Webcast of an expert panel discussion from the Keynote Session: Sequencing at the Frontlines, at the Beyond Sequencing conference in San Francisco.  The topic is When People Share Their Genomes on Facebook: The Impact on Science and Society 
The session took place on June 21, 2011   

PANEL ABSTRACT 

There are countless scientific, ethical, legal and economic implications associated with the emergence of personal genomics and the ability to share personal information by way of social media channels.  This has set the stage for what experts are calling “a more dramatic change in our way of life than that caused by the computer.” Our diverse panel of subject-matter experts will address a few of the big questions facing all stakeholders in NGS... businesses, regulators and academia.  

· What are some of the best examples of how social media is changing the way people share information? What are some business and social implications? 

· Where is the personal genomics industry today and where will it be in five years? 

· What happens when genetic information on social networks is used to calculate correlations made to socially sensitive traits (e.g. race, ability to score well on IQ tests, substance abuse)? 

· Who owns the information once it is posted on social networks? What are the IP issues (e.g. info posted has correlations to patented genes)? What is the impact on how health insurance companies work with individuals? 

· What happens when a group (possibly with a political agenda) broadcasts conclusions based on someone’s genetic information?  

· What responsibility is there to ensure that the analysis is accurate? Who should govern this?  How would libel laws apply? 

· How should society relegate the widespread distribution of information? What role will social media giants have in accommodating and/or impeding the sharing of personal health information?