The data in our DNA

In the two decades since the Human Genome Project was declared finished (if not complete), DNA sequencing technology has advanced to the point where reading whole genomes is becoming routine. In 2003 the cost of sequencing an individual’s complete genome was in the order of millions of dollars, today it’s a few hundred. And that has led to huge growth in the size of genome databases.

What we can do with that data – what our genes tell us about our wellbeing and health, or how we behave and what we look like – is still in its infancy, however. In this issue, our cover feature looks at one of the ways the predictive potential of genomic data is being applied to catch criminals via forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP). It could be a powerful tool, and it also raises familiar ethical and societal questions about the benefits and harms of mining our genes.