Google Wins an Award!!! (for biopiracy)

Not the big G, but some of the other companies listed are just evil:

Terminators, or GURTS (Genetic Use Restriction Technologies), are a class of genetic engineering technologies which allow companies to introduce seeds whose sterile offspring cannot reproduce, preventing farmers from re-planting seeds from their harvest. The seeds could also be used to introduce specific traits which would only be triggered by the application of proprietary chemicals by the same companies.

That's so wrong and so cool at the same time. If I understand correctly, they're trying to get to the point where they can say 'You have to buy seeds from us every year, and if you want your crop to compete, you have to buy these chemicals from us as well.'

They're already selling genetically modified seeds to farmers that won't reproduce. It's draconian, and if you think that farmers not being able to grow their own seed crop won't affect your food prices, think again. Farmers have to buy their seeds every year, regardless of price.

"No one may buy or sell without the Mark of the Beast". Guess w/ cross pollination you wont' even be able to grow your own corn in a few years.

[tinfoil hat]

Not likely. Usually I only take my tinfoil hat off when I'm far enough away from my computer screen that They can't hit me with Their special lasers. In this case, I might just keep the fucker on.

Google already has enough of my data. No need to add my DNA to that list.

Also, whether you know it or not, many of your genes are already patented. Submit your genetic sequence to Google, and be first in line to sell parts of yourself without knowing it. Sweet

[/tinfoil hat]

umm.. there are some pretty good benefits to having such a system. Like finding out what genetic predispositions you might have and being able to take action to minimize or negate the effects.

Let's say you just had a baby. You get his dna sequenced and you run it through this search. You find out about some possible health issues the kid might have and you take him to the doctor who shows you how to avoid or minimize them. Your kid is now going to have a healthier life. Do you really give a shit that Google has their genes on record?

Privacy for health is a trade I'd make any day. then again I have nothing to hide.

but see the movie "Gattaca" for the logical conclusion to your argument.

once you get into a high level of genetic analysis, especially on kids, (trending regressively towards infants, the fetus, zygotes and such), you're steps away from some very.... how shall we say.... "ethically squishy" areas that border on eugenics.

now, many a larger brain than mine (e.g. plato) has been an advocate of eugenics. but - DAMN!! it's such a big issue that i won't be one to volunteer my relevant nucleic acids to the argument until i have it figured out in my own head....

and that should be a while, since even simple stuff takes me a bit. it just took me about 10 minutes to figure out how many quarters i need to take to the laundromat. not good.

All I can say is that Dr Mengele would be proud of Google :)

Cheese slip off yer cracker today?

>They say users will be able to use the system to "input their own genetic sequence for a read out of their genetic predispositions analyzed against the existing database".

No mention of the SS dropping by to forcibly extract your DNA.

Identifying genetic vulnerabilities so you can act accordingly is a far cry from genetic manipulation. Mike Godwin would approve of your remark Mikkel :)

Human genetic modification is inevitable...technologies don't climb back in the box once they've been let out. We are going down that road for good or ill .

Gattaca is a great flick though!

But...how do we apply SEO to gene sequences? C classes I can handle, A, G and T as well...? ;)

Humankind hasn't really thought out the impacts of making personal data freely available.

On one hand, it is beneficial for us to be able to have drugs adapted to our personal genetic profile. Yes, I want that!

On the other hand, they shouldn't be storing my personal genetic information to do it. No, I don't want that!

I keep telling my friends that it doesn't really make sense to me that we have a 5th amendment right to not be compelled to witness against ourselves, when we apparently do *not* have the right to keep our own genecode private. Apparently, the law, by popular practice, does not consider our gene sequence to be a part of ourselves! I've never really understood this, even after asking attorney friends to explain it to me.

Most people completely miss the problem of personal data privacy, opting instead for convenience. We're all likely to pay heavy prices later for the naivete.

There's a company called Monsanto that already sell seeds that are resistant to the toxic Roundup. That way the farmers just have to buy their seeds, then spray the field with Roundup which kills everything else.

Sounds nice but that kind of thing can have unintended side-effects: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/ryegrass112003.cfm