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Hey there, welcome to Life Noggin!
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You likely consider your body your property, right?
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Well, you might be surprised to learn that the law isn’t entirely clear whether you do own your body.
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Apparently, you can’t be you and own you at the same time, which is really quite confusing.
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Things don’t get any less confusing when we look at your genetic makeup, your DNA.
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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic information that dictates how our bodies grow, function, and reproduce.
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Humans share ninety-nine per cent of the same DNA,
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but a peek at your specific sequences can reveal information about your health, personality, family history, and even your relationships.
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Each human’s complete DNA sequence is different than anyone else’s.
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It’s incredibly personal and experts have said that your genetic information is the most valuable thing you have.
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Just like your social security number, home address, and credit card info, this information should be guarded carefully.
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But, some of you humans are totally fine giving your genetic information away to corporations, research groups, and other third party organizations.
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So far, twelve million of you have sent away samples of your DNA to consumer genetic testing companies to find out information about your own genetic makeup.
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By agreeing to the terms and conditions and sending off a vial of your saliva, you’re giving these groups the right to your DNA.
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You’re allowing them to sell this information, send it to research groups, and do any number of things thanks to some incredibly broad wording of their fine-print.
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And if your genetic info leads to some wild, medical breakthrough, you’ll get nothing.
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Which is pretty rude if you ask me.
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So does this mean they own your DNA?
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Do you own it?
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People, organizations, and judges have been debating who owns DNA for years.
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But after a court ruling in twenty thirteen, it was decided that DNA cannot be patented under US law, which means no one can own someone else’s DNA.
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And it’s not even clear if you own your DNA, which also contains your family’s DNA.
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Legally speaking, natural phenomenons and laws of nature cannot be trademarked or solely claimed.
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This is the same reason why someone can’t patent the element gold and claim that all gold on Earth is theirs.
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So while these companies can’t own your DNA, they can own the sample you gave and the information they derive from it.
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And I bet there are a lot of hands you wouldn’t want your genetic makeup to fall into.
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For example, while it’s technically illegal for employers and health insurers to discriminate based on genetics,
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it would be difficult to prove that’s why they fired you or didn’t take you on as a customer.
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And unfortunately, the legal future of your right to genetic privacy is unclear.
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So while no one may own your DNA right now, who knows if that’ll still be the case ten or twenty years from now.
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So, have you ever done a DNA test, what did you find out?
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Let us know in the comments section below or tell us what we should talk about next.
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As always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin,
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don't forget to keep on thinking.