Tag: Ethics

INTERESTING: Will this change how crime scenes are investigated?

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https://theconversation.com/you-shed-dna-everywhere-you-go-trace-samples-in-the-water-sand-and-air-are-enough-to-identify-who-you-are-raising-ethical-questions-about-privacy-205557?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter

You shed DNA everywhere you go – trace samples in the water, sand and air are enough to identify who you are, raising ethical questions about privacy
Published: May 15, 2023 11.01am EDT
Jenny Whilde  — Adjunct Research Scientist in Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Jessica Alice Farrell  —  Postdoctoral associate, University of Florida

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Ethical implications of collecting human eDNA

Our team dubs inadvertent retrieval of human DNA from environmental samples “human genetic bycatch.” We’re calling for deeper discussion about how to ethically handle human environmental DNA.

Human eDNA could present significant advances to research in fields as diverse as conservation, epidemiology, forensics and farming. If handled correctly, human eDNA could help archaeologists track down undiscovered ancient human settlements, allow biologists to monitor cancer mutations in a given population or provide law enforcement agencies useful forensic information.

However, there are also myriad ethical implications relating to the inadvertent or deliberate collection and analysis of human genetic bycatch. Identifiable information can be extracted from eDNA, and accessing this level of detail about individuals or populations comes with responsibilities relating to consent and confidentiality.

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Some one I know LOVES “crime” shows.  Often, DNA can “hang” a crime on a criminal several decades after the event.  Recently, we have been seeing some “solved” by “forensic genealogy”.  The DNA from a crime scene can be linked to a family and, by diligent police work, the criminal is identified, tried, and convicted.

Some SciFi shows have said that forensic evidence can be tampered with  — even DNA.

Now with this article, maybe the air, dirt, or whatever at a crime scene can be captured and cataloged.

One of the crime shows had the police trailing a suspect to get his DNA from a discarded cigarette butt or a water bottle.  Maybe now, just test the air in the interrogation room might be all that is needed.

Shades of 1984.

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[Josh Blackman] The Houston Astros Cheating Scandal and Legal Education

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Mike Barry , the Dean of the South Texas College of Law, sent an insightful message to the students and faculty concerning the Houston Astros cheating scandal . With his permission, I reproduce it here. — I long have been a fan of baseball.

Source: [Josh Blackman] The Houston Astros Cheating Scandal and Legal Education

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First, culture starts at the top. Many of you will run your own law firms. Others will rise to prominent positions in government, the judiciary, business, and the legal community. And, regardless of the role you find yourself in, you will be a leader for, at the very least, your clients and your staff. You will set the tone for those who work for you and who work with you.

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If the manager – their on-field leader – had told the players to stop, they would have done so.  When you are a leader, your action – or your inaction – speaks volumes.  What you tolerate, you teach.  What you condone, you own.  Every leader must set not only a culture of ethical conduct, but must identify and eliminate behavior that deviates from that standard.

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A wise admonition to all Information Technology executive, especially those in Information Security and Disaster Recovery.

I’ve worked in and gotten “downsized” for expressing a factual opinion that the top leadership was being mislead as to the organization’s capabilities — to resist being hacked, the capabilities / capacities of new systems, as well as the organization’s ability to recover from a catastrophic failure.

Sure, being downsized stung.  But I went to Catholic school, where I was taught a standard — would your Mother be proud of you for what you’ve done.

In my book, I observed that “Catholic school taught them that it was their obligation, and could even be a mortal sin, if you didn’t use all your talents to the greater glory of God.” — “Chapter Fifty — Samaritans going to Jericho / Monday November 5, 1962 – Church Day + 17 (continues)” CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 296

Can’t say I’ve always met that standard, but I’d like to think, that more often than not, I did.

It seems that we’d have a much better world if politicians, bureaucrats, and everyone observed that.  John Wooden said: “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”

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