Part 07 · The Genomic Power Shift
As genomic data becomes more valuable, it also becomes more political. This part explores the societal consequences of a world where DNA can be collected, stored, searched, analyzed and potentially misused. It asks whether someone could steal your DNA data, what genomic privacy really means, and how societies should regulate genetic information.
The chapter moves between realistic policy questions and more speculative scenarios. It covers genomic ethics, genetic and genomic legislation, political uses of genomics, data from humans, animals and plants, environmental impact and the possible future role of genomic ethicists. It also considers darker possibilities, including surveillance, discrimination and fantasies of genetically selected or engineered humans.
This part is about power: who controls genomic information, who is protected by law, and who becomes vulnerable when biology becomes data.