Gene theft or DNA theft is the act of acquiring the genetic material of another human being, often from a public place, without his or her permission. The DNA

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

 may be harvested from a wide variety of common objects such as discarded cigarettes, used coffee cups and hairbrushes. This genetic material can then be used for such purposes as establishing paternity

Paternity (law)

In law, paternity is the legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a man and a child usually based on several factors.At common law, a child born to the wife during a marriage is the husband's child under the "presumption of legitimacy", and the husband is assigned complete rights,...

, proving genealogical connections

Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...

 or even unmasking private medical conditions.

Criminal law

Great Britain criminalized the taking of DNA without consent in 2006 at the urging of the Human Genetics Commission. Australia's legislature debated a two year jail sentence for such theft in 2008. In the United States, eight states currently have criminal or civil prohibitions on such nonconsensual appropriation of genetic materials. In Alaska, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Oregon, individuals caught swiping DNA face fines or short jail sentences. Lawsuits against "gene snatchers" are permitted in Minnesota, New Hampshire and New Mexico. In jurisdictions where such nonconsentual taking of DNA is illegal, exceptions are generally made for law enforcement.

Ethics

Many bioethicists

Bioethics

Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....

 believe that such conduct is an unethical invasion of human privacy. Professor Jacob Appel

Jacob M. Appel

Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....

 has warned that criminals may acquire the capability to copy DNA of innocent people and deposit it at crimes scenes, endangering the blameless and undermining a key tool of forensic investigation." However, others defend the appropriation of genetic material on the grounds that doing so may further human knowledge in productive ways One particularly controversial case which received widespread attention in the media was that of Derrell Teat, a wastewater coordinator, who sought to acquire without consent the DNA of a man who was allegedly the last male descendant of her great-great-great grandfather’s brother. Another prominent case was a United States paternity suit involving film producer Steve Bing

Steve Bing

Stephen Leo "Steve" Bing is an American businessman, film producer, and donor to progressive causes. He is the founder of the Shangri-La business group, an organization with interests in property, construction, entertainment, and music....

 and billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian

Kirk Kerkorian

Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian is an American businessman who is the president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr...

.