Banking Our Genes

When shopping for a good banker for your DNA, be sure to read the fine print in their privacy clauses: you don't want to pay higher premiums because your insurance company found out you carry the gene which might have been responsible for your great Aunt Harriet going after a minor cockroach problem in the kitchen with a double-barreled shotgun. While DNA data banks can be of great assistance in some areas (it's estimated that in 1 of 3 cases where DNA testing is involved in a criminal case, the initial suspect is ruled out), critics such as Dr. Ruth Hubbard are worried about who else might have access to DNA data and what the repercussions might be. Banking Our Genes, which has a news program format, looks at some of the pros and cons of collecting DNA samples, from the hope of conquering disease to the specter of job discrimination due to genetic red flags. And, if you're looking to start a little black market bank yourself, here's a tip: the sidewalks of New York are a vast repository of genetic information (think "spit"). A good discussion starter. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)