Would you use an online dating service from your employer? Of
course not. It’s too personal ... none of your employer’s business. So why would
people sign-up for genetic screening from their employer? Because it’s
available and partially funded by your company? Because you cannot access genetic
screening on your own by contacting these same providers?
Today’s
Wall Street Journal (click here) has a mostly positive view of
this emerging employee benefit. For instance: “Twenty-nine Jackson Laboratory
employees took ‘spit tests,’ sending small amounts of saliva in vials to be
tested for variations on three genes—DRD2, an ‘eating behavior’ gene; MC4R an ‘appetite’
gene and FTO, a ‘body fat’ gene—associated with higher body fat and weight.”
So
far, I’m not impressed.
The boss wants you to lose weight because it could cost
him. He’s not testing you for cancer. The following is really disturbing: “Along
with test results, Newtopia offers coaching based on the findings. For example,
the company would advise more high-intensity exercise for a person whose ‘body
fat’ gene suggests they are likely to retain fat.”
Bottom line: Keep your boss
out of your love life and your genes.
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