A GROUP of 12 genetics experts will expose their DNA to public view today to challenge the common view that such information is so private and sensitive that it should not be widely shared.
The "DNA dozen" will publish full results of their own genetic tests, including implications for their health, in a controversial initiative to explain the significance of the human genome for medicine and society.
The Genomes Unzipped project aims to demystify the genetic code, showing what it can and cannot reveal about individuals' health and allaying fears about discrimination and privacy.
The participants - 11 British-based scientists and an American genetics lawyer - hope to encourage many more people to share details of their genomes with researchers. This would allow the creation of open-access DNA databases that any scientist could use, enabling a "wisdom of crowds" approach to research that will accelerate discoveries about genetics and health.