What is Digg?22 Comments
- daeus, on 10/21/2008, -0/+7Gattaca has begun...
- terath, on 10/21/2008, -0/+4So you can't discriminate based on genetics in the US, but *can* discriminate based on pre-existing conditions? It seems a bit conflicting.
- zip000, on 10/21/2008, -0/+4I'd say that what your last example illustrates is not that intelligence is environmentally controlled rather than IQ tests actually test something that is cultural rather than testing native intelligence.
- gaqua, on 10/21/2008, -0/+3But what is a rhetorical question, really?
- CacksRus, on 10/21/2008, -0/+3I'm just extrapolating on what the article stated.
"A new federal law prohibits health insurers and employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genetic profile. But any one of the PGP 10 could be denied life insurance, long-term care insurance or disability insurance, with no legal penalty."
My take on this was that if they obtained the information through ordinary means that they could not discriminate, however if you post it on the net for all to see, you're fair game. It's not entirely clear. - Stevethegreat, on 10/21/2008, -0/+3According to studies done to twins seperated at birth: 40%-50% of who we are/become is controlled by the genes a 0%-10% controlled by the family we were grown up and a further 40%-60% from unknown factors (chance?, free will?,friends?,culture?).
Gattaca had it wrong, by genetically selecting an individual you only select 50% of his/her future self and due to the law of compounding the rest 50% would make a world of difference, so much so that it would be doubtful that the individual you selected to become as you selected. Gene selection for aesthetic or social reasons in not dangerous, it's futile. However it is criminal not to let parents to correct serious illnesses to by which their kids would be afflicted, like down syndrome, extra limbs, teratogenesis etc.
Most possibly smartness also can't be selected for, immigrants from 3rd world countries of which the average IQ were quite low and them being typical members of those societies (not anything special), managed in less than three generations to approach the average IQ of the HOST country WITHOUT interbreeding. This would mean that smarts are heavily environmentally controlled and loosely, genetically so. While it loosely run on families, it certainly run on civilizations/cultures and if history is of any indication, not always to the same ones, w/t interbreeding having to have taken place either... - aznpwnzor, on 10/21/2008, -0/+3is that a rhetorical question?
- NomortaL1, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2Ooo, bares all im getting excited now
- ajkrik, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2Are you sure?
- inactive, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2What is the matrix lolz
- Lewie, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2The only *developed democratic* country, perhaps.
- drmsux, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2Do you have any sources? 'cause Google results for 'GINA act' don't agree with your paranoid viewpoint -)
http://www.genome.gov/24519851
"Washington, Wed., May 21 2008 — The President has signed into law the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that will protect Americans against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment. The bill had passed the Senate unanimously and the House by a vote of 414 to 1. The long-awaited measure, which has been debated in Congress for 13 years, will pave the way for people to take full advantage of the promise of personalized medicine without fear of discrimination." - avengingturnip, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2There is no gene for the human spirit.
- ajkrik, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2Gattaca began long ago. It's just becoming obvious now.
Also, Gattaca wasn't so much about who would have access to health care as much as creating a society of "perfect" humans. All this kind of tension does is create the need for a non-commercial, not free-market access to health care.
We have public schools and will someday have to have minimal public medical care. Better to just get on with it. - bullox, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2US is the only country where basic health insurance isn't a right? Sure about that?
- relinquish, on 10/21/2008, -0/+2also, see 23andme.com. offers a similar service
- shadowspawn, on 10/21/2008, -1/+3INVALID.
"A new federal law prohibits health insurers and employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genetic profile. But any one of the PGP 10 could be denied life insurance, long-term care insurance or disability insurance, with no legal penalty."
Gattica, here we come. - inactive, on 01/27/2009, -0/+1On the contrary, I'm sure there is.
- CacksRus, on 10/21/2008, -0/+1You caught me. I was too excited by the opportunity to slide in a slight on US health-care to better qualify that.
- Pradeek, on 10/21/2008, -0/+1Read the bloody article first!!!
- Jaenns, on 10/21/2008, -2/+3I wouldn't have any problems reveling my personal data if it served the purpose and helped science, and also reveled my risk factors.
- CacksRus, on 10/21/2008, -3/+2Very interesting project, although the fact that you could be denied medical insurance for participating might scare away most of the people that have the most to offer in terms of deep genetic problems.
Then again this only really applies to the US where basic health insurance isn't a right. In Canada, UK, France etc. this would only give you grief with extended benefits and life insurance.
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