Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should individuals own their DNA?
Position‹2 of 2

No, individuals should not own their DNA

Those who hold this position argue that DNA should not be subject to individual ownership: that a genome is shared with relatives rather than exclusively held, that property rights would create a market in genetic material, and that privacy duties protect people better.

Supporting arguments · 2

  1. A genome is shared with relatives, so no one person can own it
  2. Making DNA ownable would create a market in genomes that the poorest would supply