InsaneJournal

I've been asked a few times about setting up a genetic database, and while most of this shouldn't be a problem (I forsee a lot of plants in my future), a natural subdivision of this database will involve you, the people on the station, and also the various animals and pets. Would this be something everyone would be okay with me setting up?

The database would ideally be something that will grow with each door, every new arrival and so on, especially if/when we start exploring local space. On the top level, it would be something that could be used for education (which plants in this part of the park belong to the same family), genealogy (finding out exactly who you're related to, if required, for both people and animals) and so on. Data on this level would be available to everyone and also pretty restricted for that precise reason. I would provide a more in-depth level of access for medical staff as well, for reasons explained below, and everyone would be able to access their own data.


To begin with, I don't know if anything like this has been done before, or on what scale, so if anyone does have information on that (including previous data), please let me know. I would love to see what's been done, and I hate duplicating work unneccessarily. Just call round to the lab; I'm there most days, and if I'm not, Lyla will take a message and let me know, and most likely try to give you something to eat and/or drink. [Directions to Sarah and Miguel's lab, starting from the Food Court]

I have no intentions of forcing anyone to do anything they don't want to, so if you're not comfortable with me taking samples of you or your kids, just let me know or don't show up. This is by no means a compulsary thing at all.

There are a number of different ways I have of obtaining samples; buccal swabs (a cotton bud rubbed against the inside of your cheek for 15 seconds, 30 seconds after rinsing your mouth out with water), blood samples (a pinprick on your finger), urine samples (peeing into a sterile bottle), or hair samples (3 strands of hair). The best set of samples would be all four, but if people are uncomfortable with one or other of the methods, then they can leave out whichever ones they don't like. There are other more invasive methods but I wouldn't require anyone to do those for this level of work.

The genetic material that I obtain would not be used for experimentation or cloning. Occasionally, I will ask if it's okay to do research based on your genetics; for example, I was recently turned female so I was able to compare my female genetics with my male genetics to see what the difference was. I would also be interested in comparing the genetics of the people who have multiple versions of themselves to see how time affects things, or growing up in different environments, and so on. I will always seek to obtain permission before carrying out any such research.
Your information will not be used for any purpose other than that which you expressly give me permission for.

If I do discover anything medical (a hereditary disease, for example) in the course of this work, I will discuss these results with you in person before advising that you discuss the information further with one of the medical team who are far more qualified than I am to assist you with such information. If you wish to do this, and provide your consent, I will then send a report to your doctor with a link to the relevant data on the database.

Apologies for the essay, but I know exactly how tricky genetics can be from a legal point of view and an ethics/morality point of view and I'm trying to reassure people as much as I can.

By the way, if we haven't met yet or you're wondering if I'm okay to be doing all this work, then I'm Dr. Miguel O'Hara. I've been studying genetics since I was 12, I got my degree when I was 17, my Doctorate when I was 19, and I've been in charge of the Genetics department at Alchemax since I was 21, right up until I arrived here. I promise, I know what I'm doing.

By the way, does anyone want a job helping me with plant samples? I don't know if you've noticed or not, but this place has a shock-load of plants.