October 22, 2008Open Access
On Jim Watson's APOE status: genetic information is hard to hide
Key Points
Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract
The recent publication and release to public databases of Dr James Watson's sequenced genome,1 with the exception of all gene information about apolipoprotein E (ApoE), provides a pertinent example of the challenges concerning privacy and the complexities of informed consent in the era of personalized genomics.2 Dr Watson requested that his ApoE gene (APOE) information be redacted, citing concerns about the association that has been shown with late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), which is currently incurable and claimed one of his grandmothers.3