Genetic Information in the Workplace

Although genomic information is not yet widely applied in the business world, rapidly growing knowledge about the workings of our genes has the potential to give businesses fuller information about the future, as well as the current, health of the individuals with whom they deal. People's genetic condition—acquired either through inheritance or mutation—affects whether they are disposed to manifest symptoms of various kinds of illnesses. Genomics already has shown that humans are less able to control what illnesses they will suffer from than advocates of healthy lifestyles and preventative care may hope.

Genetic testing could help make what is not controllable at least more predictable for businesses. For example, information from genetic testing could enable businesses to reduce risks arising from people susceptible to certain adverse ...