Pentagon tells navy personnel to not use at-home DNA kits

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Pentagon tells navy personnel to not use at-home DNA kits

Anne Wojcicki within the Cash Lab.Mary Stevens | CNBC Senior Pentagon officers have informed members of the Armed Forces to skip what might appear


Anne Wojcicki within the Cash Lab.

Mary Stevens | CNBC

Senior Pentagon officers have informed members of the Armed Forces to skip what might appear to be the right vacation present — an at-home DNA take a look at.

In a Dec. 20 memo obtained by NBC Information, Underneath Secretary of Protection for Intelligence Joseph Kernan and James Stewart, performing Underneath Secretary of Protection for Personnel and Readiness, stated that DNA testing corporations had been focusing on navy members with reductions and different undisclosed incentives.

“Assessments that present well being data have various ranges of validity, and plenty of aren’t reviewed by the Meals and Drug Administration earlier than they’re provided,” the memo stated.

The assessments could be bought with out unbiased affirmation of their claims, the officers stated — a indisputable fact that poses extra threat to navy members than common shoppers. Inaccuracies may negatively have an effect on the required disclosure of these members’ medical data, the memo stated.

“Furthermore, there may be elevated concern within the scientific group that exterior events are exploiting using genetic supplies for questionable functions, together with mass surveillance and the power to trace people with out their authorization or consciousness,” the memo stated.

The officers informed navy personnel to chorus from utilizing the kits till in any other case notified.

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