IF YOU鈥橰E the type who keeps yourself to yourself, posting your genome and medical history on the web will be utter anathema. Still, that鈥檚 exactly what 10 science and health luminaries have decided to do for the greater good.
The (PGP) is the brainchild of geneticist of Harvard Medical School, who hopes to persuade 100,000 volunteers to part with their genetic history. It kicked off this week when bigwigs including Harvard University linguist and technology investor became the first participants.
The full genomes and medical histories are not yet available but will be eventually. Already 5000 people have signed up for the project. Church says that unfettered access to the database will link diseases and traits to genes in unprecedented detail, benefiting everyone.
Advertisement
Although most associations between genes and ailments are statistical, gene scans can lead to unpleasant discoveries. In September, Google co-founder Sergey Brin revealed that his genes put him at elevated risk of contracting Parkinson鈥檚 disease. However, none of the 鈥淧GP 10鈥� has so far learned of any genetic bombshells. 鈥淚 have some susceptibility to having irregular menstrual periods,鈥� jokes Pinker.
Even so the PGP is throwing up unusual dilemmas. John Halamka of Harvard Medical School says his daughter is worried that potential boyfriends might Google his genome before asking her out on a date.
Such privacy concerns will ebb as more people make their genetic data public, Church says. Stan Lapidus of gene sequencing firm in Boston says: 鈥淜eeping my financial information private, to me, is much more important than keeping my genetic information private.鈥� The PGP 10 did have the option to withhold their genomes after seeing what secrets they held, but none has said they will.
鈥淜eeping financial information private is more important than keeping genes private鈥�
Genetics 鈥� Keep up with the pace in our continually updated special report.
