AS THE first rough draft of the human genome nears completion, the trickle of
new tests for identifying genes that cause disease could turn into a flood.
People who take these tests may well find they’re not the only ones who care
about the outcome—insurance companies may also demand the right to know
the results.
Many people are appalled by this prospect. They fear that science is marching
us into a brave new world of genetic discrimination, in which companies offering
life insurance and health insurance will shun people with “bad” genes while
offering ultra-cheap cover to the genetically…
