Bioinformation

From DNA sequences stored on computer databases to archived forensic samples and biomedical records, bioinformation comes in many forms. Its unique provenance – the fact that it is 'mined' from the very fabric of the human body – makes it a mercurial resource; one that no one seemingly owns, but in which many have deeply vested interests.

Who has the right to exploit and benefit from bioinformation? The individual or community from whom it was derived? The scientists and technicians who mak...