The ownership and control of DNA information globally is distributed among various entities, including governments, corporations, research institutions, and NGOs. Here’s a breakdown of the major players and their leaders:
1. Government & Public Health Agencies These organizations collect DNA data for research, healthcare, and law enforcement. - National Institutes of Health (NIH) – USA - Leader: Monica Bertagnolli (Director) - Database: NIH manages vast genomic datasets (e.g., All of Us Research Program). - UK Biobank - Leader: Professor Sir Rory Collins (Principal Investigator) - Holds: Genetic data from 500,000 UK volunteers. - Chinese National GeneBank (CNGB) – China - Leader: Xu Xun (Director) - Holds: One of the world’s largest genomic databases. - European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) – EU - Leader: Ewan Birney (Director) - Holds: Manages the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA).
2. Private Corporations (Commercial DNA Testing & Biotech) These companies own vast amounts of consumer DNA data. - 23andMe - CEO: Anne Wojcicki - Holds: Over 12 million customer DNA profiles. - AncestryDNA - CEO: Deborah Liu - Holds: Over 23 million DNA samples. - Illumina (DNA sequencing tech) - CEO: Jacob Thaysen - Dominates: ~80% of global DNA sequencing. - BGI Group (China) - Chairman: Wang Jian - Holds: One of the largest genomic databases via BGI Genomics.
3. NGOs & Research Consortia These organizations aggregate DNA data for research. - Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK) - Director: Professor Matthew Hurles - Key Project:Human Genome Project legacy data. - Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) - Chair: Ewan Birney (also at EMBL-EBI) - Goal: Standardize and share genomic data globally.
4. Law Enforcement & Forensic Databases - FBI’s CODIS (USA) - Managed by: FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) - Holds: Over 20 million offender DNA profiles. - INTERPOL DNA Database - Managed by: INTERPOL’s Forensic Division
Who Owns the Most? - China (BGI + CNGB) and the USA (NIH + FBI + 23andMe/Ancestry) hold the largest shares. - Private companies (23andMe, Ancestry, Illumina, BGI) control the majority of consumer DNA data. - Government biobanks (UK Biobank, NIH, CNGB) lead in research DNA data.
MeyerLansky 1 points 4 hours ago
The ownership and control of DNA information globally is distributed among various entities, including governments, corporations, research institutions, and NGOs. Here’s a breakdown of the major players and their leaders:
1. Government & Public Health Agencies
These organizations collect DNA data for research, healthcare, and law enforcement.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – USA
- Leader: Monica Bertagnolli (Director)
- Database: NIH manages vast genomic datasets (e.g., All of Us Research Program).
- UK Biobank
- Leader: Professor Sir Rory Collins (Principal Investigator)
- Holds: Genetic data from 500,000 UK volunteers.
- Chinese National GeneBank (CNGB) – China
- Leader: Xu Xun (Director)
- Holds: One of the world’s largest genomic databases.
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) – EU
- Leader: Ewan Birney (Director)
- Holds: Manages the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA).
2. Private Corporations (Commercial DNA Testing & Biotech)
These companies own vast amounts of consumer DNA data.
- 23andMe
- CEO: Anne Wojcicki
- Holds: Over 12 million customer DNA profiles.
- AncestryDNA
- CEO: Deborah Liu
- Holds: Over 23 million DNA samples.
- Illumina (DNA sequencing tech)
- CEO: Jacob Thaysen
- Dominates: ~80% of global DNA sequencing.
- BGI Group (China)
- Chairman: Wang Jian
- Holds: One of the largest genomic databases via BGI Genomics.
3. NGOs & Research Consortia
These organizations aggregate DNA data for research.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK)
- Director: Professor Matthew Hurles
- Key Project: Human Genome Project legacy data.
- Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH)
- Chair: Ewan Birney (also at EMBL-EBI)
- Goal: Standardize and share genomic data globally.
4. Law Enforcement & Forensic Databases
- FBI’s CODIS (USA)
- Managed by: FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
- Holds: Over 20 million offender DNA profiles.
- INTERPOL DNA Database
- Managed by: INTERPOL’s Forensic Division
Who Owns the Most?
- China (BGI + CNGB) and the USA (NIH + FBI + 23andMe/Ancestry) hold the largest shares.
- Private companies (23andMe, Ancestry, Illumina, BGI) control the majority of consumer DNA data.
- Government biobanks (UK Biobank, NIH, CNGB) lead in research DNA data.