EVERY time the police take a saliva or blood sample for DNA fingerprinting
they are unknowingly collecting sensitive information about the health of the
suspects they are testing.
A British team has discovered that the DNA fingerprints used by police across
the world can reveal a person’s susceptibility to type I diabetes. The finding
strikes at the heart of one of the principles of DNA forensic
testing—namely, that tests should identify people but reveal nothing
significant about their genetic make-up or health. That way, DNA profiles can be
stored on police computers without infringing anyone’s medical privacy.
The fingerprints…
