08-19-2005, 07:12 PM
The concerns I have over DNA are not a typical discrimination issue, though that's part of it.
My primary concern is where law enforcement agencies gather DNA evidence to "exclude" people as suspects. DNA is given up, voluntarily sometimes, sometimes not. Regardless, even in a voluntary situation, such as someone was raped in the neighborhood and they want all the men to submit to DNA testing to eliminate them as suspects. In this specific case, the DNA may become property of the law enforcement agency. The giver loses control over what happens to that DNA. Does this mean that it could be used in a DNA database to be accessed by whomever? Even in this legitmate taking of DNA evidence (in some people's opinions) can bring out issues that are not purely an equal rights issue. What if the DNA was sold to labratories to study? Could it happen that DNA from a criminal investigation could be used to clone someone through a sale at some point? Not to bash law enforcement, it is just one of a pandora's box of issues that come to mind.
I think this is an important issue, that I'm glad is being raised.
My primary concern is where law enforcement agencies gather DNA evidence to "exclude" people as suspects. DNA is given up, voluntarily sometimes, sometimes not. Regardless, even in a voluntary situation, such as someone was raped in the neighborhood and they want all the men to submit to DNA testing to eliminate them as suspects. In this specific case, the DNA may become property of the law enforcement agency. The giver loses control over what happens to that DNA. Does this mean that it could be used in a DNA database to be accessed by whomever? Even in this legitmate taking of DNA evidence (in some people's opinions) can bring out issues that are not purely an equal rights issue. What if the DNA was sold to labratories to study? Could it happen that DNA from a criminal investigation could be used to clone someone through a sale at some point? Not to bash law enforcement, it is just one of a pandora's box of issues that come to mind.
I think this is an important issue, that I'm glad is being raised.