Prof. Barry Marshall, a Nobel-prize winning researcher, has announced his plans to become the first Australian to post his full genetic code online but has suggested Australia needs genetic privacy laws similar to those in the U.S., The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The editorial highlights past and present cautions about the implications of the accessibility of such personal data to governments, businesses and the insurance industry, noting that "although science has marched on, the legal and ethical frameworks meant to protect us still offer limited recourse... the possibilities of discrimination and potential abuse remain."
Full Story