I for one would not want DNA typing for genealogical use to be rejected out of hand. I would like for people to consider in a knowledgeable way what the potential consequences of submitting their and their families DNA are. I'm sure it is supposed to be kept private and secure. However private and secure only last until one or more of the following happen: 1- Some trusted person with access and insufficient integrity has a serious money or morals problem 2- Someone makes a plausible case to a judge and gets a court order 3- One or more persons successfully hack into the computer system where the data is kept 4- The company or organization fails and their physical property and data assets are purchased 5- The company or organization merges with another (whose purpose may be to gain access to the data) I'll quit after 5, but there are others, probably more than I can think of. When we make decisions that affect others, we should try to make them as responsibly as we can. Ignorance rarely results in responsible action. Thank you for your time. Gene Sears Searching for Sears, Phipps, Watkins, & Mangum folks (in Maryland and Virginia), Hayes, Laster, Darnell, & Tucker folks (in North Carolina and Virginia) -----Original Message----- From: Don Erickson [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 9:32 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [RowanRoots] DNA Use/Abuse (Genealogy too) Let's be reasonable about this. Everything can be mis-used. That does not mean that we need to reject everything. Just imagine what might have happened if Hitler had access to cell phones, or DVD movies, or 1998 Buicks? DNA technology can be a great asset to genealogists, as well as other users. Let's make use of it where it is appropriate. don Don Erickson, Colorado Springs CO [email protected] www.pcisys.net/~don_erickson ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 7:05 PM Subject: Re: [RowanRoots] DNA Use/Abuse (Genealogy too) > Hi > > When I first heard this Idea for some reason it hit me square in the face and > I figured I might be the only one that would think this way so I kept quite. > You ask what kinda off abuses could come from this? > My first thougth was Oh my what would happen if Hitler was privy to > information like this some 60 yrs ago? I know there is supposed to be > privacy policies but as we all know rules can be broken. I would think in > the wrong hands this could possibly be a very dangerous situation. > > So I will stick to the ole way of hunting kin :) > My two cents worth > > Julie ==== ROWANROOTS Mailing List ==== The list administrator can be reached at [email protected]