Sure, It can help in the classification of diseases, hardly the prevention.

I just see it as information leaking out to health insurance companies which will begin to deny people who have detected genetic diseases.

Maybe when suitable treatments of diseases are released, then that SINGLE gene can be tested in people so they know who to treat.

My partner has Cystic Fibrosis and has had a double lung transplant. She spends her life fighting for life and her family and me never know if or when she would die. Everyday it sits in the back of your mind the guarantee she will go into rejection and die, that's only if the cancer causing drugs don't take her out first, let alone infections, food poisoning etc etc.

If or when 'we' have kids (we can't naturally due to her having to no uterus because of complications) we will genetically screen embryoes because we wouldn't wish a life like that on another human being....especially ourselves from wathcing our child die like that from a disease that you'd swear come from the most twisted, demented evil of minds...

I had to giggle at your insurance comment. She can't even get travel insurance.

So yeah, I believe it's necessary. As with anything it can be abused, but with legislation you'd hope that doesn't happen.

It's certainly a double-edged sword. However, the technology is now readily available, which means it will be used.

This is one area in which I think strict regulation is warranted, but it needs to be implemented on the basis of informed consultation, and we're nowhere near that stage now.

If it is anything to go by: Us's example clearly spells out that if your DNA is registered, you cannot use that info in feature for your own purpose because it will be patented by the registrar and cannot be used by it's biological owner.

The problem with an employer basing their requirements on someones genetic makeup is that they'll be opening themselves up to the same sprt of treatment. He without sin cast the first stone. You wait till someone gets discriminated against based on their genetic makeup, the people doing the judging will be scrutinised also.