Environmental DNA tracking raises privacy, surveillance concerns

Scientists have recently discovered that environmental DNA (eDNA) could potentially be used to track individuals or even entire ethnic groups, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. The technique, which can gather a wealth of information from small samples of genetic material, has potential applications in medicine, science, and even criminal investigations. However, the ethical implications of using eDNA in this manner must be considered reports Bangkok Post.

The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, initially aimed to collect eDNA from endangered sea turtles. However, the team unexpectedly gathered a significant amount of human eDNA, which they referred to as “human genetic bycatch.” The quality of the human eDNA collected was so high that it was almost equivalent to taking a sample directly from a person.

The researchers were able to detect eDNA from various sources, including oceans, rivers, and towns, as well as remote locations far from human settlements. In one instance, they detected eDNA from a single footprint on a beach on a remote Florida island. In another, they collected eDNA from the air in a veterinary hospital, matching it to the staff, their animal patients, and common animal viruses.

Mark McCauley, one of the study’s authors, stated that by sequencing the DNA samples, the team could identify individuals at greater risk of diseases such as autism and diabetes. He highlighted the fact that this personal, ancestral, and health-related data is freely available in the environment and is floating around us in the air.

However, the researchers were cautious not to examine the sequences in a way that would allow them to identify specific individuals, due to ethical concerns. McCauley acknowledged that this would “definitely” be possible in the future and questioned how long it would take to reach that stage.

While there are potential benefits to collecting human eDNA, such as tracking cancer mutations in wastewater, uncovering hidden archaeological sites, or identifying criminals using only the DNA they left behind, there are also significant ethical concerns. Natalie Ram, a law professor at the University of Maryland who was not involved in the research, warned that using involuntarily shed genetic information for investigative purposes could risk putting everyone under “perpetual genetic surveillance.”

The study’s authors shared these concerns, with McCauley warning that harvesting human eDNA without consent could be used to track individuals or target vulnerable populations or ethnic minorities. The research team called for policymakers and scientists to work together on regulations that could address this “ethical quagmire.”