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*UPDATE* Ravens Did Not Hand Out DNA Tests

*UPDATE* Ravens Did Not Hand Out DNA Tests

Interesting.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Department_of_Defense_Marrow_Donor_Center_130903-N-TO330-015.jpg

*UPDATE* Fellow author here at LI David Gerstman informed me on FB that the Ravens decided to forgo the giveaway. From CBS Sports:

A few hours before kickoff, though, the Ravens postponed the event to a later unknown date.

Why? The biotech firm sponsoring the event is “working to address questions from officials from the state of Maryland.”

“We received an overwhelmingly positive response to the first-ever DNA Day, and we remain committed to our mission,”the company said in a statement, via the Baltimore Sun. “Since 2014, we have been helping people understand the links between their genes and how their minds and bodies work through our DNA tests and community events. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Ravens.”

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Original Report:

Bobbleheads. Hats. Mugs. Calendars. Those are the usual giveaways before a sporting event. But fans who attend the Baltimore Ravens game on Sunday will receive a DNA kit instead. Yes, a DNA kit. From The Baltimore Sun:

Fans who choose to participate can learn about their genetic makeup, says Orig3n, the Boston-based biotech firm sponsoring the event. The procedure begins when a fan swabs the inside of their cheek, drops the sample into a stadium bin and registers with the company online.

The assessment offers “insight into your mind, body and health,” a company spokeswoman said.

Promotional material prepared for the event bears the logos of the company and the Ravens. It depicts a DNA strand with the message: “Purple and Black are in your genes — now find out what else is.”

Orig3n is offering — for free — a test of four genes. These include the ACTN3 gene, which the firm says can yield information on whether a person “is likely to have enhanced performance in power and sprint activities or is considered normal.”

Also being tested is a gene the company says can help predict an increased risk of low levels of Vitamin D.

The company offers more extensive tests for up to $149.

Critics warned that the promotion raises privacy concerns.

Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, said there is risk in collecting mass samples that could be mislabeled, lost or stolen at a football stadium.

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Comments

Will they also be checking for wants and warrants?

Looking for the player’s daddies?

Building a DNA database – and it is going to be worth BILLIONS. And don’t be fooled by those “we can tell your heritage from your photo” scams on Facebook. They’re building a facial recognition database.

All perfectly legal because you willingly handed it over.

Orig3n is a scam company much like Theranos. This is the beginning of the end for them. Kudos to Maryland health regulators for stepping up in a big way to stop this. Look at the board of this company much like Theranos hedge funders and high jingo politicals. They attempted to sneak into Maryland under cloak of weekend football fun but got busted. They hold no CLIA certification because much like Theranos they would not pass the necessary proficiency testing to make them a scientifically valid company.