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Comment by all_blue_chucks | Hacker News Reader

Speechless? Really? You don't understand why someone would be interested in learning about their health risks or their ancestry?

Unless you have secret illegitimate children or you left DNA behind at a crime scene, using DNA analysis services can only benefit you.

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I bet insurance companies would pay handsomely to know all your genetic health risks before they insure you. I am none of the things you described but think having our genetic information out there is not a good idea. Call it a gut feeling but I listen to my gut.

I prefer to listen to facts, not intestines. And, in fact, it is illegal for insurance companies to do what you suggest.

And the facts would also show that it was only just recently that Canada was the last G7 country to pass laws preventing insurance companies from doing it. And if you also read more on the topic it is suggested that as genetic testing becomes cheaper and more reliable perhaps in the future this topic will need to be re-examined. So I stand by my gut and it says I would rather keep my dna private. Just in case they change the law in the future.

Until someone comes to power that doesn't like your particular ethnic group

Can outline what health risk you can learn about in a useful manner with a consumer genetic test?

Also since 23andMe is selling data to pharmaceutical companies, they very much benefit from your DNA.

The speechless part is because of how recklessly some people give out information that an insurance company could use against you for example... specially when these companies make no mention of respecting your privacy in their terms.

I considered using these under a fake name, but from reading the article, it seems like that wouldn’t be enough.

I do see the appeal that this indformation has for individuals, of course.

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