CDC Admits PCR Tests Used to Harvest DNA Without Consent

Genomic sequencing is a process used to analyze the genetic makeup
of viruses. In short, if you submitted to a PCR nose swab there is a
chance your genetic material was sent to a lab, likely outside of the
United States, and used for purposes outside of your control.
“Its’ [PCR tests] being used by scientists all around the world to
track the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants,” the CDC said in the
video. (https://bit.ly/3LPidwv)
The announcement made by the CDC has sparked outrage and serious
human DNA privacy questions. People took to Twitter Wednesday
questioning the CDC’s motives, alleging that people’s DNA is being
taken without consent.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) wrote
(https://bit.ly/3H687nk) on Twitter, “Did the @CDCgov get
permission from people to take their DNA???”
Many other people seized on the news to allege that “conspiracy
theories” surrounding government DNA harvesting are true.
"OMG they’re admitting they stole your DNA using the nose swabs
& it’s now being used in labs to study genome sequencing,”
@USRising1776 wrote (https://bit.ly/3BxF8rn) on Twitter. “Yet
another “conspiracy theory” that was 1000% true. Class-action lawsuit
there for the taking of labs using your genes without your consent
or compensation.“
The US government has been harvesting DNA for years. An illuminating
article in the Atlantic (https://bit.ly/3JJ9ni2) from 2012 reported
that the government is collecting and decoding the DNA of world
leaders:
“The U.S. government is surreptitiously collecting the DNA of world
leaders, and is reportedly protecting that of Barack Obama. Decoded,
these genetic blueprints could provide compromising information. In
the not-too-distant future, they may provide something more as well
the basis for the creation of personalized bioweapons that could take
down a president and leave no trace.”
French President Emmanuel Macron refused to consent to a PCR test
in Russia last week reportedly over fears about handing over his DNA
to Russia.
However, ordinary citizens shouldn’t be worried about the government
seizing their genetic material, according to professor of Epidemiology
and Nutrition at Harvard Albert Ascherio. According to Ascherio,
scientists are simply analyzing the sequencing of the Covid-19 virus
for variants like Delta and Omicron, and they are not interested in
your DNA.
Ascherio says the PCR tests used for genomic sequencing help
distinguish common variants of the virus, not human DNA.
However, Ascherio did not deny that the government have seized
control of your genetic material without consent or compensation.
“The PCR tests generally do not sequence the full genome, but only
selected segments/genes that are more relevant to distinguish the
most common variants,” Ascherio told Newsweek. “Full sequencing
is however possible and it is done for research purposes to identify
the relation between different variants, the appearance of new
variants.”
Newsweek report (https://bit.ly/3v3DGvu): Although there may be
the chance for human DNA to get sequenced, Ascherio
(https://bit.ly/3I8TjFC) says it’s unlikely.
“There is no need to test human DNA, but of course, it will be on the
swab so it could be tested, which is probably what people may worry
about if they are in [a] conspiracy mood,” Ascherio said.
Law professor and former Chief White House ethics lawyer Richard
Painter says he doesn’t see a problem with the genomic sequencing of
the virus because human DNA isn’t being collected. If the CDC were
to track how variants from each person’s DNA, then there would be
privacy issues.
“They take the positive test and they want to look at the strains to see
what we have,” Painter told Newsweek. “And it’s just the DNA of the
virus. What privacy interest do I have in the DNA of a virus? Anything
that they can do to study the DNA of the virus to help solve this
pandemic, they should be doing.”