their physicians, or by automated computer systems that could give them basic understanding of their genetic susceptibility to various medical conditions. 

Insurance companies would be granted access to the DNA database as allowed by the review board, however, the revision of the model would also include legislation that would align revisions to CODIS with currently established policies in the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. This act prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or raising health insurance premiums based on genetics alone. 

In summary, the United States needs to revise the current DNA database system by removing control of DNA databases from law enforcement and establish a governmental organization that maintains DNA profiles of all citizens.

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