Real DNA Information Available on the Web

Harvard Gene Project to Reveal DNA Secrets of 10 Volunteers

Esther Dyson and eight other volunteers are going to be the first people to have their genetic information posted online today. Your DNA consists of a 6-billion letter code that is unique to each individual. The Personal Genome Project is a web site that hopes to have over 100,000 volunteers. Geneticist George Church from Harvard University says that “the aim is to jumpstart research linking genetic mutations and disease.” Not only will this be helpful for medical research, but families can look to see if any mutations could have been passed down to them or other loved ones. Another idea is that if you want a job, then a look at your genetic information could be critical to certain specialties. Some medical benefits are more advanced ideas about human biology, and knowledge of human origins. On the other hand, your DNA is as personal as it gets, so making it available to anyone on the internet may be difficult for some people. A need for privacy of yourself and your family is a necessity, and that should be understood and respected. Overall, this project will improve the understanding of the human body, and will be extremely beneficial.