In our last lecture we talked about the human genome project and its goal—to map human DNA. As we know, that project was completed in 2003. Back then, the process of sequencing a genome took years and cost several billion dollars, but, since then, the technology has advanced to such a degree that now private individuals can have theirs done in a matter of hours for just a few hundred dollars. But what are the consequences of having our own genomes mapped? What are the benefits to those who choose to have this done? And what advantages are there to society? What are the repercussions to our families? Well, the benefits are easy to see. A person whose DNA has been sequenced and mapped will be able to discover which diseases he or she might be predisposed to. The test subject could make lifestyle changes which would lessen the risk of heart disease or lung cancer, for example. The companies offering to provide this genome-mapping service would have access to data that could be used to work on ways to prevent and combat these diseases. Mass data is a powerful tool. But is it desirable for personal data like this to be available to these companies? How does it impact on health insurance if a person's susceptibility to certain diseases are known? What of an individual's family? Should the knowledge of a parent's susceptibility to Parkinson's disease, for example, be passed on to his or her children?