Glossary
Definitions used throughout the records.
About this database
A database of U.S. laws and policies affecting genetic information and biological samples.
Purpose
Who Owns Your DNA? continues the work of identifying laws and policies related to genetic information. It builds on the approach used by the NHGRI Genome Statute and Legislation Database and LawSeq.
Scope and limits
Each record identifies a law or policy and provides its status, summary, important limits, and primary sources. Coverage is not comprehensive, and the absence of a record does not mean no law exists. This site provides information, not legal advice.
Database resources
Methodology
How laws and policies are identified, checked, and updated.
Data
Download records and review the data structure.
Citation
How to cite records, the site, and data releases.
Sources and perspectives
NHGRI database archive
Archived records with their original wording and source details.
Policy resources
External databases, dashboards, and policy positions.
Contribute
Suggest a policy source, correct a record, or report a broken link. Every submission receives human review.
Contributors and acknowledgments
Contributions use the public GitHub workflow and may be acknowledged with permission. This independent database is not affiliated with or endorsed by NIH, NLM, NCBI, ASHG, LawSeq, or another organization.