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all genetic material currently attached to your person is most certainly your personal property. If someone holds you down and takes a blood sample, that's some sort of theft/assault. Any genetic material located at your personal residence is of course your property. If you urinate in your closet (freak) that's still your own property, and anyone that takes it is commiting theft. Same applies for any skin dander in your carpet, on your bed, on your hairbrush/toothbrush.

HOWEVER, most people don't realize how often they freely dispose of their own personal biological materials. Flush the toilet, wash your hands, and genetic material leaves your house thru the septic system. You shouldn't really worry or care about that portion though, it'd be impossible to collect those bits. but you throw out your trash and it's full of genetic samples, salivia, fingerprints. Toss out a coffee cup at work? soda can? spit on a sidewalk? Any time you abandon your genetic material in public it's free game for any cop/weirdo that wants to collect it.

As for more generally, you didn't design your own DNA so it doesn't fall under any sort of protected intellectual property rights.

2007-10-07 15:58:59 · answer #1 · answered by jadespider9643 4 · 4 1

I read this question somewhat differently than most of the people that answered. I do think your DNA belongs to you and I think you possibly possess some control over it. For instance your blood belongs to you (is part of you) and you can to some extent control it by taking Iron supplements if needed, medication, or exercise and meditation to bring blood pressure under control. I think it might be possible to effect DNA in some minor ways (perhaps in major ways with gene therapy).

As for legal issues it was quite frightening for me to read that some people believe that this issue should be determined by the government of the country you reside in. This would be arguing that if the US decided to use your DNA to clone people and do medical research that after passing a law they would have the right to do so. It also seems to rest final authority with law. Some countries practice murder and other "legal" practices by government officials but this does not mean that people don't have rights to basic humane treatment it means a country fails to acknowledge them. I regard this not as a legal issue but as a human rights issue and I think all of you (DNA included) belongs to you.

2007-10-08 13:04:40 · answer #2 · answered by psiexploration 7 · 0 0

There have been a few legal battles over DNA. People have given blood samples and found out latter that it was used to clone certain factors for use as treatment of some illness. Drug companies have been sued many times and all have won. Once you give your blood you no longer have any right to any product made from it. The logic is that it is for the better good, the fact that drug companies make millions has nothing to do with it. Ya sure! Now if you give that same sample to another drug company to make the same drug you will be sued. So much for the better good!

2007-10-08 13:32:39 · answer #3 · answered by John S 5 · 1 0

It depends on what country you live in. In America it belongs to you, because your body belongs to you (mostly). In some countries the government owns you and therefore owns your dna. You don't possess control over it unless you're some sort of molecular biologist.

2007-10-08 00:56:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

That would be a civil rights issue, so I would think it would fall to the government of the country you live in. For example, in the US you do not have to surrender your DNA information unless you are convicted of a crime. This has resulted in many rape convictions.

2007-10-08 11:57:04 · answer #5 · answered by Peter D 7 · 0 1

It's your private property(in a way).The government(most times)needs a warrant to take it.In the US anyway.

2007-10-08 08:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. NG 7 · 1 0

IT'S YOURS THAT'S THE REASON THE COPS ALWAYS ASK FOR A SAMPLE INSTEAD OF TAKING IT.

2007-10-10 13:17:40 · answer #7 · answered by Loren S 7 · 0 0

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