Skip to main content
Premium Trial:

Request an Annual Quote

Survey Examines Professional Attitudes Toward Personal Genomic Data Ownership

While an individual having ownership of their genomic data is widely supported by professional stakeholders, concerns over the implications and extent of such ownership persist, according to a study appearing in the European Journal of Human Genetics. A growing body of research suggests that establishing patient genomic data ownership may help in responsibly balancing personal privacy with the advancement of medical science. To get additional perspective, investigators from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia surveyed 117 genomic professionals — including geneticists, genetic counsellors, bioinformaticians, and researchers — about their views of people owning their own genomic data. They report that the majority of these professionals had favorable views on the matter, but that some patient-facing professionals expressed potential risks of extending patient rights from controlling and deciding who uses their data to full patient ownership. The survey also indicates that a "stronger health system infrastructure is a prerequisite for enabling patient data ownership, which needs to be underpinned by appropriate digital infrastructure … patient identity ownership … and policy at both federal and state levels," the researchers write.

The Scan

ChatGPT Does As Well As Humans Answering Genetics Questions, Study Finds

Researchers in the European Journal of Human Genetics had ChatGPT answer genetics-related questions, finding it was about 68 percent accurate, but sometimes gave different answers to the same question.

Sequencing Analysis Examines Gene Regulatory Networks of Honeybee Soldier, Forager Brains

Researchers in Nature Ecology & Evolution find gene regulatory network differences between soldiers and foragers, suggesting bees can take on either role.

Analysis of Ashkenazi Jewish Cohort Uncovers New Genetic Loci Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

The study in Alzheimer's & Dementia highlighted known genes, but also novel ones with biological ties to Alzheimer's disease.

Tara Pacific Expedition Project Team Finds High Diversity Within Coral Reef Microbiome

In papers appearing in Nature Communications and elsewhere, the team reports on findings from the two-year excursion examining coral reefs.