DNA Banking Bazaar

Over at Eye on DNA, blogger Hsien-Hsien Lei has a post on the latest trials and tribulations of the UK's national DNA database. At issue now: more than 550,000 database entries appear to be inaccurate. In addition to the expected problems -- spelling errors and incorrect addresses -- apparently many people have submitted fake names along with their DNA, while some 150,000 samples are from children, who are not supposed to be included. (Repeat after GTO: Well. Oiled. Machine.)

Meanwhile, at his Genetic Genealogist blog, Blaine Bettinger asks whether it's ethical to collect and store DNA samples from dead people. After all, he notes, it's one thing to bank DNA from people who consent to it -- but what about people who cannot give their consent?