The idea is to wipe out inherited disease. Who can be against that, right?
But the problem, as humanity continues to learn the hard way, is that every ostensibly positive concept can quickly and easily be converted and perverted in the digital era. JL
Antonio Regalado reports in MIT Technology Review:
A genetic dating app could wipe out inherited disease.The idea is to use DNA comparisons to make
sure people who share a genetic mutation never meet, fall in love, and have
kids. The app won’t block
dates for people carrying dominant disease genes. “We are saying that
up front. If they are attractive and healthy enough to go on a
date, it doesn’t matter.” Doesn’t
it? Wasn’t the idea to avoid sick kids? The geneticists’ position
doesn’t seem particularly consistent, but it really would be eugenics if
your app tried to block a whole class of existing people from getting
dates.