The successful completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 created both hope and hype with regard to advancements in medical therapies. The delineation of precise genetic information suggested the possibility of predicting an individual's future health as well as the theoretical ability to intervene and fix it. Nearly a decade later, Gutkind and Kennedy (writers who are well versed in exploring both the technical and personal sides of science and...

DNA testing companies are trending nationally, with over 30 million Americans hoping to receive clues to family origins and forecasts of their future health -- not knowing the results can be misleading, or not considering that family secrets can tear apart relationships. The biggest risk, however, may be what these companies do with our information once they have it, so this program objectively explores the promise and peril of consumer DNA testing....