Professor George M. Church of Harvard Medical School said last week that personal genetic testing will soon be available at a cost of about $1,000.  Professor Church, head of the Personal Genome Project, asserts that once armed with information about an individual’s susceptibility to diseases, doctors will be able to “advise lifestyle changes or prescribe medications to stave off sickness.”

Of course, critics are concerned about other uses of genetic information and urge passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.  Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, opined:

Insurance companies are looking for pre-existing conditions, and potential conditions, in order to make insurance decisions, either to reject insurance applications, or to increase insurance premiums.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 34 states already prohibit genetic discrimination in employment.

Additional Reading: 

• Genomes for All, by George Church, Scientific American, January 2006

WATCH LIST:  Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.