Genetic Data: A Critical Study of Its Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Progress in computing and data processing capabilities, coupled with massive reductions in sequencing costs, have led to the expansion of genetic data processing into a multitude of areas and applications that were inconceivable just a few decades ago. It is therefore not surprising that the potential of genetic data, together with the possible risks arising from its processing, are the subject of express legal recognition not only in a multitude of sectoral instruments, but also in data protection regulations. This paper provides an insight into the past, present and future of genetic data, one of the most under-explored categories of personal data, by critically examining its actual legal status, and anticipating some of the key legal and scientific controversies and discussions.