DNA Day and GINA

Today is National DNA Day, the anniversary of the April 2003 completion of the Human Genome Project. In similar news, it appears that the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA), S. 358, has passed in the Senate and is on its way to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. This may help increase people’s interest in personal genomics and personal gene screening, such as 23andMe, DeCODE, and Navigenics (see this post). As others have noted, however, it might also spell the end of both health and life insurance, as the new information asymmetry in favor of consumers undermines the basic business model of insurance.

Tags: DNA, Genome, DNA Day, Human Genome Project, Insurance, GINA, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, Information asymmetry, Senate, S. 358