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A few weeks into sixth grade, Colman Chadam had to leave school because of his DNA.
The situation, odd as it may sound, played out like this. Colman has genetic markers for cystic fibrosis, and kids with the inherited lung disease can't be near each other because they're vulnerable to contagious infections. Two siblings with cystic fibrosis also attended Colman's middle school in Palo Alto, California in 2012. So Colman was out, even though he didn't actually have the disease, according to a lawsuit that his parents filed against the school district. The allegation? Genetic discrimination.
Yes, genetic discrimination. Get used to those two words together, because they're likely to become a lot more common. With DNA tests now cheap and readily available, the number of people getting tests has gone way up—along with the potential for discrimination based on the results. When Colman's school tried to transfer him based on his genetic status, the lawsuit alleges, the district violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and Colman's First Amendment right to privacy. "This is the test case," says the Chadam's lawyer, Stephen Jaffe.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday February 03 2016, @10:06PM
are two cystic fibrosis kids like the black and white aliens in star trek that catch on fire when they get near each other?
Well... yeah, they kinda are. Though I think you're mixing up Lokai and Bele (half-black, half-white, both racist; Let That Be Your Last Battlefield) with Lazarus and his anti-matter counterpart (The Alternative Factor).
kids with the inherited lung disease can't [not can't, really - better off if they don't, though] be near each other because they're vulnerable to contagious infections.
There was a story on Casualty/Holby City (two related UK hospital dramas) about a couple who met through a CF support website, but had to keep their physical meetings a secret from their families, who would have insisted they stop seeing each other for fear of one infecting the other.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday February 03 2016, @10:23PM
My bad, you were right about the black/white aliens:
As the two aliens fight, their innate powers radiate, cloaking them with an energy aura that threatens to damage the ship.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk