Genetic Bar Code Search Can Use RNA to Pick Out Individuals From Huge Gene Pools
RNA WikipediaEven without a DNA sample DNA databases are highly protected resources, because they contain the most detailed fingerprint that can be used to identify a person - from genetic predisposition to cancer, to paternity tests, to criminal histories. But apparently RNA databases, derived from large genome studies, can also be used to pinpoint a person's identity, according to a new study. These databases are published in journals and are publicly available, and contain genetic information from thousands of people around the world. Given these findings, scientists could use RNA and other deep personal data to improve patients' health and serve the greater good, the researchers argue. But it also raises some questions about genomic privacy. The study, conducted at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, turns the process of RNA detection inside out. Researchers Eric E. Schadt and Ke Hao figured out how to infer a person's DNA...