Comments on: Collecting DNA from Innocent Children to Prevent Crime

By: NA

NA — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:53:16 +0000

There is a student at the University of Minnesota that is getting a degree something in the area of law and genetics. I will contact her and see what she thinks about this topic.

By: More on Collecting DNA from Children

More on Collecting DNA from Children — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:40:52 +0000

[...] Law Sara Gaines at Guardian’s Joe Public blog has outed me as a bully in a discussion about children’s DNA in the UK national database. There’s also more from Evan Maloney at the Splat! Blog who coins the word [...]

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:50:05 +0000

Kaila, So true. I’ve been reading Daniel Goleman’s Social Intelligence and he talks about how our brains can be easily primed to respond in positive or negative ways. Clearly, being labeled as a potential future offender is a negative way to start down the path towards adulthood!

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:48:52 +0000

Barry, You got that right. I don’t know if any laws exist that would prevent the use of DNA for purposes other than crime prevention although I suppose clever law enforcement officials could justify anything.

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:47:51 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Lyn. The UK National DNA Database is growing so quickly and public opinion seems unable to sway law enforcement from swinging their net ever wider. It’s hard also to advise people not to give up their fingerprints or DNA when these are considered “abandoned” and can be collected without consent.

By: Kaila Colbin

Kaila Colbin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:12:28 +0000

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Hsien. People respond to others’ expectations; treat them as stupid and they’re likely to ignore their studies. Treat them as criminals and they’re likely to commit a crime. It’s a rare few who are strong enough and brave enough to believe of themselves what others don’t believe of them. If we encourage children to believe that they’re destined to become criminals, we will surely create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

By: Barry Starr

Barry Starr — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:58:32 +0000

No wonder people are so scared of science. The next logical step would be to look at the DNA collected for reasons why problem children are problem and then test everyone so we can know beforehand who is going to be troublesome. Sort of like the extra XYY stuff from a few years ago.

By: Lyn

Lyn — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:28:52 +0000

Scariest article I’ve seen in a while about DNA and ethics.

How did the subjects of the UK become so submissive to law enforcement? They already have an island full of TV cameras. Now their authorities want DNA from children. I wish those people would draw a line somewhere while there’s still time.

Don’t give your fingerprints nor your DNA.