Why Should a Genome Be Protected? Ethical, Legal, and Security Challenges in the Protection of Genomic Data

Abstract

Title: Simple Summary A genome is an organism’s set of genetic material (DNA and, in viruses, RNA), and it contains all genes and non-coding sequences. It is well known that the structure of DNA was described by Watson and Crick, but the first studies were conducted a century earlier by Miescher, who described the structure and chemical composition of the nucleus. The discovery of the sequencing method and the introduction of the polymerase chain reaction laid the foundation for understanding the genome’s function. Currently, thousands of genomic datasets are used for analyses in drug development, pharmacogenomics, personalized medicine, global health, lifestyle, and wellness in the largest market in North America and the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region. Patient data obtained through high-throughput studies available online require a proper balance between biosafety oversight and the right to privacy. The falling prices of genome sequencing and the increasing availability of commercial sequencing for the public could result in ethical problems and undermine personal information safety.