biofutures: owning body parts & information

An article in the latest issue of Nature Biotechnology argues that there should be incentives to attract more subjects willing to disclose their genomic data to the public.

http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v27/n9/full/nbt0909-777.html

The NCI (National Cancer Institute) has developed a new test for classifying mutations in the human BRCA1 gene, using mouse stem cells.

http://www.genomeweb.com/dxpgx/nci-team-develops-mouse-stem-cell-assay-classifying-brca1-mutations

TruGenetics, a direct-to-consumer genomics company, is in financial trouble. Daniel Vorhaus and Lawrence Moore ask: what happens to clients’ genetic data if a personal genomics company declares bankruptcy?

http://scienceblogs.com/geneticfuture/2009/09/guest_post_daniel_vorhaus_and.php

A woman has had the wrong embryos implanted during an IVF procedure. As established in an earlier case, the child will be returned to the DNA parents. Of interest is the birth mother’s observation that, despite the terrible disappointment and upheaval this will cause, “we’re trying to look at it as a gift we’re giving someone else.”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/22/wrong.embryo.family/index.html