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Most people in the United States could soon know someone whose genome is held in a research database. Concerns are growing about our ability to properly control access to that information. Also growing among some scientists is the feeling that restricting access to genomic data fetters research. How long will it be until an idealistic and technically literate researcher deliberately releases genome and trait information publicly in the name of open science?

Both the open-access literature and the open-source software movements began with idealists. It seems inevitable that there will be a major leak of genome information in the near future. Individual scientists, institutions and funders should consider now how they will react when this happens.

Some studies already gather the genetic data of more than 50,000 individuals in a single analysis. Although this information is supposed to be highly protected, it is disseminated to various institutions that have inconsistent security and privacy standards. In practice, data protection often comes down to individual scientists. Once leaked, these data would be virtually impossible to contain.

What harm would come from a...