How I Hacked My Best Friend’s Genome — And Could Hack Yours Too

I was recently on a flight back to New York from London and was sitting one row away from Daniel Day Lewis and his partner Rebecca Miller. And as Lewis politely asked for another cup of coffee I thought about the results that were printed out in front of me. You see, I just finished hacking my best friend’s genome and it was surprisingly easier than I imagined and as it turns out completely legal. Now you may be wondering why anyone would want to hack someone’s genome without their consent. With the drop in the cost of testing and the ease at which it’s possible to attain DNA samples (all it takes is a discarded piece of gum or used coffee cup), it’s possible to get a genetic snapshot of you that can reveal more things about you than you already even know about yourself. Information regarding predisposition to psychiatric illness, obesity, cancer and even life expectancy, are just a few things that can be easily garnered surreptitiously and completely without your consent.

My aim in trying to hack...