Benefits and risks of genome analysis

The BBC article Massive DNA volunteer hunt begins gives a balanced view of a project in which 100,000 volunteers will have their DNA sequenced and published online for anyone to look at.

"Participants will get an analysis of their DNA, but so will the rest of the world, and anonymity is not guaranteed.
They are warned there could be unknown consequences for them and relatives.

One of those quoted is Dr Peter Mills with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics who cautions:

"The difference with genetic data is you're not just committing yourself to something you might not fully envisage, but you're also implicating biological relatives."

While the person's name is not revealed by the project "it is possible to work out someone's identity from genetic databases and other public records."

Read the full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24834375